Teachers & Healers

Teachers & Healers Saturday, March 23

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HURON DAILY TRIBUNE

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

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Laying the foundation for future schooling Great Start Readiness Program instructor passionate about preparing students for the future Don Starks directs student musicians at the 2015 Thumb Friends of the Arts Band and Choir Festival. (Facebook Photo)

Passion for music sparks Owen-Gage teaching career

BY MARY DRIER For the Tribune OWENDALE — Don Starks’ passion for music has helped him build a career.

“First of all, I love music. I wanted to teach others and share the enjoyment of music with others,” said Starks, who teaches band and geography at the Owendale-Gagetown School District. “I want to help kids to learn to play an instrument, to learn music and to appreciate it.”

Besides teaching the standard band format of music, he also teaches a music elective that embraces an upbeat format.

“I teach a class of rock n’ roll music at the high school. It’s an elective. A teacher gets to pick an elective they want to teach,” he said. “I enjoy rock and roll music. I enjoy teaching it, and the kids enjoy it too.”

He and his students particularly enjoy classic rock.

It’s one class that students can have a say in what is taught and also help with the lesson.

“There have been times when the students write their own songs, and that has been fun. Doing that

Don Starks became a teacher because he loved music, and he wanted to pass that passion on to others at Owen-Gage. Although he can play all of the instruments in the band, there are three he says he plays well.

(Courtesy Photo) was a collaborative effort,” Starks explained.

Starks, who is from Texas, earned his teaching degree at Texas State University. Getting a degree as a band teacher is not as easy.

“You have to learn to play all of the instruments in order to get a degree,”

he said. “I would say I play three instruments well.”

His first teaching job was at Bay City Western, and then for a while he taught in Midland. He has been with the Owen-Gage for the last 21 years.

He plans to retire soon, but that doesn’t mean he won’t still be passing his love for music on to others.

“I’m going to retire at the end of the year. I’m going to enjoy my free time. I will probably continue to teach music in private lessons,” said Starks. “I’ll do some traveling. My daughter lives in Florida, so I will probably go down there in the winter.”

“I’ll do some riding on my Gold Wing (motorcycle),” he added.

And, of course, playing and listening to music will be included in his retirement agenda.

“Some of my favorite bands are the Eagles, Emerson Lake and Palmer, and Chicago. I could go on and on,” he said.

Although he didn’t include Steppenwolf or the song “Born to be Wild,” which is the ultimate bike-riding song, he will probably be at least thinking it as he heads out on the highway this summer as a new retiree.

BY MARY DRIER For the Tribune UBLY — As Ubly’s Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) teacher, Briana Deacons lays the groundwork for a child’s educational and social development.

This is the first school year the Ubly School District has offered the GSRP, basically because there was nowhere to house it. In April 2018, the district bought the former RE-Store Rustic Shabby Chic Furniture business along with the St. John Evangelical Catholic Church Hall at 4454 N. Washington St., and converted it into an early childhood learning center.

“The district had a Head Start Program last year, but this is the first year for GSRP. This is the first (structured) learning program for many of them,” said Deacons, noting the program is for 3 and 4 year olds.

Deacons, who is from Ubly, taught Head Start See GREAT START page 3

Briana Deacons, instructor for Ubly’s Great Start Readiness Program, teaches a variety of skills that will help her students academically and to get along with others as they move from grade to grade — and in life.

(Courtesy Photo)

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SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

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Educator loves working with kids every day Ties to the Thumb stem from family vacations at a young age

BY BILL DILLER For the Tribune UPPER THUMB — Being the daughter of a General Motors executive, Susan Dubs moved around a lot while growing up.

Born in Pennsylvania to parents who are native Detroiters, Dubs’ family lived in a variety of places, including Long Island, New York, and Alabama while she attended school, ultimately graduating from Baldwinsville High School, near Syracuse, New York.

Furthering her education, she attended Auburn University in Alabama for two years.

She then moved to Dallas, Texas, where she graduated from Southern Methodist University with a bachelor’s of business administration, specializing in accounting.

Her travels continued as she entered the work force.

“I worked for a hotel in Dallas, Texas,” Dubs said. “I was a service manager. Then I worked at an insurance company in Chicago, before I ended up back here.”

Throughout her travels as a youngster, her family had managed to find time for vacationing in the Thumb.

“My parents have been coming here since 1956,” Dubs said. “My dad’s godfather had a cottage on Sand Point. Growing up, Huron County was a place my family came for vacation.”

In 1998, she moved to Huron County, where she started a day care center.

Along the way, Dubs met a Laker Schools teacher who suggested she would make a good substitute teacher. So she applied for a job as a sub.

“I didn’t know I could sub with an accounting degree,” Dubs said. “I started subbing here, and at Bad Axe, and different places. I found out I had something I could give back to children.”

After subbing for three years, she decided to return to school in 2001. Dubs attended

GREAT START Continued from Page 2 last year in the North Huron School District.

