Extraordinary Educators 2022-2023

Extraordinary Educators

FEATURING THE FIVE CHOSEN EDUCATORS FROM THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR AND ALL THE NOMINEES

Melissa Wardie is living her dream at Brethren schools

By Ken Grabowski - For the News Advocate

Fourth grade teacher Melissa Wardie is living her dream when it comes to having the opportunity to be a teacher in the Kaleva Norman Dickson Schools.

For quite a few years Wardie, her husband and two daughters lived downstate in the metropolitan Detroit area where she worked as a teacher. The family often visited the Brethren area over the years, but four years ago Wardie and her husband Chad decided to make the move up north so their girls could attend a smaller, rural school like they had as children.

It proved to be a move the entire family doesn’t regret.

“When Chad and I went to school it was more in rural area schools and we both loved the outdoors,” said Wardie. “My parents had a place up in Grayling, so being outside was always important to us. So we started vacationing up here and as the years progressed we made plans on how we could get up here.”

Wardie was selected from the nominations that were made for the Benzie County Record Patriot and Manistee News Advocate’s Extraordinary Educators program, which is designed to highlight the positive aspects and great work local educators are doing on a daily basis. Throughout the 2022-23 school year readers of the sister publications nominated area teachers for the program.

“Melissa has high expectations for all her students. She pushes students to do their best and each and every day. She is a leader who strives to do her very best for her students,” read a nomination.

Teaching students has always been a passion for Wardie who received her bachelor degree from Central Michigan University with a major in child development and minor in

language arts. She received a master’s degree from Wayne State University, where she received a reading specialist degree.

“I taught in Ferndale Public Schools for three years and in Dearborn Heights for 15 years,” she said.

An elementary teacher from Wardie’s childhood helped plant the spark in her mind about a career in the education field.

“When I was in second grade I had a teacher named Mrs. Jackson and then had her again my fourth grade year,” she said. “She was a very caring and compassionate teacher and would let me do a lot of the fun teacher things like passing things out and after that I just started thinking it was an area I wanted to go into.”

She said the small Catholic school she attended allowed her to go back throughout middle and high school to help out in the elementary classrooms.

“From then on I just always knew that was the area I wanted to go into,” said Wardie. When she originally began her career teaching downstate, teaching a fourth grade class wasn’t really on her radar, but over the past four years of working at KND it is something she has grown to love.

“I taught anywhere from a young five kindergarten anywhere up to a sixth grade language arts and social studies prior to coming here,” she said. “The majority of my career downstate was in second grade and that was my comfort zone. Jumping two grade levels here made me very nervous of the age, but after doing it for four years I wouldn’t want to go back down, as this is my sweet spot.”

Wardie said teaching at a rural school isn’t much different than at a bigger district.

“Kids all learn the same, need the same and

so not too much is different,” said Wardie. When it comes to the teaching profession, Wardie’s approach to her job shows all the traits of a great teacher.

“What I enjoy the most is the relationship with the kids,” said Wardie. “From the kids you also get the relationships with the families. I really enjoy here being able to see these kids go from fourth grade and still see them in middle and high school.”

She added that after all these years of teaching she still gets excited watching kids progress in their learning, including those who initially struggled in their studies and made great progress and the higher achievers who take it to the next level.

“I had quite a few students who were special needs this year and just working with them in small groups one on one and seeing how in the beginning of the year they struggled in recognizing certain letters and sounds and now being able to read books to seeing how much progress they made,” she said. “Whether they are some of my most struggling learners to some of my most high learners seeing them grow in maturity, academics and socially is such a rewarding thing.”

Having two daughters attending a smaller school district and being active in a wide variety of activities also is nice part of being at KND as it presents the opportunity to quickly become members of the community. She just loves the “small school, big family” mantra of the district.

“I also coach varsity track and we have a freshman and recent graduate, so Chad and I are up here for as many events as possible,” said Wardie. “This is why we moved up here: to give our girls that small town experience, but it was selfishly as much for us as the girls.”

