2022-2023 Extraordinary Educators - HDT - 06/24/23

Extraordinary Educators

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

Jessica Zarnke gives students passion for music

By Connor Veenstra, staff writer

Jessica Zarnke is among five Huron County educators to win the Huron Daily Tribune’s 2023 Extraordinary Educator Award. Zarnke teaches elementary music to over 400 kids at Laker School District, a subject she’s been passionate about since her own school days.

She excelled at band and other music in high school, and now she works on growing her students into musicians as well.

“I wanted to share that enjoyment of music with others, so I decided to become a music teacher,” she said.

“In any given 55-minute music lesson, she has students singing, dancing, moving, acting, and playing a multitude of instru-

ments,” added Laker Elementary Principal Jill VerBurg. “Her lessons are a true work of art!”

Watching her students become interested in and intrigued by music is when Zarnke’s job is most enjoyable. They often use instruments in class they’ve never played before and she gets to watch them grow as musicians and classmates until they leave her classes after fifth grade.

“I love seeing their happiness when making music in different ways,” she said.

Teaching the same children over long periods of time helps Zarnke develop good relationships with them, which she says is the most important part of being a teacher.

“When that relationship is developed, there is a level of trust and respect established that makes your classroom a safe place to learn, make mistakes and try again, and to never give up,” she explained.

Outside of the classroom, Zarnke works with the rest of the staff to make as rich an educational experience for their students as possible.

“She’s often a driving force behind the scenes of many projects, but never asks for the spotlight,” said VerBurg. “She just digs in and gives 100%.”

Zarnke expressed her gratitude for everybody who voted for her to receive the award.

Extraordinary Educator: Russ Clark

By Renae King, CMU Intern

Every morning, Russ Clark eagerly awaits the arrival of his students. Standing at the entrance to the school, Clark warmly greets the children and their parents, hoping to receive a smile in return. This, he says, has been his favorite part of being an elementary school principal.

Clark began his career in education shortly after college, when he started as the interim principal in the Carsonville-Port Sanilac School district. Six years later, he moved to Bad Axe, where he worked as the principal at Ascent High School for an additional six years.

While he enjoyed his time working in alternative education at his past schools, his true calling was in elementary education.

For the past two years, Clark has been working as the principal at Bad Axe Elementary, a move that he says was “a great stepping stone” for him in moving his own career forward.

Clark said he originally went to college to pursue a career working with computers. However, he quickly realized that it wasn’t something he enjoyed doing.

Soon after, he changed to elementary education, a choice he said

was inspired by his mother, who taught in Brown City. Witnessing her dedication and the positive impact she had on others had inspired him to follow in her footsteps.

“I loved what she did and how she helped others,” he said.

Clark said that while he had many other opportunities to pursue different career paths, he had specifically chosen elementary education because he had wanted to become a positive role model for younger students.

His main goal as an educator has been to make a difference in the lives of children, whether academically or otherwise.

Reflecting on his career, Clark finds it difficult to pinpoint a single favorite moment. However, a significant experience for him was receiving a flower from a student at Ascent High School during a flower ceremony.

During this ceremony, graduating students were given a flower that they would then give to the person who influenced the student’s journey to graduation.

Receiving this flower from the student had served as a reminder of the positive impact he had on his students’ lives.

This, he described, was “a pretty awesome moment.”

In addition to his principal duties, Clark is also in charge of the homeless liaison for the district, helping to connect students in need of extra help with services such as their backpack program or getting them food or gas cards for parents.

Upon hearing that he had won the Extraordinary Educator Award, Clark said he was very appreciative to his community for being recognized for his dedication to education. He also acknowledged his fellow educators at Bad Axe, recognizing their shared commitment to their students’ success.

To current and aspiring educators, Clark emphasized the importance of perseverance and self-care, noting that personal time allows you to re-energize.

“Having that time to yourself is very important as well for you and your family and that way you can re-energize and put it back into your students and staff,” he said.

Clark is committed to continuing to shape young minds and ensure that each student experiences positive change from the first day of school to the last.

Jessica Zarnke

Russ Clark

Kramer dedicates more than two decades to agricultural teaching

By Renae King, CMU Intern

Melissa Kramer has always loved taking agricultural classes in school. This love had inspired her to later pursue a career in education to become an ag teacher herself.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Kramer dedicated the past 20 years of her life to teaching agricultural classes at Ubly High School. As an ag teacher and an FFA advisor, she teaches students ranging from seventh to 12th grade.

Kramer says that her primary goal as an educator is to ignite enthusiasm and engagement in her students. She believes that by getting students excited about their learning and involved in hands-on projects, she can instill a sense of belonging and a desire to succeed from her students.