That was her first teaching assignment.

Ubly’s program is her second teaching position.

“We provide a full day of school. GSRP has a special curriculum that is taught. It teaches school readiness skills,” she said. “It focuses on social and emotional skills, and addresses the whole child.

Math literacy, cognitive, physical, emotional, language skills, and self-regulation skills are taught.”

Deacons earned her teaching degree at Saginaw Valley State University. To teach the GSRP, she had to have an early childhood endorsement on her teaching certificate The first concept a child has to learn in the program is self-regulation skills. Learning and teaching self-regulation skills is a big challenge for students to learn and for Deacons to teach.

“They have to learn to sit and pay attention.

Learn to listen with a purpose when they would rather go play. They work on being able to stay with a challenging task. They have to learn social skills, they have to learn to ask for a toy rather than just grabbing it when they want it. That is also a big one to teach,” said Deacons.

“Because for most of

Susan Dubs, special education teacher at Laker Schools, stands beside a photo array of her students. (Bill Diller/For the Tribune) Saginaw Valley State University, graduating in 2004 with a teaching certificate.

She worked at Cass City High School from 2004 until 2007, and then was hired at Laker Schools in the 2007-08 school year. She’s been there ever since, and plans to continue teaching at Lakers until retirement.

“I have degrees for 6-12 English, 6-12 math, and K-12 in special education,” Dubs said. “I co-teach special education with three other teachers.”

Her duties at Lakers include teaching algebra, English, world history and chemistry, as well as being the special education coordinator. Some classes are in conjunction with other teachers, in their classrooms, where her special education students with individual education program (IEPs) are included. Other students are pulled out, and taught in a separate classroom.

“At Lakers, we have lots of inclusion classes,” Dubs said, “because the State of Michigan and the federal government looks at the least restrictive environment to the general population, as better.”

An IEP is a document that is developed for each child eligible for special education.

“We write goals and objectives, and any special needs a student may have,” Dubs said. “We have students that are shared with the learning center program, but most of

the children, this is their first school experience outside of daycare. I would say over half of them don’t have any experience with other children of their age group, so getting them to learn routines and rules is a big change. That is the biggest challenge as a GSRP teacher is getting them to learn routines.”

The GSRP prepares students to take the next step toward in their eduction.

the kids I work with are on diploma track. A lot of my job is to make sure they’re ready for life after high school.”

Qualification for special education is done through a series of consultations by a team. The team consists of Dubs, a school psychologist, and a school social worker.

Input also comes from the general education teachers, and the student’s parents are part of the team.

“The parents are involved in the complete process,” Dubs said. “We never not include the parents, or the student.”

Not every special education student needs help throughout their school years. Some do well in some subjects, but need help in other areas.

“I’ve had kids that have compensated, especially when it comes to math,” Dubs said.

“They have compensated along the way, but then have trouble when it comes to algebra. I work with the general education algebra teacher.”

Even though she has a degree in accounting and a love of numbers, Dubs loves her teaching schedule at Lakers.

“I don’t want to call myself a geek, but I love math,” Dubs said. “What I like most about what I do is that I have a balance, because I also love literature and writing. I teach English and world history, but I love math. I’m not doing math or English all day long, I get a wide variety, so I’m never bored.”

“GSRP gives them the skills they are going to have to use,” said Deacons. “I enjoy teaching them the skills to get along with other kids, their letters, and counting. Those are the tools they will have to use for the rest of their lives.

“This prepares them for going into the Young 5s program or kindergarten.”

Research has shown children who have high quality preschool experi-

Susan Dubs, special education teacher at Laker Schools, is pictured at her desk. (Bill Diller/For the Tribune) Her students have an assortment of learning problems, but most will go on to be productive members of society.

“I have a lot of kids that go on to further education,” Dubs said. “I’ve got a lot in the health/science program at the tech center; a lot of them are going on to be CNAs or LPNs.” There are also students who go on to other types of jobs.

“We work with the Michigan Rehabilitative Services,” Dubs said. “Kids have an opportunity to work at places like Sleeper State Park during their school years. I’ve had many kids work through the MRS that got a CDL or welding license. I’ve had kids get heavy equipment licenses, or go for office and computer technology type of stuff. I currently have one in the culinary field.”

Satisfaction comes from seeing them do well.

“They decide what they want to do, and I help them do it,” Dubs said. “I want to see them be successful in life, to be happy and find something they like to do. I love working with kids every day, and I plan on doing it for another 16 years, until I retire. I love giv-

ences are more prepared for kindergarten, perform at a higher level throughout school, are more likely to graduate high school, and have a greater chance of attending college.

In Ubly’s GSRP, children are in the classroom from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Friday is a work day for Deacons.

Both GSRP and Head Start are tuition-free preschool programs for those who qualify.

ing back to the community, and giving back to the kids.”