Look Smart

Melissa Wardie

Ben Mauntler moves from student to teacher of 24 years, all at Onekama schools

By Ken Grabowski - For the News Advocate

Second grade teacher Ben Mauntler has a unique perspective that many other educators don’t have: He’s been on both sides of the desk at the Onekama Consolidated Schools.

Mauntler spent 13 years as a K-12 student in the school district and for the past 24 years he has been educating the next generation of Portagers as an elementary school teacher.

He said being at Onekama Consolidated Schools for all those years allowed him to receive “an outstanding education from some great teachers” and the chance to pass that tradition on to his students today.

Mauntler was selected from the nominations that were made for the Benzie County Record Patriot and Manistee News Advocate’s Extraordinary Educators program, which is designed to highlight the positive aspects and great work local educators are doing on a daily basis. Throughout the 2022-23 school year readers of the sister publications nominated area teachers for the program.

“He always has time for the kids no matter the activity. For years he has taken the whole class to tap maple trees, then render the sap to make maple syrup which the kids get to eat on pancakes they make and also take a jar home,” read one nomination.

Mauntler took an interesting route to arrive in the world of education, which is a profession he enjoys a great deal. He began his college education at Central Michigan University where he remained for two years before transferring to Western Michigan University where he earned a bachelor’s degree.

“When I went off to college it was in my mind to be an architect,” he said. “Then my second year I couldn’t get into an English class so I took one that was English for teachers.

One of the prerequisites was to take a class of local students from a Mt. Pleasant school on a field trip.”

Mauntler said as end of the school year neared and he scheduled the trip, he found out just how much he enjoyed being with the kids.

“I ended up signing up for a bonus trip just for fun and then my professor set up a meeting with me and tried to convince me to try teaching,” he said.

The professor’s suggestion was good professional advice; Mauntler not only discovered a profession, but one he found rewarding and his true niche in life.

“It was a college professor who got me into this and now I have taught at Onekama for 24 years and every one of them thank goodness has been in second grade,” he said.

He also credits his love of working at Onekama Consolidated Schools to the good experience he had there himself as a student.

“Mr. (Milt) Whitmore was one of my favorite teachers, but to be honest I liked all my teachers here,” he said.

What makes the job special for him and brings him back to the classroom every day is the opportunity to interact with his students and watch them grow in the process.

“I love the kids and helping them to learn things,” he said. “Just being with them and watching them grow to become a person.”

He said one of the many fun things about his job is to see those students who were initially struggling with a subject suddenly have that proverbial light bulb come on when they realize “they got it.”

“It is fun to watch them and I have done this enough years now where I can not only offer them educational things, but life lessons as well,” he said. “I think coaching also really helped with that.”

Mauntler has enjoyed being associated with a smaller school district his whole life.

“I really do like it and remember back being a students as we knew everyone, hung out and did things together,” he said. “I was so thankful and happy to come back and get a job here at Onekama as the teachers always go back and forth to help each other when we can. I can’t say what it is really like to be at a big school, but I don’t think you would really know everyone.”

Over the past 24 years Mauntler said there has been many changes in the way education is delivered to the students. Technology has really come to the forefront of the education process.

“We do a lot of really helpful professional development and that has become very important,” he said. “Now it is like almost every other week where we do something to learn more about our profession, the trade and the kids. That has really helped a lot over the years as we have to keep up because the kids need the guidance.”

He said the end of the school year can be a bittersweet moment for him after all the time he spent with his students during the school year. But he knows they are well prepared to move on to the next level of their education.

“The kids you have had for the past year have been with you every single day and you just love to see them,” he said. “But then you move on to the next year and the challenge is there and not only starting over with new kids, but you get to know them as the year goes on.”

Mauntler said for the now he looks forward to continuing in the profession and inspiring students at Onekama Consolidated Schools to be the best they can be in the classroom.

Lisa Gutowski Has Taught Kindergarten For 27 Years

By Ken Grabowski - For the News Advocate

Walk down a hallway in any of the school buildings in Manistee County and it is easy to spot the outstanding teachers in that particular district.

They will be the ones in a classroom filled with exuberant students totally excited about the learning process. It’s because an outstanding teacher realizes education isn’t about them, but about instilling the desire to never stop learning and growing as student.