One of the aspects Kramer said she cherishes the most about being an ag teacher has been the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with her students.

“I get to have kids for four to six years, most of them, so I really get to know them and their families,” she said.

Unlike other classes that students are required to take, Kramer says that her students choose to take her agricultural classes because they have a genuine interest in the field.

Kramer’s dedication to her job has not gone unnoticed. Her love for teaching and the positive environment she fosters have made a lasting impact on both her students and her own children.

Her daughter, inspired by her mother’s passion, has expressed her desire to become an agricultural teacher herself.

“My own daughter wants to be an ag teacher, and she tells people it’s because she sees her mom love her job everyday and she wants a job she’ll love everyday,” Kramer said.

Seeing her students do well in contests and seeing them become excited about their achievements, Kramer has said, have been some of the most rewarding experiences since becoming an ag teacher.

Kramer said she was surprised to hear about her nomination for the Extraordinary Educator Award. And while she was initially taken aback, she said that she was thankful to the community for always being so

welcoming.

“When I first came, I wasn’t from Huron County,” she said. “I wasn’t from Ubly and from the moment I walked in the door I felt like I was welcome. And the teaching staff here and the administrators have always been outstanding to work with and work for. It’s just a really nice place to be.”

To aspiring educators, Kramer emphasized the importance of perseverance. She acknowledged that the first few years of teaching can be challenging, both in terms of curriculum and engaging students. However, she reassures newcomers that the hard work pays off.

“It’s a lot of work that first, second, third year trying to figure out the curriculum,” she said. You’ve got to figure out how to get kids to do what you want to do… But if you can survive the first three years, it gets a lot better.”

Kramer’s unwavering dedication to her students and the agricultural community has made a lasting impact. As she continues to inspire and guide the younger generation, her contributions to education and her rural community showcase the power of passionate educators.

Kayla Treib: A lifelong teacher

By Connor Veenstra, Staff writer

Kayla Treib from Owendale-Gagetown Area Schools has found herself among the winners of this year’s Extraordinary Educator Awards. She extended a thank you to everyone who voted for her this year.

“Teaching and working with children is a true passion of mine and something I look forward to each and every day,” she said.

Treib has taught at Owen-Gage for all 14 years she’s been in education, teaching a variety of subjects to third-, fourth- and fifth-graders.

“She devotes herself equally to all students and still manages to stay involved in multiple school activities and plan events, including

STEM nights for the school,” said Owen-Gage Superintendent Terri Falkenberg.

“It is a positive family atmosphere where you are able to get to know your students and continue to watch them grow and succeed all the way through school,” Treib said of Owen-Gage. “The staff is also wonderful to work with and so supportive of each other. I have developed so many friendships along the way.”

The small school environment has also allowed Treib to be involved in other aspects outside the classroom. She’s the advisor for the National Honor Society, the robotics team coach, and she’s involved in the PTO.

“Being able to work with staff and

students outside of the classroom continues to build those relationships and have fun along the way,” she said.

And those relationships with students, according to Treib, are the most important part of being a teacher.

“Once they know that you care about them, then an abundance of learning can take place,” she said.

Treib has loved working with children for as long as she can remember and she’s eager to continue making a difference with students in the classroom.

“I love seeing them grow and be successful in all areas of their life,” she said. “Teaching is the only place I could ever imagine being.”

Melissa Kramer

Kayla Treib

By Renae King, CMU Intern

Amy Schweitzer had never imagined her life turning out the way it is now. Her love of mathematics had originally drawn her toward a career in accounting. However, after having children, her interest in pursuing a career in education peaked.

She now teaches kindergarten through eighth grade at Verona Mills School, a small, one-room schoolhouse in the outskirts of Bad Axe.

As a schoolhouse teacher, she is the “jack of all trades,” spending her time teaching her students core curriculum such as math, science, social studies, reading and writing, but also working as a nurse, counselor, principal and gym teacher.

These tasks, she says, would be impossible without the help of Verona’s two full-time teacher’s aides, Nancy Booms and Audrey Siemen.

“I couldn’t do it without them,” Schweitzer said. “They are super supportive and I appreciate them so much.”

Despite the many other duties that come with being a schoolhouse teacher, Schweitzer says her main goal is to simply teach the students their curriculum and

to help them become successful in high school and successful in society.

In the beginning, Schweitzer said she never pictured herself working at a schoolhouse teaching such a wide age range of students.

She was student teaching in Bad Axe when she heard about a position at Kipper School, a schoolhouse near Harbor Beach, opening up. She applied and got the job, starting her elementary teaching career.

She taught at Kipper for three years, before she started teaching at Verona Mills School.