As if teaching isn’t grueling enough, she keeps busy away from school by cooking for families in need. Involved in a program called Meal Train, Dubs prepares meals for people who are undergoing personal problems that may prevent them from concentrating on day-to-day activities, such as a recent birth, surgery or illness. In addition, she is involved in the Laker Relay for Life Team.

“We’ve been doing that since 2011,” Dubs said. “We hit our 100,000 mark this year.”

She is also the junior class advisor, and is an avid photographer, taking numerous photos throughout the years.

At graduation, she presents students with prints documenting their school activities.

Growing up in a variety of locations prepared Dubs for her future by experiencing differences in lifestyles, and the desire to help kids. Her love of teaching combined with her love of this area means the students of Laker Schools will be able to enjoy her brand of special education for years to come.

Relax in a new La-Z-Boy!

We would like to give a big THANK YOU to the teachers and staff at Ascent High School Being a student at Ascent is a second chance for some of us and the perfect learning environment for others. We’ve found friends, a place to fit in, and most of us are finally doing well in school. Everyone has made the experience here enjoyable but we would like to thank the teachers and staff the most.

Hank Weitenberner is one of the teachers we see the most. He notices when we’re upset and he’s always understanding. He helps students with the busses and with our online Odyssey work. If we have any problems with the computers he is the guy to go to. Some people would think he’s a grouchy old man, but on the inside he truly cares about all his students, no matter how annoying we can be.

Mrs. Stirrett is not just a fill in for us. We have appreciated all she has done for our school in the short time she has been here. She always has a smile on her face and is always very helpful.

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Thank you to Mr. Clark for always being more than a principal. You’re always there for your students, even outside of the school. Mr. Clark always goes out of his way to make sure his students are doing okay. He he gives us personal advice and always follows through. Thank you for understanding that some people deserve second chances. You make our Ascent family complete.

Mr. Samson is a teacher who cares and wants to see us succeed. He takes his time on his lessons to make sure we understand and he doesn’t mind questions. He would rather you ask and talk about it than fail the lesson. Thank you Mr. Samson. We are grateful for the the notes and how you handle prompts fairly and logically. Mr. Samson takes pride in his classes and we can tell he enjoys teaching.

Mr. Durr is another teacher who takes pride in what he does. If you don’t understand something in one of his classes you can always approach him for help. He always finds some way to add humor into what he’s teaching. He is the one who asks you questions to get to know you better. Thank you, Mr. Durr, for being able to take a joke and dish it right back. Also thank you for understanding that every student doesn’t learn the same way.

Thank you to Mrs. Swartzendruber for being an amazing art teacher. Even though you’re the newest teacher to our family, you fit in perfectly. You never fail to guide us to be better artists and help us further develop our skills. You go out of your way to make sure we have everything we need and we appreciate it.

Ascent may be an alternative education school but it is always a place we feel welcome. Everyone on staff goes above and beyond our expectations and they truly care about the students. Our family may be small but it makes us feel important. We are glad to say we go to Ascent and this is our favorite school by far.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

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Award-winning teacher finds home at Caseville Tighe’s passion for English, journalism guides her career

said. “It was an exciting job, and I loved it.”

In the course of her overseas duties, she met a Detroit native who was teaching in Saudi Arabia at the time. They ultiBY BILL DILLER mately became a couple.

For the Tribune “We met at a conferCASEVILLE — For ence in Greece,” Tighe Kathleen Tighe, the route said. “At the point where to becoming a teacher we decided we were going crisscrossed the world. to be a thing, I went back She was raised in to school and got my New Jersey and is now a teaching credentials.” teacher at Caseville High She ended up teaching School. In the interim, in Saudi Arabia for 13 she attended Rutgers Uni- years. versity, where she earned During that time, she a degree in English, and had two children. Wantthen pursued a career in ing to raise their kids in journalism. the U.S., the Tighes began “I was very inspired, looking for work closer when I was a little kid, to home. Her husband with the stories about became the superintenWatergate ... the journal- dent at Caseville Schools, ists bringing that adminand Kathleen Tighe took a istration down,” Tighe teaching job. That was 18 said. “I had a few experiyears ago. ences in journalism. I had “I teach the high school an internship and worked English classes,” Tighe a little bit for the Woodsaid. “That includes the bridge News Tribune, and regular English 10, 11, briefly for the Elizabeth and 12, and I teach the Daily Journal, one of the advanced placement first newspapers in the English classes.” country.”

She is also the publicaIt was a short-lived tions instructor. career.

“We put together the “I realized I didn’t have year book and publish the temperament, the the school newspaper,” killer instinct, to go after Tighe said. “I love it. It’s the stories,” Tighe said. “I an opportunity to be a liked it, but I wasn’t very little more creative than good at pushing with the the regular classes allow hard questions.” us to be.”