Longtime Kaleva Norman Dickson kindergarten teacher Lisa Gutowski fits that mold to perfection. The satisfaction of what she does for a living comes from listening to her students when they realize just how much progress they have made in the classroom.

“Seeing the progress from where they start out in September to the end of May is just amazing how they go from knowing a handful of letters to actually reading and writing sentences when they leave my classroom,” said Gutowski. “How much they learn in such a short time is what is rewarding in kindergarten. They come in at so many different levels and it’s amazing where they are at when they finish.”

She was selected from the nominations that were made for the Benzie County Record Patriot and Manistee News Advocate’s Extraordinary Educators program, which is designed to highlight the positive aspects and great work local educators are doing on a daily basis. Throughout the 2022-23 school year readers of the sister publications nominated area teachers for the program.

Gutowski has been teaching and preparing kindergarten students in the Kaleva Norman Dickson School District for the next grade level for the past 27 years.

“I got my bachelor’s degree at Western Michigan University and my master’s from Grand Valley State University,” said Gutowski.

She also was a substitute teacher for a few years and worked at day cares and preschools in Grand Rapids. She started in her first elementary teaching job, at KND, in 1996.

She pointed out that something unique is the level at which she taught over her tenure at the KND Schools.

“I taught kindergarten the whole time which is unusual in a day in age when a lot of teachers get moved around or choose to move around to different grades, but I have been lucky enough to remain in kindergarten,” said Gutowski. “But that is what I always wanted to do.”

Kaleva Norman Dickson parents also have appreciated her dedication to getting students off to a good start. It is obvious in the words written about her by those who nominated her for the Extraordinary Educators Program.

“She has high expectations for students academically and behaviorally,” read the nomination. “She does what is best for the students by advocating to all stakeholders. She always has a kind disposition which translates to positive classroom relationships.”

The idea to become a teacher intrigued Gutowski from a young age and was something she wanted to pursue as a career.

“Just going through elementary school I always enjoyed it and wanted to be an elementary teacher,” she said. “I always wanted to work with kids and it was my calling for what I wanted to do.”

Being a kindergarten teacher is a perfect place for a dedicated educator like Gutowski to be teaching because it is the first real experience students receive in adapting to a K-12 setting.

“They have to learn how to do school,” said Gutowski. “They have to learn routines, procedures and how do a million different

things in the classroom along with the academic stuff. So there is a lot expected for 5 and 6 year olds, but they rise to the challenge and are excited about doing it which is the best part because they want to learn.”

Gutowski has fun showing her students some of their work from back in the fall so they can see how much they have learned and grown.

“They look surprised and say things like, ‘That is how I used to write my name and I only knew this many letters as now I know all of them,’” she said. “So it is fun for them to look back too.”

One of the things she enjoys watching each year is the gradual learning progression over the course of the school year.

Gutowski said she grew up attending the Onekama Consolidated Schools as a student and always liked the atmosphere that goes with a smaller school district. It is one of the many reasons she enjoys the Kaleva Norman Dickson Schools.

However, she pointed out that over the course of a 27-year teaching career many things have changed in education, including learning components moving down to the kindergarten level.

“I didn’t expect to teach them to read, but now I am,” she said. “It is amazing how now we teach them to add and subtract a lot more than it used to be, but it is good to see the students meet those expectations. It’s always good to see those kids you had last year going into first grade.”

Gutowski said she hopes to keep on teaching for a few more years as she still enjoys it.

“I got a few more years in me and hope to finish them out right here with the kindergarten class,” she said.

Lisa Gutowski

By Colin Merry -

Writer

Frankfort’s Derek Jackson says making a difference is best part of teaching

By Colin Merry - Staff Writer

Walking in the shoes of his childhood role models, Derek Jackson is a third grade teacher a Frankfort Elementary School where he once attended as a student.

Jackson started teaching at Frankfort Elementary in 2015 after learning about an opening there while coaching during a summer football camp for Ogemaw Heights High School held in Frankfort. He was selected from the nominations that were made for the Benzie County Record Patriot and Manistee News Advocate’s Extraordinary Educators program, which is designed to highlight the positive aspects and great work local educators are doing on a daily basis. Throughout the 202223 school year readers of the sister publications nominated area teachers for the program.