Thirteen years later and Schweitzer says that she wouldn’t change a thing.

“The whole rural school setting is memorable in and of itself,” she said. “I just love the whole experience of it.”

Schweitzer describes the school’s atmosphere as that of a family. She says the older students are always looking after the younger ones at school. She also says that because she generally has her students for nine years, she gets to really know both her students and their families.

When she had heard that she had received the Extraordinary Educator Award,

she had immediately thought about the amazing families she has supporting her.

“For them to take the time out of their personal day to nominate me for something like that, I’m like, ‘That’s so sweet.’ It just shows what a great community we have in our school,” she said.

Schweitzer says some of the most rewarding experiences as a teacher for her have been to watch her students grow from year to year.

“When you have a student who is really struggling with something and they find a way to help them overcome that difficulty,” she said. “I think that would probably be the most rewarding. Just those experiences of watching the students grow.”

For anyone hoping to pursue a career in education, Schweitzer encourages them to not get discouraged by the amount of paperwork that comes with the job.

Love of mathematics leads to teaching career Congratulations Extraordinary Educators!

“Your heart is into working with the kids and you just want to work with them and help them and teach them, but you do get overwhelmed and bogged down with a lot of paperwork,” she said. “But it’s God’s plan to educate children and stick with that and make the biggest difference you can.”

Amy Schweitzer

Mallo r y Kloso wski - Owen dale Gag eto w n Scho ols

Mallo r y is a g reat teache r. She is always makin g su re the n ee ds of he r stu dents an d m et an d are puttin g them fir st. She is co nstantly g o in g o ut of he r way to make su re they are g ettin g the e ducatio n n ee de d.

Je ssica Zar nke - Lake r Elem entar y

Mrs. Zar nke puts an extrao rdinar y amo unt of tim e an d talent into special mu sical prog rams thro ug ho ut the year. She is involve d in the many activitie s the PTOC puts o n du r in g the scho ol year an d is active in the co m mun ity as well. Mrs. Zar nke is a positive role mo del to both he r stu dents an d co worke rs.

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o u r Teache r s!

Ke r r y McLean - Ca seville Public Scho ols

Fo r bein g a wo n de rfu l teache r to he r stu dents!

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o u r Teache r s!

Holly Roth-Guza - Ba d Axe Hig h Scho ol

Such an amazin g teache r w ho is involve d w ith many othe r scho ol activitie s!

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o u r Teache r s!

Robbi Schaffe r - Cross Luthe ran

He r pa ssio n fo r e ducatio n an d lo ve fo r he r stu dents is tr u ly u nmatche d.

Aman

da

We ssels - Ba d Axe Public Scho ols

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L VES o u r Teache r s!

Jo rdyn No rdstro m - Ca ss City

She g oe s abo ve an d beyo n d to be an active part of he r stu dents live s insi de an d o utsi de of scho ol!

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L VES o ur Teache rs!

Aman da is an amazin g spe cial e ducatio n teache r Ba d Axe Scho ols. She is always fin din g ways to co nn e ct w ith he r stu dents to fin d bette r ways fo r them to lear n. She is a hug e su ppo rte r of the scho ol distr ict an d always fin din g ways to g o abo ve an d beyo n d he r positio n. Go Hatchets!

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L VES o ur Teache rs!

Jam ie Webe r - Owen dale Gag eto w n Scho ols

Miss Webe r is a g reat gym teache r an d co ach! She g ets the ki ds to inte ract an d actually participate in class. She is also a g reat basketball co ach. Thank yo u fo r all yo u do fo r the stu dents!

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Mr s. Evans always g oe s abo ve an d beyo n d fo r he r stu dents! She r u ns Drama Club an d also Art Club afte r scho ol. She is always the re fo r he r stu dents an d they kn o w she care s. Thank yo u fo r bein g an amazin g teache r!

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Tanya Evans - Owen-Gag e Scho ols

Tim e an d effo rt put in to br in g jo y n ew excitem ent to the classro o m, an d extra afte r scho ol activitie s.

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o ur Teache rs!

Miss Simpso n is br in g in g in n ew an d helpfu l m etho ds to teach he r stu dents, w h ile also car in g fo r the ki ds an d g ivin g 110% at eve r yth in g she doe s.

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Kr isten Co nn elly - Croswell-Lexin gto n Mi d dle Scho ol

Kr isten is the teache r yo u want yo u r ki ds to have! She care s fo r he r stu dents an d co nstantly g oe s abo ve an d beyo n d to help them as stu dents an d as peo ple. Ki ds kee p in to uch w ith he r fo r year s! She’s a favo r ite by both stu dents an d parents.