Moving on, Tighe took Publishing a school a job in the publishing newspaper gives her the industry, working for chance to return to her the New York City-based journalism days. She McMillan Publishing feels that reporting the Company. She became a news is important, and is marketing representative concerned with the state in the international diviof journalism in today’s sion. society.

“I worked there for “I worry about where about six years,” Tighe people are getting their

news,” Tighe said. “I worry about the quality of that news. I think the way newspapers have been put together traditionally ... there’s a lot of research that goes into what’s going to be published.

And, there’s time to make sure that what’s being published is accurate.

With our current 24-hour news cycle, the minute something’s reported, it’s out there.”

She believes there are disadvantages to having instant access to the news.

“There isn’t the same kind of in-depth research being put into it,” Tighe said. “I’ve thought about this a lot recently, about the fact that we, as Americans, don’t seem to have a shared news source the way people used to. My parents tuned in to the same source as everyone else, like Walter Cronkite, who had built up a reputation as being trustworthy.

I don’t think we have that today.”

She thinks it has affected the attention span of her students.

“It’s all so fast,” Tighe said. “They don’t take the time to think about it, and reflect. Even just the activity of reading the newspaper ... flipping the pages and going through the stories ... it’s a very different mental process.

It’s very difficult to get the kids to slow down and really pay attention to something for a long period of time.”

Reading and writing are important components of her classes, and the inability to concentrate for long periods of time affects their ability to study.

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ing that way. So, in that sense, they’re seeing using language as something valuable.”

Due to the Internet, they also read more. But it’s a different type of reading.

“They don’t read books as much as they did at one time,” Tighe said. “I still have readers, but I think that’s decreasing. I worry, and there seems to be some research proof, that technology is altering our actual ability to set and read for an extended period of time ... that it’s actually becoming physically difficult.”

She counters their diminishing attention span by changing the way she teaches.

“I give them time to read in class,” Tighe said.

“I used to assign reading outside school. I still ask them to read at home, but

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Kathleen Tighe enjoys inspiring her English and publications students at Caseville High School. (Bill Diller/ For the Tribune)

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“Those are skills that require you to take your time, to think things through and go back over, if necessary,” Tighe said.

“Asking students to do that now is a lot more difficult than it used to be.

Kids have always had distractions. That’s nothing new. I’m more worried about brain activity ... the fact that asking them to sit quietly and read for 15 minutes is hard for them to do.”

She thinks the instant access and fast pace of the Internet is both good and bad.

“It’s a blessing and a curse,” Tighe said. “It’s a curse because I constantly have to remind my students that their text language ... that is appropriate in a text ... is different than academic language.

I try to teach them that they write for different audiences. When writing a message to a friend, you don’t have to capitalize, but if you’re writing academically, that’s more formal, and you have to pay attention to standards. I have to teach that lesson every single day.”

On the other hand, her students actually write more than in pre-Internet days.

“It’s a blessing, because of the media they have,” Tighe said. “Students are writing more than they ever have. Teenagers 20 years ago, if they didn’t like to write, they didn’t write. Now, they are blogging, or logging into social media, and writ-

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Kathleen Tighe, English and publications teacher at Caseville High School, is pictured at her desk in her classroom. (Bill Diller/For the Tribune)

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I give them more time to read in class. I think it’s important that I give them time to do it, because I don’t think they’ll do it otherwise.”

Teaching reading and writing is challenging, but something Tighe enjoys.

Her chosen subjects are dear to her.

“I love literature and English,” Tighe said.

“When I teach a favorite piece of literature, that’s just a great thing for me ... my students would probably say I love Shakespeare, and I do. When we’re coving it, it’s nice to see the unlikely kids that show an interest. And that’s rewarding.”

That continuous feeling of being pleased by seeing her students positively react to the subjects she teaches instills in Tighe a sense of accomplishment.

She has no plans to retire soon.

“I feel like I still have something valuable to offer my students, and the school,” she said. “When I’m in my classroom with my students, it’s a good thing. I have felt that what I do makes a difference.”

Tighe is liked and respected by her students, and their parents. So much so, that the parents of a former student nominated her for an award for teachers from the Michigan Lottery.

She had no idea of her nomination until she was informed recently that she was recognized as a winner of the Michigan Lottery’s Excellence in Education Award.

The award was for encouraging students to excel, and for providing them new experiences and learning opportunities. Tighe received a plaque and a $1,500 cash prize. In addition, the school received a $500 grant, which Tighe used to buy books for her classroom. Her award also put her in the running for Educator of the Year.

Not bad for a former journalist and world-traveling New Jersey girl.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

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Jon Zdrojewski: A teacher and actor Cass City teacher is inspired by both fields

BY MARY DRIER For the Tribune UPPER THUMB — There isn’t much difference between teaching and acting, so that may be why Jon Zdrojewski is successful at doing both.

When teaching, he stands up in front of a class and tries to keep students engaged so they learn. As an actor, he is on stage engaging the audience to believe he is the character he is playing.