Prior to teaching at Frankfort Elementary, he taught fifth and sixth grade at Rose City Elementary School in West Branch for three years. For five years he taught fifth grade math and science at RockfishHoke Elementary School in North Carolina.

“I am privileged and lucky to be in the same building I was when I was a kid,” Jackson said. “I was interviewing at some other schools at the time when I heard Clarissa Wright had retired from

Frankfort. I changed my cover letter and sent it in. I got an interview the following week.”

Jackson teaches two third grade classes at Frankfort Elementary.

“It is a lot more intense than what we went through in third grade,” he said. “There is a lot more math and multiplication tables that need to be mastered by the end of the year.”

Jackson taught 21 students during the 2022-23 school year.

Jackson said his favorite thing about teaching is seeing the moment his students understand a lesson.

“You show them the correct way and when they start to pick it up and succeed you know you made a difference,” he said. “That’s the most rewarding part of the job: Those moments when you know you’ve made an impact.”

He also said forming a relationship with other educators and students’ parents is something he enjoys.

“Some of the early morning chats with the other teachers when you first arrive at the building are great; they tend to set the vibe for what the day will be like,” he said. “It is rewarding to develop a

relationship with the students and their parents as well.”

No two days are the same as a teacher, according to Jackson; something else he enjoys about the job.

Jackson has coached the offensive line for Frankfort High School’s varsity and junior varsity football programs for the past eight years. He has coached football for a total of 14 years during his teaching career.

He also coached baseball at Frankfort High School from 2015-18, and was head coach from 2019-20.

Jackson said he knew he was interested in teaching at an early age.

“I think I knew in third grade,” he said. “I had such good role models growing up like Dave Lyon, Jay Yarwood and Mike Zimmerman. They were good male influences when I was growing up without a father at home. It drove me to the career.”

Jackson was recently and his wife Courtney Bower-Jackson were recently, and they have been together for six years. They have three dogs and two cats.

By Colin Merry - Staff Writer

Kim O’Connor has helped students at Benzie County Central Schools at all grade levels as a Title I literacy coach.

O’Connor started her career teaching second and first grade at Lake Ann Elementary School in 2002, where she currently works as a literacy coach for students in kindergarten though fifth grade.

She was selected from the nominations that were made for the Benzie County Record Patriot and Manistee News Advocate’s Extraordinary Educators program, which is designed to highlight the positive aspects and great work local educators are doing on a daily basis. Throughout the 202223 school year readers of the sister publications nominated area teachers for the program.

O’Connor has also worked with students at Platte River Elementary School as a fifth grade teacher, at Benzie Central Middle School as sixth and eighth grade teacher, and stepped in as a substitute at the high school.

She has since become a literacy coach, where she has helped students learn to read at every school in the district.

“I work with individuals and small groups for 15-30 minutes,” O’Connor said. “What I teach can

change based on the grade level and how the students are performing academically. I have to do a lot of pre-planning using student data, and a ton of organizing.”

Aside from being a teacher and literacy coach, O’Connor has worked with various organizations within the school district.

“I am currently a trustee member of the Benzie County Central Schools Educational Foundation,” she said. “I sit on the scholarship committee, and I do a lot of things for the foundation.”

O’Connor said she has been a part of different groups over the years, such as a regional literacy team, Title I committees, adviser on the Power Book Bag program,  adviser for the Youth Advisory Board for the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation and part of the Girls on the Run organization.

She has also worked with the schools’ drama department and volunteered as a Girl Scout leader.

O’Connor said her favorite thing about being a teacher is seeing children “light up” when they succeed.

“Hands down, it is the look on a child’s face that shows you how proud they are of themselves,”

she said. “I work with students who are behind in grade levels, and they’re working hard to fill in the gaps. When they do that, they are so proud of themselves. It brings me to tears sometimes.”

O’Connor said she came from a family of teachers, but teaching wasn’t in the cards at first.

“My sisters and my mother were teachers, and I got a teaching degree from Michigan State University, but I was lured into business,” she said. “I took a year and stayed at home and during that time I volunteered in the classroom where my daughter was attending school at Benzie.”

