PIO-Extraordinary Educators 06/22/2024

Extraordinary Educators

June 22, 2024

Thank yo u to all of o u r amazing sp o nso rs t h is pa s t year!

A HUGE THANK YOUR TO EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR THE FOLLOWING TEACHERS! WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE PROGRAM FOR FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR!

Spotlight Educator

Morley Elementary teacher blends academics with social skills

By Olivia Fellows, Pioneer staff writer

MORLEY — For one Morley Stanwood Elementary educator the focus in her classroom is on academic success and growing good humans.

Sara Penness began working at Morley Stanwood Elementary in 2017 after previously working in schools in Montana and Las Vegas, Nevada.

“I went to school and just wanted to help kids,” Penness said. “I had some good influences in my life. There were some teachers that impacted me in positive ways and I wanted to do the same thing. I’m hoping that’s what I’m doing.”

When Penness began teaching she struggled

to find open positions that fit her goals but found Morley Stanwood was a good option for her.

The biggest reason Penness chose to move to Michigan was to spend more time with her mother, who was sick at the time.

“It was just a little blessing that just kind of came along,” Penness said.

Penness’ goal in the classroom is to connect with her students and educate on both academic and social responsibility.

She said she believes there’s more to education than just data and test results when working in elementary education.

“I want to make a connection with them to start,” Penness said.

“When you first start with them, you don’t know how sensitive they are. There are so many factors that play into them learning, and it takes that first part of the year a lot of times to figure that out. When you have that connection, you kind of kind of build on it the rest of the year.”

Penness has looped — the practice of matching students with the same teacher — for two years, and said the second year has always been where she finds she knows her students, they know her and they know each other’s expectations.

Penness said her key to effectively educating young students is to pay attention and have alternatives.

“Some kiddos need

something tactile, some kiddos are technologydriven,” Penness said. “You’re watching what they’re doing and you’re watching their scores and experimenting to see, ‘is this going to work for them better?’”

Penness said her favorite subject to teach is reading as she sees it as a fundamental component of early childhood education. She said she always love seeing student’s faces light up when they read.

“When I see them reading all of a sudden and then they start to read with expression and I try to get a little animated sometimes to get them excited,” Penness said. “It’s overwhelming sometimes what their little brains are able

to absorb. When I see them reading and they’re reading with expression I kind of get a little giddy inside because it’s exciting to see that happening in there.”

Being able to work with a wide variety of young students from different backgrounds from a class comprised of majority non-English speaking students in Las Vegas to more rural classrooms in Morley, she said experiencing different education environments gave a new additional understanding of student diversity and challenges.

Penness said her advice for future teachers is to embrace the fact that there is a lot more than academics to teaching,

especially in elementary schools.

For Penness, being an educator has taught her how to build and grow by learning from her mistakes.

“There’s just so much more than just teaching the skills,” she said. “As far as becoming a teacher, knowing the importance of classroom management is great because none of it can happen without that. If there’s not any kind of structure or management, the classroom is just chaos.”

Penness encourages future teachers to connect with every student to learn how they best learn and foster success through kindness, patience and attentiveness.

Sara Penness began working at Morley Stanwood Elementary School in 2017. (Photos by Olivia Fellows)

Sara Penness began working at Morley Stanwood Elementary in 2017 and enjoys connecting with students through reading and social skills. (Photos by Olivia Fellows)

Spotlight Educator

Reed City teacher makes kindergarten feel like home

By Dylan Schwartz, Pioneer staff writer

REED CITY — G.T.

Norman Elementary kindergarten teacher

Shannon Vandawater strives to make her classroom feel like home.

She has been teaching for 13 years, with 10 years teaching preschool and three years teaching kindergarten, and she plans to continue at the kindergarten level.

Vandawater initially didn’t finish college but wanted to set an example for her kids, much like she tries to do for her students,

so she returned to Baker College and graduated with a degree in education two years ago.

“I feel proud that they got to see me accomplish something. You can always go back and finish and be whatever you want to be at any time in life. It doesn’t matter what age you are,” she said.

For Vandawater, teaching is more than books, teaching and memorization.

“It just gives me an opportunity to start some of these kids’ education, whether they’ve had preschool or not. I get to be the

first person that they get to come in and say, ‘Hey, I got to have Mrs. Vandawater, and I enjoyed my kindergarten experience.’ That’s my goal,” she said.

She describes her kindergarten class as like a family and makes sure her students know from the first day in her classroom that she is their “biggest fan.”

“I want them to feel like they can get a hug if needed. Or, if we need to sit down and have a serious conversation, we can do that. I want them to feel like they’re my own kids,” she said. Though watching

“her kids” cycle through year after year can be emotionally challenging, as she values the relationships she builds with her students and their families, seeing them grow is worth it for Vandawater.

“I have kids that are in 10th and 11th grade coming back to me, ‘Oh my gosh, Mrs. Vandawater, I had you in preschool.’ Believe it or not, you remember every one of their names, and their personalities don’t change much. You get to be a big part of their life, their education and who they become as a person,” she said.

Vandawater tries

to include handson activities and draws from her own experience as a farmer.

“Whether it’s planting plants, talking about animal science or talking about their families and pets and bringing some of their culture into the classroom, I think that’s huge. I like giving them real-life experiences. They learn best through those,” she said.