“They are both about the same principal,” he noted.

Zdrojewski, who teaches seventh and eighth grade science in the Cass City School District, has performed in about two dozen community theater plays throughout the Thumb area.

When he started at Northern Michigan University after graduating from Cass City High School, being a teacher or an actor weren’t his career choices.

“I went to college to study computer science. I learned that I really didn’t enjoy programing computers. It wasn’t fun like I thought it would be,” said Zdrojewski, noting he understood what was being taught, but many of the 30and 40-year-old students in the class didn’t.

“When they asked the professor to explain the information so they could understand, he just kept saying it was on the board in black and white,” Zdrojewski said. “He didn’t really answer their questions.”

The professor’s lack of empathy bothered Zdrojewski.

“When the professor left the room, those older students

Cass City Teacher Jon Zdrojewski is a consummate community- theater actor. He is pictured front and center, sitting next to Rita Wencel. They acted in Ken Ludwig’s “Moon Over Buffalo,” which previously was performed by the Port Austin Community Players. He has performed in about two dozens plays throughout the Thumb area. (Courtesy Photo) asked if anyone understood the information. I said I did.

I went to the front of the room and started teaching. I debugged everyone’s programs and started helping teach everyday. I realized I enjoyed that. So I ended up going into education instead.”

That experience changed the direction of the 18-year old’s life and lead him back home. After he graduated college, he returned home to Cass City to begin his teaching career. His first teaching job was in Harbor Beach, and then

at St. Peter and Paul School in Ruth, before spending the next 26 years with the Cass City Schools.

“When I came back to Cass City, there was the Cass City Players theater at that time.

My mom was one of the organizers of the Players,” he said.

“In the 80’s, I appeared on stage with her in two plays, the “Leading Ladies” and “Murder at the Tony Lou Awards.” And, I did Arsenic and Old Lace with the Cass City Players, and a couple of plays in Caro.”

In high school, he was in

plays all four years.

“I really enjoyed acting, but it is difficult to make a living doing that,” he noted.

Because of his mother’s influence, Zdrojewski figures he came by his love of theater from her.

In college, he took a theater class that was art appreciation where he studied scripts but didn’t do plays.

Then, life happened, which drew him away from theater.

He married, had a family, and didn’t do theater from 1990 to about 2005.

His first play back on stage was “Escanaba in the Moonlight.” From there, he started doing one to two plays a year.

He is in the process of rehearsing for another play now.

“I’m rehearsing for Neal Simon’s play, ‘God’s Favorite’ with the Port Austin Players group to perform on April 26, 27 and 28, and then on the third, fourth and fifth of May, and I just finished acting in the ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ play at Unionville-Sebewaing,” said Zdrojewski. “So far, my favorite play that I’ve been in was ‘Moon Over Buffalo’ by George Hay. That was in Port Austin.”

When he’s not acting or bowling, he also coaches three varsity sports at Cass City Schools.

“I’m one of those stupid busy guys, and I enjoy that.

I love coaching the kids and teaching, but performing gives me a break from teaching and sports. I can forget about everything and become the character I’m playing,” he said.

“Also, I’ve been in a few, but don’t care much for musicals.

I was in the “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but just as a narrator.

And, if I’m not acting, I do tech stuff for playings. I do the lights and sounds. So even if I’m not in a play, I still don’t get away from it. I’m just one of those regular guys who loves doing theater.”

Between practicing for plays, being in a play, doing the technical work for plays, bowling and coaching sports, Zdrojewski is busy every night.

He credits his wife for her support for being behind him in everything he does.

“She is a real trooper,” he said.

Harbor Beach Medical Clinic Dr. Nicklaus Bradley Shannon Nowiski, FNP-BC Amanda Cook, FNP-BC

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Rita Bartle was able to meet Fabiola, the Haitian girl she sponsored through Lifeline before the child died. The girl’s mother, Edna, is at right. Although Fabiola passed on, her family still qualified to have a cement house built through mission help. (Courtesy Photo)

Hills & Dales employee finds calling in missionary work Works with daughter to help people in Haiti

and it was Little’s fourth.

“I went to Haiti with my two daughters, Amanda and Alisha, when they were in high school because Amanda

BY MARY DRIER always wanted to be a missionary nurse For the Tribune in Haiti,” Little said.

Besides helping build homes and UPPER THUMB — When you still doing missionary work, Lifeline also see the devastation left from the earth- has a sponsorship program. quake and hurricanes that hit Haiti a “We had sponsored a little girl, few years ago, how can you not reach through Lifeline. The girl’s name out to help? was Ann Marie. That was how we got That is the question two Cass City into doing missionary work in Haiti,” women asked themselves — and then explained Little, who works at Cass City answered.

Schools.