O’Connor said she discovered she loved teaching.

“I talked with the principal at the time and applied for a position and was fortunate enough to get the position,” she said. “I haven’t looked back yet. It is a passion of mine. I love kids — watching them grow and achieve goals. I love being part of their journey.”

O’Connor has been married for 30 years to Rex O’Connor, and they have three daughters, Madison, Maren and Hadley, all who have graduated from Benzie County Central Schools.

Kim O’Connor loves being a part of students’ journeys

Derek

n-MA PS

She has a sp e cial g ift of makin g lear n in g fu n fo r he r pre scho ole r s.

She g oe s abo ve an d beyo n d to make su re he r stu dents are happy.

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Ms. Mag ee has a heart of Gold!

She care s im m ensely abo ut each an d eve r y o n e of he r stu dents. The tim e an d en e rgy she puts into he r teach in g positio n & stu dents at KND is u nmatche d. We are ve r y ble sse d to have he r at KND.

Co n g ratu latio ns to o n e of o u r Extrao rdinar y Educato r s!

She has h ig h expe ctatio ns fo r stu dents aca dem ically an d behavio rally. She doe s w hat is be st fo r the stu dents by a dvo catin g fo r them to all stakeholde r s. She always has a kin d dispositio n w h ich translate s to positive classro o m relatio nsh ips.

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Always has tim e fo r the ki ds, n o matte r the activity. Fo r year s he has taken the w hole class to tap maple tree s, then ren de r the sap an d make s maple syr u p w h ich the ki ds g et to eat o n the pancake s they make an d also take a jar ho m e. Take s tim e fo r all w ho n ee d it.

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Benjamin He r man Mauntle r - Onekama Co nsoli date d Scho ol

Lisa Guto wski - Kaleva No r man Dickso n

San dy Lu dw ig - Jeffe r so

Kr ystal Mag ee Kaleva No r man Dickso n Scho ols

She is so car in g. Goe s o ut of he r way to make eve r yo n e feel welco m e. The cla ssro o m is relaxin g an d he r sense of hu mo r ju st appeals to eve r yo n e.

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Aman da Clemo ns - Man istee Hig h Scho ol

Ms. Clemo ns is ve r y kin d, tho ug htfu l an d helpfu l. She has wo n de rfu l, en gag in g le ctu re s that are fu nny an d inte re stin g. She is able to intelle ctually an d ve rbally spar w ith he r stu dents in a fu n an d profe ssio nal mann e r. She make s stu dents lo ok fo r ward to class.

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Melissa has h ig h expe ctatio ns fo r all of he r stu dents. She pu she s stu dents to do their be st each an d eve r yday. She is a lea de r that str ive s to do he r ve r y be st fo r he r stu dents.

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Ms. Feyen str ive s to create an enviro nm ent w he re all stu dents are welco m e! As the cho ir, theatre, an d elem entar y mu sic teache r she gets to work w ith stu dents K-12 an d make sure eve r y stu dent has a place in he r classro o m. Ms. Feyen g ive s so many o pportunitie s for stu dents to expre ss themselve s an d fin d clubs an d activitie s that inte re st them o n an d off stage. At the en d of the day, Ms. Feyen always make s the be st possible expe r ience for he r stu dents

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

McAnn Bra dfo rd - Jeffe r so n Elem entar y

Melissa Wardie - Kaleva No r man Dickso n Elem entar y

Aman da Feyen - Man istee Hig h Scho ol

An drea E Mack - Man istee Area Public Scho ols

Ms. An drea Mack is a talente d an d de dicate d teache r. She g oe s abo ve an d beyo n d to pro vi de exceptio nal mu sical expe r ience s for MA PS instr u m ental mu sic stu dents in g ra de s 5 thro ug h

12 . The Manistee ban ds un de r Ms. Mack’s directio n have upheld an d elevate d a lo ng stan ding tra ditio n of excellence. In a d ditio n, Ms. Mack is held in hig h regard by he r colleague s across the state, as a hig hly so ug ht afte r clinician an d a dju dicator. In 2020, the m embe rship of the Michigan Scho ol Ban d an d Orche stra Associatio n selecte d An drea as their teache r of the year for ban d. Ms Mack teache s more than ju st mu sic She lea ds by example, mo deling collaboratio n, de dicatio n, integ r ity, an d the importance of a job well do ne

imp e wel

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Su san Foste r - Man istee ISD

