x
Breaking News
More () »

Chance the Rapper honors Montgomery County middle school teacher, gifts $30,000 in prize money

Michael Doggett is a teacher at Hallie Wells Middle School in Clarksburg. A big-time rap artist wanted to pay his respects for his work.
Credit: Michael Zorn/Invision/AP
FILE - In this Sept. 4, 2016, file photo, Chance The Rapper performs at The Budweiser Made In America Festival in Philadelphia. Celebrities, beware: “Punk’d” is being revived. And this time Chance the Rapper is doing the punk'ing. MTV Studios and Quibi said Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, that they are teaming up to revive the show with Grammy-winner Chance the Rapper pranking unsuspecting A-listers. Quibi is an upcoming short-video streaming service that's backed by Hollywood studios. (Photo by Michael Zorn/Invision/AP, File)

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — The official Teacher Appreciation Week is coming to an end tomorrow, but showing gratitude for educators isn't stopping. One middle school teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland got an extra big thank you from an extra big rap star.

Chance the Rapper hosted his "Twilight Awards", which gives thanks to educations who are finding unique ways to teach during the pandemic. Streaming to over 11 million people Friday, he gave a shout out to Michael Doggett, an English teacher at Hallie Wells Middle School in Clarksburg, and presented him with one of 10 final awards.

Doggett has been creating rap videos to connect to his students virtually, keeping up with his kids and finding creative ways to keep them entertained. 

Chance, the three-time Grammy-winning artist from Chicago, thought Doggett's rhymes were pretty good. He thanked Michael for his continuous work and devotion to helping educate students during such an unprecedented time, awarding the teacher with $30,000 thanks to the help of Box Tops for Education. 

Doggett is set to receive $15,000 of that prize money, with the other half going towards Hallie Wells Middle School. He was emotional during the livestream, talking about his passion for his students and his true gratitude at the blessing.


"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the joy you have given me and my students, and the courage you have given me to continue what I am doing," Doggett wrote on Twitter.  "You are one special human being, Mr. Bennett.  I can't wait to watch next year's Twilight Awards."

Credit: Instagram

RELATED: Maryland coronavirus updates: Cases continue to climb while restrictions eased

RELATED: DC students host virtual College Signing Day amid coronavirus shutdown

RELATED: Show some teacher appreciation, recognize 'their superpower' | Reese's Final Thought

Download the brand new WUSA9 app here.

Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter: Your forecast. Your commute. Your news.

Before You Leave, Check This Out