Wegienka Elementary Principal Michelle Briegel has been named the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) Region 1 Principal of the Year, recognizing her outstanding leadership, commitment to students and staff, and dedication to building a strong school community.
The MEMSPA Principal of the Year program recognizes outstanding principals whose contributions to the profession are exemplary and recognized by their peers and communities. Honorees are recognized for extraordinary leadership, commitment to students and faculty, service to their communities, and contributions to the overall education profession and professional associations.
Briegel was surprised with the honor in front of Wegienka students and staff. Cynthia Nickel, Principal of Miller Elementary in Canton and MEMSPA President, and Crystal Eskin, Principal of Jefferson Elementary in Wyandotte and MEMSPA Region 1 President, presented Briegel with the award.
Following the presentation, the Wegienka community celebrated the honor together with cake in the cafeteria, with students, staff and members of Briegel’s family joining in the celebration.
Briegel said the recognition reflects the people who make Wegienka Elementary such a special place.
“I am incredibly honored to be recognized as the MEMSPA Region 1 Principal of the Year. This award is truly a reflection of the amazing students, staff, and families I have the privilege of working with every day. I believe being a principal is about putting kids first, building a strong school community, and making sure every child feels valued, supported, and successful. I am so grateful to be part of the Wegienka family and proud to be a Wildcat!”
Briegel was nominated for the honor by WBSD Superintendent Matthew Salah, who highlighted her people-centered approach to leadership and the culture she has created at Wegienka.
“Great leadership is not simply about making decisions, managing a building, or achieving results. Great leadership is about people,” Salah wrote in his nomination letter. “It is about creating an environment where staff feel valued, students feel supported, families feel welcomed, and everyone knows they have a place at the table. Michelle Briegel, Principal of Wegienka Elementary School, exemplifies this type of leadership every day.”
Salah noted that Briegel makes supporting her staff a priority and is consistently willing to step in wherever she is needed to support students and the school community.
“She understands that her staff are her greatest asset, and she makes it a priority to support them, listen to them, and recognize the important work they do,” Salah wrote. “If a student needs support, she is always the first to respond.”
Salah also recognized Briegel’s ability to foster an inclusive school culture where students, staff, families and community partners feel valued and connected.
“One of Michelle’s greatest strengths is the inclusive culture she creates at Wegienka,” Salah wrote. “She works hard to ensure that every member of the school community feels seen, heard, and valued.”
He added that Briegel’s leadership is demonstrated through her daily actions.
“She shows up. She is visible. She builds relationships. She celebrates successes, supports people through challenges, and never loses sight of the fact that education is ultimately about the students we serve,” Salah wrote.
For Briegel, the award is a reflection of the entire Wegienka community — a community she is proud to lead.
“What stands out most about Michelle is that her leadership is authentic,” Salah wrote in his nomination. “She does not have to tell people she cares about them; her actions demonstrate it.”
The MEMSPA Principal of the Year program accepts nominations annually, with honorees recognized at the association’s Annual Conference in December. Briegel’s Region 1 recognition celebrates her leadership among elementary and middle school principals in the region and the impact she has made at Wegienka Elementary and throughout the school community.
Congratulations to Mrs. Briegel on this well-deserved recognition!