She is an amazing special e ducatio n teache r. She g oe s abo ve an d beyo n d for he r stu dents. When my ki ds are in he r class I kn o w they are safe an d care d for w hile they are being e ducate d. She is always tr ying to fin d the be st possible way to e ducate he r stu dents to the way they lear n, an d the ki ds lo ve he r She ju st an amazing teache r. I ’ m thankfu l my boys have he r for their teache r.

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Mr s. Alisha Sti dham - Buckho r n Scho ol

She is the be st teache r I ’ ve eve r ha d an d is so de dicate d to he r wo rk but also so quick to len d a helpin g han d.

Mr s. Alisha Sti dham is an o utstan din g pr imar y e ducato r. She always puts he r stu dents’ n ee ds fir st. She has h ig h expe ctatio ns fo r lear n in g an d behavio r. Mr s. Sti dham holds all stu dents acco u ntable, w h ile creatin g a safe, n u rtu r in g lear n in g enviro nm ent.

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Nikki To r rey - On ekama Co nsoli date d Scho ols

Extraordinary Educators

Jenn ife r Abel - Man istee Area Public Scho ols

She is such an amazin g teache r!!!

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Mrs. Towersey is an amazing e ducator. She listens to her stu dents an d shows them kin dness in ever y situation. She is always w illing to fin d the best avenue for a child to be successful. She cares deeply for her stu dents an d it shows w ith how confident they are even at such a young age.

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Mr s. Bu rch is the most creative teache r o u r ch ild has ha d. She br in g s creativity into he r daily le sso ns, w h ich is n ot o nly fun fo r stu dents, but also pre sents a diffe rent lear n in g style. She is ve r y o rgan ize d an d an a dvo cate fo r he r stu dents. Ou r ch ild lo ve d havin g he r as a teache r!

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Asa is a to p n otch teache r, coach an d m entor. He always has so m e fun projects an d activitie s up his sleeve to keep ki ds engage d in lear n ing. If he’s n ot in the classro o m he’s coaching Cross Co untr y/Track or he’s o n the Ski slo pe s being a m entor skiing w ith the BV elem entar y ski ki ds. He’s a teache r that ki ds can lo ok up to an d lear n many thing s that aren’t always in bo oks.

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Mr s. Be cca To we r sey - New Co venant Chr istian Aca demy

Asa Kelly - Betsie Valley Elem entar y

Melissa Bu rch - Lake Ann Elem entar y

Extraordinary Educators

Mark Wa ssa - Betsie Valley Elem entar y

A pheno menal e ducator puts the nee ds of his stu dents first an d prepares them for life beyon d scho ol; this is exactly how Mr. Wassa runs his classro o m. He knows the importance of critical thinking skills an d challenges his stu dents at their level while building an d maintaining relationships w ith them. They enjoy his class becau se altho ugh he makes his lessons interesting, the reason so me stu dents enjoy him the most is “Mr. Wassa is a g reat science teacher an d helps u s w ith math.”

Co n g ratu latio ns to o n e of o u r Extrao rdinar y Educato r s!

Have yo u ever m et so m eo ne w hose pre sence make s yo u feel happy an d smile? This is the effect Mrs. O’Co nn or has n ot o nly o n he r stu dents, but anybo dy that co m e s into co ntact w ith he r Mrs O’Co nn or g oe s abo ve an d beyo n d o n the daily at Lake Ann Elem entar y an d it is n otice d. She is the smiling face that g reets the stu dents in the morning an d sen ds them ho m e in the aftern o o n. She is the smiling face the stu dents see as she empo wers them to challenge themselve s an d pro mote s their selfco nfidence in rea ding inter ventio n. Mrs. O’Co nn or helps w he rever is nee de d an d is de dicate d to the well-being of the stu dents She n ot o nly care s abo ut he r co nnectio ns w ith the stu dents, but also the co nnectio ns w ith their parents an d the LAE co m munity Mrs O’Co nn or is an amazing lea der an d e ducat

ator

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Jalen Williams g oe s abo ve an d beyo n d w ith his stu dents. Mr Williams is a Science an d Physics teache r, but he also doe s tutor ing afte r scho ol. If that wasn’t en o ug h, he helps ki ds w ith Math, an d he also is do ing the Science Olympia d as well! He has n ot o nly sho w n it but pro ve d o ve r an d o ve r that he is tr u ly he re for the stu dents! Thanks Mr. Williams, for being a stu dent an d parent favor ite!!