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Tanya Evans - Owen dale Gag eto w n Scho ols

Be cca Simpso n - Lake r Elem entar y Scho ol

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.

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

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATORS

Kayla Tr ieb - Owen dale Gag eto w n Scho ol

Mr s. Treib helps he r stu dents trem en do u sly w ith gain in g the skills they n ee d e spe cially if they n ee d the little bit mo re! She is also cu r rently teach in g 3 g ra de s th is year an d doe s an amazin g job of kee pin g he r classro o m o n task!

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L VES

o ur Teache rs!

Jo rdyn No rdstro m - Ca ss City Hig h Scho ol

She is a wo n de rfu l Teache r.

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o ur Teache rs!

Te r r i Mau re r - Ba d

Axe Elem entar y Scho ol

Mr s. Mau re r is a teache r that really lo oks o ut fo r stu dents. She make s su re that he r stu dents are rea dy fo r the n ext g ra de level w h ile still havin g fu n an d bein g silly in the classro o m.

Ca sie Adams - OLLH

Mr s. Adams is such a wo n de rfu l part of o u r scho ol! She puts so much lo ve into w hat she doe s an d it sho ws.

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L VES o ur Teache rs!

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L VES o ur Teache rs!

Amy Schweitze r - Ve ro na Mills Scho ol

Mrs. Schweitze r manage s to teach Kin de rgarten thro ug h 8th g ra de in o ne of o ur o ne ro o m scho ols. Not o nly doe s she teach all the se stu dents each subject, but she also acts as a pr incipal, n urse, lunch la dy, an d co unselor w hen nee de d. She spen ds many of he r lunche s, tim e before an d afte r scho ol, an d prep pe r io ds helping stu dents. She spen ds many ho urs at scho ol prepar ing for each day. Mrs. Schweitze r doe s a phen o m enal job of helping ki ds reach their fu ll potential, an d take s each stu dents nee ds into co nsi de ratio n.

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L VES o ur Teache rs!

Kelsey Osentoski - Huron Inter me diate Scho ol District

Kelsey is a pe r so n w ho always g oe s o ut of he r way to put he r stu dents an d staff fir st. She g oe s abo ve an d beyo n d to make he r stu dents feel safe an d welco m e d. He r en e rg etic self an d u pbeat pe r so nality are traits that defin e he r! MI

Mr s. Bobbie - Ba d Axe Elem entar y Scho ol

She always has a sm ile o n he r face. Mr s. Bobbie make s su re that the ki ds n ot o nly eat yu m my m eals but also have fu n in the cafete r ia. She always has it de co rate d so n ice an d invitin g.

Mr s. So renso n was my math teache r fo r 6th, 7th, an d 8th g ra de, my co wo rke r in 2014, an d my M o m since 1989!

She is in he r 38th year of teach in g - all at at OLLH Scho ols, an d co ntin ue s to be a pro m in ent, positive figu re in the co m mun ity. Lo ve yo u M o m!

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Mr s Kram e r is n ot o nly an amazin g ag teache r she is also an extrem ely g reat Ffa a dviso r. She puts many extra hr s in to g ive stu dents eve r y possible chance to a dvance n ot o nly in h ig hscho ol but fo r their futu re as well. She g oe s abo ve an d beyo n d eve r y day.

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Su san So renso n - Ou r La dy of Lake Hu ro n Scho ols

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Melissa Kram e r - Ubly Co m mu n ity Scho ol

Mr s. A. Isele r - ISD Lear n in g Cente r

Spe cial Educatio n

Teache r s are ve r y spe cial in divi duals. Th is o n e r ig ht he re take s such g o o d care of my Em!

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L VES o ur Teache rs!

Deb Ke r vin - Ba d Axe Public Scho ols

Deb Ke r vin wo rks hard to m eet the n ee ds of all of he r stu dents an d un de r stan ds that the re are many paths in life. Deb n ot o nly fo cu se s o n college pre paratio n, but also caree r, te chn ical , an d life skills that yo un g a du lts sho u ld kn o w. She is a life lo n g lear n e r, an d o n e of the be st teache r s Ba d Axe Public Scho ols has. Thank yo u Deb fo r makin g the wo r ld a bette r place.

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Kr is Wr ig ht - Ubly Elem entar y Scho ol

Mr s. Kr is Wr ig ht is at the heart of o u r Bearcat Fam ily. She is always g o in g the extra m ile an d yo u w ill see he r involve d in var io u s afte r scho ol an d co m mu n ity activitie s. She is also the “mo m ” of o u r infamo u s scho ol the rapy do g Sha do w:)

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L VES o ur Teache rs!