Over her 13 years of educating others, Vandawater has also learned valuable lessons, with the chief insight being humility and vulnerability.

“I think it’s super important to admit when you make a

mistake, and we all make mistakes. Guess what? Mrs. Vandawater doesn’t know everything. It’s okay to say, ‘Hey, I don’t know,’ and have to look it up with them, find out information and learn along with them,” she said.

Vandawater thanked the parents who make her job possible and said they “go above and beyond” for their kids.

“They’re there to help. Without them at home, I couldn’t do my job,” she said. “They’ve created these amazing little people, and I get to be part of their life every day for our whole school year.”

G.T. Norman Elementary kindergarten teacher Shannon Vandawater’s motto is posted inside her classroom. (Photos by Dylan Schwartz)

G.T. Norman Elementary kindergarten teacher Shannon Vandawater strives to make her classroom feel safe and comfortable for her students. (Photos by Dylan Schwartz)

TIFFANY REHKOPF

Big Rapids Middle School She’s such a

Spotlight Educator

Michaela Wood gets joy in seeing students thrive, smile

By Brendan Sanders, Pioneer staff writer

BIG RAPIDS — Over at St. Mary Catholic School, preschool teacher Michaela

Wood has been one of the key teachers in the school’s preschool program.

Wood began work in the preschool area eight years ago. After graduating from Lakeview High School

and marrying her high school sweetheart, Wood wasn’t sure what she was going to do for a living. She began work at the Early Learning Center in Grand Rapids.

“They threw me in the three-year-old room, and I never left so that was about seven, eight years ago, and been teaching preschool ever since.”

Wood said. “I got thrown in this room and I didn’t know if that’s what I wanted to be, but I got to spend all my time with them and seeing them get to learn new skills. Seeing their faces light up with that joy was passed on to me. After that I never wanted to not have that joy with them.”

Currently, Wood has

a Child Development Associate credential and is currently working toward her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development with a minor in Family Studies at Central Michigan University.

“Just learning how to make sure the child can continue to succeed in school. Not how the school can succeed with a child, but how the child can succeed in school.” Wood said.

After beginning her career at EightCap Headstart, Wood has spent the last two years teaching at St. Mary Catholic School, 927 Marion Ave. This has allowed Wood to develop multiple skills when it comes to teaching preschoolers.

“Thriving in chaos is a skill when teaching at a preschool. My aid, Ms. Sherry, has been a heaven sent. Then just handling social, emotional skills, I’ve learned how to handle children with behavioral needs.”

Wood said.

Wood is able to work while having her own young children always nearby at St. Mary.

“So at first it was hard when he was in my room, but now it’s so nice to be able to grab hugs whenever I can. We see each other at lunch every day. It’s awesome to have my kids come here.” Wood said.

While also teaching at the area’s Catholic school, Wood has found it to be a good way to intermingle her faith with teachings. Wood also said that

at St. Mary she is able to celebrate holidays with her students, something she couldn’t really do at her previous job at EightCap.

“I’ve never been able to have my faith and my teaching be together. So being here, I’m able to do that and I love this aspect of it. My favorite parts are when we get to go to Mass every week on Tuesday and take the preschoolers along with the whole school and I love that.” Wood said.

Extraordinary Educator Michaela Wood loves working in the chaos of preschoolers at St. Mary Catholic School. (Photo by Brendan Sanders)

BROOKE JANZ

Riverview Elementary School

Mrs. Janz has helped my child tremendously and I’d like her to know it hasn’t gone unnoticed! She’s been wonderful and deserves some recognition! Thank you Mrs. Janz!

Congratulations

MRS. JEANNA WATTS

St. Peter’s Lutheran School

Mrs. Watts loves teaching and it shows. She has enthusiasm for all of her students and wants them to succeed! She will develop an individualized learning plan for each student and include parents to help them be successful. Mrs. Watts was the driving force behind the robotics program and last year they won the competition. Mrs. Watts also works hard to teach her students the fundamentals of life: responsibility, Respect, Caring for others and faith.

SARA PENNESS

Morley Stanwood Elementary School

Sara is a phenomenal educator, who truly finds the importance in treating each student as an individual. She promotes kindness and togetherness within her classroom, and even on the hard days, finds a way to ensure that mistakes are okay to be had, as long as they continue to learn from them. She is more than deserving of this nomination!

MICHAELA WOOD

St. Mary Catholic School

Mrs. Wood is amazing with both students and parents. She is caring and loving and her classroom is always open to the families. She advocates for all of her students and truly has their best interest at heart.

SHANNON VANDAWATER

G.T. Norman Elementary School

Shannon Vandawater is an amazing kindergarten teacher. She has an incredible heart for her

She provides them with

and encouragement while also giving them real life experiences. She is one of the very best G.T. Norman has to offer!!

DOREY SIMS

G.T. Norman Elementary School

Mrs. Dorey Sims is a phenomenal 2nd grade teacher! She has a heart of gold and goes out of her way to support her students. Mrs. Sims ensures that every child reaches their full potential academically, socially and emotionally. She is truly committed to her students and their success!

Thank you, Mrs. Sims.

LYNNE JUTILA

Morley Stanwood Middle School

Lynne