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

ol

Mrs. Juras remin ds me of Miss Honey on Matilda. She has a heart of pure gold. She is un derstan ding, sweet an d loving! I praise her for all of her patience & enthusiasm. Thank you for being there for our children an d helping their little min ds grow. I appreciate you.

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Holly Ju ras - Frankfo rt Elem entar y Scho

Jalen Williams - Benzie Central Hig h Scho ol

Kim O’Co nn o r - Lake Ann Elem entar y

Alliso n Pfeuffe r - Lake Ann Elem entar y

Alli is the defin itio n of w hat kin d of teache r a parent ho pe s their child w ill have in their elem entar y years. She has a calm dem ean or, but is able to succe ssfu lly manage the class w ith g race. She empo we rs he r stu dents an d co ntin ually enco urage s them to do their pe rso nal be st. She tr u ly care s abo ut he r stu dents. He r stu dent’s smile s say it all.

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Belva Whaley - Benzie Central Hig h Scho ol

Belva is o n e of the spe cial e ducatio n teache r s he re at Benzie Central Hig h Scho ol. She is o n e of the g reate st! She enco u rag e s he r stu dents to g et their wo rk do n e an d tu r n e d in an d w hen the re’s a stu dent in n ee d, she reache s o ut. Thank yo u fo r all yo u do an d please kee p that sm ile in yo u r face eve r y day!

Co n g ratu latio ns to o n e of o u r Extrao rdinar y Educato r s!

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Mrs. Johnson is a fabulous assistant pre-scho ol teacher. Our ki ds love her! Mrs. Johnson comes to work w ith a smile on her face ever yday, no matter what she’s go ing through, an d she can always fin d a way to brighten a ki d’s day.

Thank you, Mrs. Johnson.

Co n g ratu latio ns to o n e of o u r Extrao rdinar y Educato r s!

Mr s. Kir sten Lambe rt - Lake Ann Elem entar y

Kirsten is a hard-working staff member at Lake Ann Elementar y. She is one of the greatest! The ki ds love her, an d the way she han dles situations is the best! Kirsten is a passionate teacher!

Co n g ratu latio ns to o n e of o u r Extrao rdinar y Educato r s!

Lin dsay Johnso n - Lake Ann Elem entar

De rek Jackso n - Frankfo rt Elem entar y Scho ol

Have yo u eve r ha d to be in a small ro o m sur ro un d by sixteen 8-year old boys? Anyo ne w ho can do that day in an d day an d keep a smile o n their face de se r ve s a g old m e dal in my bo ok Mr Jackso n has the patience of a saint He care s deeply for all of his stu dents. He m eets them w he re they ’ re at, an d make s lear ning fun an d engag ing. He’s able to han dle chaos in str i de No amo unt of “twe rking” or “the g r itty” can r uffle his feathe rs. Co m e to think of it, pe r haps Mr. Jackso n de se r ve s the Nobel Peace Pr ize…

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Mark Tu r n e r

New Chr istian Co venant Aca demy

Mr. Turner continues to go above an d beyon d for his stu dents. He is fully investe d in both their academic an d personal growth. He is equipping his high scho ol stu dents everyday to become in depen dent thinkers an d helps them prepare to be successful in this world. Mr. Turner’s passion for teaching an d care for his stu dents is evident to me in our daughters happiness an d her academic successes

Co n g ratu latio ns to o n e of o u r Extrao rdinar y Educato r s!