Rita Bartle and Patrica Little, who And, for the last 12 years, Amanda are both members of the Deford ComLittle, who is Patrica’s daughter, has munity Church, did a mission outreach sponsored a little boy, Rickenson. to Haiti in January incoordination with When the group was there in January, Lifeline Christian Mission, Ohio. they built a cement home for his family.

Besides helping spread the Word, From her experience in helping oththey participated in Homes for Haiti in ers, Amanda Little went on to work at building houses. Many Haitians are still the Mayo Clinic as a registered nurse. living in makeshift huts.

See MISSIONARY page 6 The trip was Bartle’s second to Haiti

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6

HURON DAILY TRIBUNE

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

MISSIONARY

“The team consisted of people from several states. There was a Continued from Page 5 medical team with various doctors, surgeons and nurses from Through Lifeline, Bartle and different states,” Bartle said. her husband, Dennis, sponsored “There was a wide range of ages a little girl named Fabiola.

— from people in their 20s to one “When we decided to sponsor I think, (who) was 67 years old. a child in 2015, they wanted us They were a Godly diverse group to pick out a child. How do you of people.” do that by just looking at all the Bartle said there is a lot of pictures?” asked Bartle. “We sadness and there is a lot of hope told them to pick one for us and there. they did. When I went on the “It is something to see that,” first mission trip in 2016, I got she added. “And, when you see to meet her and her mom. She that, how can you not help? was 3 years old then.

Haiti is between the Caribbe“We wanted to build a home an Sea and the North Atlantic for her. To do that, it costs Ocean. $4,800, and fundraisers had to Bartle and Little, who spent be done.” nine days in Haiti, each noted Fabiola didn’t have the oppor- the Caribbean scenery is breathtunity to get that home. She taking, and a stark contrast to became ill and died within five the devastation that still remains minutes after receiving a medical from the ravages of Mother treatment. Bartle surmises she Nature. died from an allergic reaction to “People there don’t have the what they gave her. resources like what we have here.

Although Fabiola died, her There is such poverty, trash and family still qualified to receive ugliness, but you look around a cement home. The Deford and see the natural beauty,” said Church did fundraisers to purBartle. “It makes me realize how chase the materials for the home. blessed we are in America, and It was built in 2017. Bartle wasn’t also knowing I can help in some able to be there to help with the small way helps.” build, but she was able to meet Bartle said the mission trips to her sponsor child’s mother and Haiti have given her a new perbrothers during her January trip. spective.

“I felt God called me to mis“I feel more drawn to helping sion several years ago. I was people, and to be there for peowaiting for the opportunity to ple in need. I have friends and know where He wanted me to relatives who ask me why I go be. I felt Haiti is where I should to Haiti when people here need go,” said Bartle, who has worked help,” said Bartle. “My answer to at Hills and Dales General Hosthat is the people in Haiti don’t pital, Cass City, since 1993 as a have help available like we have registration clerk. “There is such here. We have family services, a need there. They are really soup kitchens, food give aways, struggling, especially from the we have avenues where people earthquake in 2010, and they can go to get food, clothing and have had hurricanes go through. shelter.

Hurricane Matthew really wiped “People in Haiti have absothings out. lutely nowhere to go. There are “The recovery is so slow no resources for them except for because the government is not outside help except churches and very caring towards its people missionaries who serve God by and resources are limited.” taking care of them.”

Besides the two women from Bartle and Little ask for Cass City, there were 10 others prayers for the people of Haiti. who went on the last mission For more information, about trip.

Lifeline, visit Lifeline.org.

michigansthumb.com

‘I think primary care is a calling’ Scheurer primary care physician committed to serving others

BY BILL DILLER For the Tribune PIGEON — A primary care physician is the first line of defense in our healthcare system. When someone isn’t feeling well, they make an appointment with their family doctor. The doctor examines them, and decides on a course of action designed to alleviate the problem.

Dr. Laurey Hanselman, a primary care physician in the Scheurer Healthcare Network, has been a family doctor for 27 years. And, she is good at it.

An Ubly High School graduate, Hanselman attended Michigan State University, where she earned degrees in medical technology and micro biology. She has taught courses on micro biology and other topics at Michigan State University.

Hanselman was also involved in research on the Pertussis vaccine with the Michigan Department of Health.

“I was in research from ‘85 to ‘92,” Hanselman said. “I did my residency and med school during that time, too.”

She enjoyed the research, convinced of its importance, but missed dealing with people one-on-one.

“I really needed to get back to the personal contact with medicine,” Hanselman said.

“I like to help people. That is an overwhelming interest, and I think I’m a very compassionate person. I think those are the two things that led me to go into medicine.”

Except for emergencies, a

Dr. Laurey Hanselman works at her desk in her Pigeon office.

(Bill Diller/For the Tribune) family doctor is the first stop for anyone needing a physician’s care.

“You are the person who sees the patient and really has to figure out what’s going on,” Hanselman said. “You have to decide what a patient needs, and where they’re going to go. I think primary care is a calling, and I really enjoy what I do every day.”

