He is working hard every day to make a profound impact on his students with his vision to teach them to become productive global citizens. Michael was voted Teacher of the Year by his peers and also received the Pacesetters Award from the American Association for Blacks in Higher Education. Michael was honored by Ellen DeGeneres in recognition of his positive and innovative approaches to education for children struggling with the challenges of poverty. In February 2017, Ellen DeGeneres flew his class to Los Angeles to surprise them by making a music video with amazing celebrities such as Ice Cube, Big Sean, Migos, Ty Dolla Sign, and Lin Manuel Miranda! Since then, Michael Bonner has been speaking at universities and corporate events on the importance of educational equity and the necessity for quality teachers.