Jeff Seymo u r - Benzie Central Hig h Scho ol

Miss Abby defines excellence. Not only is she a charismatic, calm, natural expert e ducator of our youngest learners, but she is also the most kin d, empathetic, an d thoughtful parent support. She truly makes the difference for the parents of babies experiencing their first “away from home” experiences.

Extrao rdina

I am n o minating Jeff becau se he m eets his stu dents w he re they are at. Not o nly in the classro o m but he supports w ho they are an d w hat they can beco m e. He sets realistic expectatio ns for his them an d teache s in a way that is relatable for the stu dent an d u sable in the real wor ld. At the seco n dar y level it can be easy to lose the co nnectio n yo u make w ith stu dents at the elem entar y level, but Jeff g oe s o ut of his way to make stu dents feel seen an d important, even if he doe sn’t realize it Mr Seymo ur tr u ly is a valuable e ducator an d w hen he retire s those shoe s w ill n ot be ea ire be easily fille d.

o n e

o u r dinar y Educato r s!

Co n g ratu latio ns to o n e of o u r

Extrao rdinar y Educato r s!

Abby Fraly - Cr ystal Lake Elem entar y

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Wen dy is the embo dim ent of w hat make s a g reat teache r. Co mpassio n, dr ive, dete r m inatio n, an d de dicatio n are ju st a few qualitie s of w h ich she posse sse s makin g he r an extrao rdinar y teache r.

Marcy Hammon d GT Nor man Elementar y in Ree d City

Marcy teaches SEL to our stu dents. She teaches them to respect themselves, each other, an d the world. She teaches them how to appropriately deal w ith emotions. She helps them learn coping mechanisms for stress. She mo dels respect, love, an d frien dship. She goes above an d beyon d for our stu dents. We are so blesse d to have her.

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Co n g ratu latio ns to o n e of o u r Extrao rdinar y Educato r s!

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She g oe s abo ve an d beyo n d each day to make su re he r stu dents kn o w they are care d fo r w h ile in he r classro o m! She’s o n e of a kin d!

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinary Educators!

If Beth is or has been your child’s teacher you know exactly how fun loving an d kin d she is. She is always go ing above an d beyon d for her stu dents. There is a sparkle about her that is unmatche d. Thank you Beth for all that you do in an d out of the classro om for our kids an d community! We love you!!!

Congratulations to one of our Extraordinar y Educators!

Wen dy Kalu sh - Benzie Central Hig h Scho ol

Su san Dam e ro n - Cr ystal Lake Elem entar

Beth Roethle r - Frankfo rt Elem entar y

Melissa Kittle so n

Frankfo rt-Elbe rta Elem entar y Scho ol

Melissa is a secon d grade teacher at Frankfort. She an d her team teacher, Beth Roethler, are definitely the dynamic duo for Frankfort Elementary. She is so compassionate about e ducation an d for ms a strong relationship w ith her stu dents to show that she cares about them an d their nee ds. Besides what she does in the classro om, she is very active in many committees an d goes above an d beyon d to help improve any aspect of our scho ol. Melissa does all this while also raising four kids in her own home. Thank you for all you do for our scho ol an d our commmunity Melissa!

Co n g ratu latio ns to o n e of o u r

Extrao rdinar y Educato r s!

Anna Luxfo rd

Frankfo rt Elbe rta Scho ol

She is amazin g so kin d an d patient w ith all of he r stu dents an d co m e s u p w ith ways to make lear n in g fu n.

Car ibe McClellan

Cr ystal Lake Elem entar y

Caribe is an extraordinar y teacher. Her patience w ith children lets them know she cares. She brings in new i deas an d experiences to keep stu dents intereste d an d learning.

Co n g ratu latio ns to o n e of o u r

Extrao rdinar y Educato r s!

Jan en e Gee - Betsie Valley Elem entar y

Janene is a one of a kin d teacher! She goes above an d beyon d for her stu dents an d even though the focus of her career is e ducating these young children, She makes sure they leave her classro om w ith more then the core basics learning, an d is always putting the stu dents first.

Co n g ratu lat Extrao rdina io ns to o n e of o u r dinar y Educato r s!

Co n g ratu lat Extrao rdina io ns to o n e of o u r dinar y Educato r s!