It may not be for everyone, however.

“I have medical students with me a lot,” Hanselman said. “I tell them, ‘if you don’t like it, get out of it.’ Because there are way too many things that will be difficult to do on a daily basis that will bring you down, if you don’t like what you do.”

One of those things is the amount of paperwork and record keeping involved in the practice of modern day medicine. Even though records are kept electronically, the information still has to be entered manually. In addition, not all hospitals use the same system, so paper copies need to be scanned into the system and transferred from place to place.

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“There’s someone here full time that does scanning in our office,” Hanselman said. “Over the last 10 years, they’ve gone from practically no one having electronic medical records, to almost everyone having electronic medical records. And, the way medicine gets paid for has changed over the years, and is continuing to change.

You have to make those transitions. You can’t be stuck in your old ways, and I think we’re working towards that very well.”

Using a computer to access information is convenient, but can be time consuming.

“In some ways, it’s harder,” Hanselman said. “Sometimes finding things can be difficult.”

Problems develop when a patient is transferred from or to a hospital or healthcare network that doesn’t use the same system as the Scheurer Healthcare Network. When that happens, someone on her staff has to find the correct record, and scan it into their system. Once that’s

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michigansthumb.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

7

This Bad Axe teacher is living the dream Hruska: ‘I’m here to stay’

wanted to do at an early age.

She looked up to her mother, Nancy Walker, who taught at Cass City Schools for 30-plus

years.

Hruska graduated from Michigan State University in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree

in elementary education. She later earned her master’s degree at Marygrove College.

After college, Hruska moved to Colorado and taught there for a number of years.

Although she enjoyed the area, it wasn’t home. Hruska wanted to be closer to her family, which meant returning the Thumb.

“It was time to come home,” she recalled. “And I decided if I was coming home, I was coming to Bad Axe.” At the start of the 2003-04 school year, Hruska was finally “home” as she kicked off her Bad Axe Elementary career as a kindergarten teacher.

Throughout the years, Hruska has taught a majority of the grade levels at the elementary school.

“It’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” she said. “To be able to come back and teach here in Bad Axe has been all I’ve ever

at that.”

An extremely organized person, Hanselman manages her daily schedule of seeing patients in her Pigeon office, as well as those admitted to the hospital.

She also finds time to oversee Scheurer Urgent Care.

“Urgent Care is used for situations that don’t require a tremendous amount of intervention,” Hanselman said. “Things like sore throats, urinary tract infections, acute bronchitis ... maybe a small laceration, something like that. An emergency room is for major situations.”

Urgent Care is staffed by a physician’s assistant and nurse practitioners, and Hanselman works in the unit one weekend a month.

“I supervise the staff, so I feel it’s important to be there to make sure everything’s going well,”

Hanselman said. “We have specific guidelines they follow, as to what goes to the emergency room, and what doesn’t.”

Urgent Care is open from 3 to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Her clinic is open weekdays, and she sees an average of 30 patients each day. Hanselman relies heavily on her staff to keep things organized and running smoothly.

“I have the best staff,” she said.

“They do a top notch job, and I couldn’t function without them.

It’s a team effort.”

Because of the increase in paperwork and record keeping, the size of her staff has increased over the years.

“I have a group of nurses that take care of everything from

scheduling to prior authorization, everything that needs to be done for the patient,” Hanselman said.

A lot of the staff’s time is taken up dealing with the rules and regulations associated with insurance coverage. It has become a huge part of modern medicine.

“The one thing I’ve seen over the last 10 years is the amount of paperwork that’s required for every patient,” Hanselman said.

“In terms of insurance, not just for prior authorizations for medicine, but prior authorizations for any test that need to be done.

Those are all things that go on behind the scenes that patients are never aware of. But they have to be done, and that takes more time and people.”

It’s necessary in order to provide the best care possible.

“It ensures patients get what they need,” Hanselman said.

BY BRADLEY MASSMAN ASSISTANT EDITOR BAD AXE — For the last 15 years, Tammy Hruska’s role in the education world has consisted of molding the hundreds of young minds that walk through her door.

“I’m living the dream!” she shouted with a big smile.

The 1995 Bad Axe graduate is currently Bad Axe Elementary’s Young 5s teacher, but she’s no stranger around the school. This year, the district welcomed the Young 5s program back after its disappearance for quite some time.

“It’s been wonderful and really fun,” she said of the program’s return. “I took what I knew my kindergartners needed to mold this program.”

A career in education was something Hruska knew she

CARE Continued from Page 6 done, the process of actually helping a patient is quicker.

“Sometimes it used to take weeks or months to get a file,” Hanselman said. “Now we can access them immediately. It’s faster, and much more reliable, especially when it comes to cancer care or heart care. If someone is hospitalized for heart problems, you can go in and look right at it. That’s amazing.”

