The Fourth Grade Teacher Who Sparked Everything
For Asa Kelly, the path to teaching began with one unforgettable educator. His fourth grade teacher, Mr. Cook, was the first male teacher he ever had, and his classroom became a place where learning felt joyful and exciting.
“I fell in love with learning because of his fun personality,” Asa says. Years later, while attending a teaching conference in Grand Rapids, Asa took his seat and looked to his right. Sitting next to him was Mr. Cook. “I told him that day the reason I was sitting next to him was because he inspired me in fourth grade,” Asa recalls.
That full-circle moment affirmed what Asa had felt for years: the right teacher at the right time can change everything.
Today, Asa is a 2nd grade teacher at Betsie Valley Elementary in Benzie County Central Schools, working with students at one of the most formative stages of their learning journey.
Choosing Benzie and Growing With the Community
In 2000, Asa made the decision to leave everything familiar behind and accept a teaching position in Benzie County.
“It was the second-best decision I ever made,” he says. “The first was marrying my wife, who I met that first year teaching at Betsie Valley.”
Over the past 26 years, Asa has grown alongside the community he serves. Teaching in Benzie has shaped both his practice and his perspective.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is to truly appreciate students for who they are and where they come from,” he says.
Benzie County is a place of contrast: lakeside wealth in some areas, deep generational poverty in others. Many families have been connected to the school for decades, with parents and grandparents who once sat in the same classrooms.
“Our community is mixed, we have very wealthy areas along the lakes and resorts, and then very poor areas everywhere else.”
Despite these differences, the community is close-knit. Teachers know families personally. Relationships extend well beyond the school day.
To honor that shared history, Asa leads a local history unit filled with field trips and guest speakers.
“We highlight all of the amazing aspects of our area,” he says. “Where we’ve come from and why our community is so great.”
Moments That Last Longer Than a School Year
Across more than two decades in education, Asa has taught thousands of students. While it’s impossible to single out just one defining moment, reminders of his impact arrive every year.
Each spring, graduating seniors write letters to teachers who made a difference in their lives. Often, Asa hears from students he taught many years earlier.
“Sometimes it’s a student I haven’t seen or talked to in a long time,” he says. “They’ll write and tell me my class was their favorite, or list all the reasons they loved being there.”
Those letters are a powerful reminder that what may feel routine to a teacher can be life-shaping for a student.
“You forget how something small to you can have a lasting impact on the student in front of you,” Asa says.
In the classroom, Asa looks for growth that reflects both academic progress and student engagement. Alongside skill development and assessment results, he pays close attention to how willing students are to engage in learning.
“I look at skill development and assessments,” he explains, “but I also ask: how willing are they to jump into the learning journey without being pushed?”
Curiosity in Action: Learning Through LEGO Spike
That emphasis on student agency has long been a hallmark of Asa’s classroom. That willingness to engage has been especially visible through Asa’s use of LEGO Spike, a hands-on STEM engineering program that blends building, coding, and collaboration.
Using LEGO pieces as the foundation, students build projects and then code them to perform specific tasks. In Asa’s 2nd grade classroom, that might look like designing a LEGO car and programming it to navigate a taped course on the classroom floor.
“They have to measure, figure angles, and problem-solve together,” Asa says. “They work in teams and think critically the whole time.”
The results are tangible. Students talk through solutions, test ideas, revise their work, and stay deeply engaged in the learning process. That level of ownership is no accident, it reflects an approach Asa has cultivated intentionally over time.
Former principal Sharyl Corey saw this philosophy come to life year after year.
“Asa Kelly is energetic and creative as a classroom educator,” Corey shared. “He supports his students in becoming self-motivated learners by providing projects that stimulate their imaginations and ignite their enthusiasm. He helps create student agency.”
Corey points to Asa’s long-standing use of project-based learning—like a student-run “mini society” where children design products, create publicity, and manage sales, as an early expression of that mindset.
“Students gain empowerment because Mr. Kelly believes in them and supports them to expand their capabilities and build confidence,” she said.
Today, that same belief shows up through LEGO Spike. Students test ideas, revise their thinking, and experience firsthand that their choices matter.
“Their curiosity and problem-solving abilities just continue to amaze me,” he says.
Resilience, Reflection, and a Partner Who Understands the Work
Teaching for more than two decades has taught Asa how to reset and try again.
“Every day is a new day,” he says. “Don’t assume because one day was challenging that the next will be.”
That mindset is reinforced at home. Asa’s wife is also an educator, teaching kindergarten. Together, they support one another through difficult stretches and celebrate the wins.
“She is a true pro,” Asa says. “I find her help invaluable.”
Outside the classroom, they have coached Benzie’s high school cross country and track teams for more than 23 years. Through coaching, Asa has built relationships with students that extend well beyond academics. In recognition of that impact, he was inducted into the MITCA (Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association) State Coaching Hall of Fame, recognizing the impact he has had on students both in and out of school.
A Network That Reenergized His Practice
After more than 25 years in the classroom, Asa chose to pursue National Board Certification through TeachMichigan’s National Board Fellowship as a way to reflect, refine, and recommit to his practice.
“The NBCT process reinvigorated my passion for education,” he says. “It pushed me to really examine my teaching and think deeply about what my students need most.”
Through the fellowship, Asa analyzed his instruction, reflected on student learning, and engaged with educators across Michigan who share a commitment to excellence. The process affirmed the strengths he has built over 26 years while challenging him to grow in new ways.
In 2025, Asa achieved National Board Certification, a milestone that represents both his expertise and his continued dedication to students.
“This program can help so many teachers,” he says. “It can kick start a career or reignite one. The network of educators and support makes education in Michigan stronger.”
For Asa, certification was not an endpoint. It was a renewal of purpose. In a close-knit Benzie County community where relationships span generations, he continues to show up each day with the same energy, care, and belief that every student deserves a teacher who is fully invested in their success.
A Legacy Built on Care and Curiosity
At the heart of Asa’s work is a simple but powerful mission:
“Helping children realize the greatness in them through caring and inspiration.”
In a close-knit Benzie County community where relationships span generations, Asa continues to show up each day with consistency, warmth, and belief in his students. Whether through a LEGO engineering challenge, a local history lesson, or a quiet moment of encouragement, his impact is rooted in care and sustained by curiosity.
After 26 years, Asa Kelly is still doing what first inspired him as a fourth grader: making learning a place where students feel seen, capable, and excited to grow.
Asa Kelly
Asa Kelly is a 2nd grade teacher at Betsie Valley Elementary in Benzie County Central Schools and a 2023 TeachMichigan National Board Certified Teacher Fellow. With 26 years in education, Asa is known for building strong relationships, fostering curiosity, and creating classrooms where students feel excited to learn. He is a longtime coach for Benzie’s high school cross country and track teams and was inducted into the MITCA State Coaching Hall of Fame for his impact on students both academically and athletically.
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