Michelle Vanhala is a 2025-2026 Teach Plus Michigan Policy Fellow. She is a science teacher, advisor, and instructional coach at Washtenaw Technical Middle College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Previously, Michelle taught physics, chemistry, and biology at Tecumseh High School, where she collaborated with colleagues to create a project-based interdisciplinary learning curriculum. She holds National Board Certification in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Biology, is a Knowles Science Teaching Initiative Senior Fellow, and was named Michigan Science Teacher Association’s Science Teacher of Promise (2020). Michelle is also a National Board Certification coach through TeachMichigan, working with science teachers to reflect on their practice. She earned her BS in integrated science and English for secondary education from Central Michigan University, MS in science education from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and is pursuing an EdS in educational administration from Central Michigan University.