A primary care physician’s day is spent seeing patients with a variety of problems.

“We take care of patients that have multi-system diseases, and multiple diseases,” Hanselman said. “I enjoy doing that, because I think it requires a lot of thought and multi-tasking. And I’m good

It’s all about having fun when setting foot in Tammy Hruska’s Young 5s classroom. Hruska is a 15-year veteran educator at Bad Axe Elementary. She has taught several grade levels and is wrapping up her first year as the Young 5s teacher. (Bradley Massman/Huron Daily Tribune)

wanted.”

“I like the little ones,” she added. “They’re excited to be here. They think I’m cool and they think everything I’m showing and teaching them is cool.”

In the classroom, Hruska tries to keep her lesson plans fun. In fact, students sometimes don’t even realize they’re doing schoolwork because they’re having fun while learning, she said.

Outside of teaching, Hruska enjoys spending time with her husband, Mike, and their children Madelyn, William, Elayna and Lola.

The family can be found working on a 4-H or FFA project, preparing for their next camping trip, or just relaxing around the home.

In the meantime, Hruska will stay put in Bad Axe and continue to “live the dream.”

“I’m here to stay,” she said.

“I think insurance companies go overboard when it comes to needing things for patients.

I think we, as physicians and providers, don’t order things unless we feel they’re absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, many times we have to justify why we want them, and go to bat for the patients in order to get things done. Many times, it requires a phone call from us, as doctors, or letters from us, to the insurance company. It takes a lot of time. I spend an average of three to four hours a day on paperwork. That’s on top of seeing patients.”

For Hanselman, that’s just part of the job. And she’s very good at it. She’s part of the first line of defense in the Scheurer Healthcare Network, and she plans to be there, serving her patients, for years to come.

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8

HURON DAILY TRIBUNE

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

michigansthumb.com

Practicing medicine around the globe Doctor returns to the Thumb after working overseas

BY BRADLEY MASSMAN ASSISTANT EDITOR ELKTON — Dr. Shirley Jakubec has studied, practiced and trained internal medicine all over the world.

Recently though, she decided to bring her talents and skills back into the country with her return to the Thumb.

Last month, Jakubec joined forces with McLaren Thumb Region and is now seeing patients at the hospital’s Primary Care Practice in Elkton.

Originally from Canada, Jakubec attended the University of Waterloo in Ontario, and then furthered her education at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada.

From there, Jakubec completed training in the United Kingdom, New York and London, Ontario.

“My final training was in New Jersey for my American Board of Internal Medicine certificate,” she said.

“I’m American-trained.”

“My first time working in Michigan was for Scheurer Hospital from 2004 to 2009,” she added.

While working in the Thumb a decade ago, an opportunity approached Jakubec that would eventually take her to the Middle East.

“At one point in my medical career, I wanted to practice outside of North America,” she said.

In 2010, Jakubec accepted a position with CURE International — a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing medical care to children suffering primarily from orthopedic and neurological conditions.

Jakubec served six years at the Oasis Hospital in the United Arab Emirates.

“It’s a very historic hospital,” she said.

Although she was halfway across the world, the thought of home crossed her mind.

“I would make a trip to the Thumb every year when I had a break from overseas work,” she said. “ … I like

Dr. Nicklaus Bradley enjoys getting to know his patients, both young and old. (Seth Stapleton/Huron Daily Tribune)

Last month, Dr. Shirley Jakubec joined forces with McLaren Thumb Region and is now seeing patients at the hospital’s Primary Care Practice in Elkton. (Courtesy Photo) the people here. It feels like where I grew up in southern Ontario.”

And recently, Jakubec made the decision to be closer to her loved ones.

“I took a step out of the country and I’m stepping back into the country,” she said with a laugh.

“I wanted to be back with my family … it’s time to be closer to home,” she said of her family in Canada.

“I own a home in Caseville so I’ve always had a tie to the Thumb.”

Jakubec has been at her position in Elkton for about a month now, and she’s looking forward to meeting new patients in the near future.

“Definitely the patient interaction is my favorite. If I could get rid of my computer, it would be the best,” she added with a chuckle. “Patient interaction is most to valuable to me — to get to know my patients and who they are so I can better treat them.”

Making a big difference in a small town

Dr. Nicklaus Bradley finds home in Harbor Beach

the community.”

During a “normal” day, Bradley arrives at the office and sees patients starting around 7:45 a.m. He said he

BY SETH STAPLETON will typically treat eight to 10 patients Tribune Staff Writer until noon.

After a small break, he will HARBOR BEACH — Dr. Nicklaus work until around 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Bradley must be doing something his office offers extended hours until 8 right at the Harbor Beach Medical p.m., and some days, he will cover for Clinic. the hospital’s emergency department.

The popular family physician He said his favorite part of the job couldn’t even finish a quick five-minis two-fold: Interacting with both chilute photo shoot for the Tribune’s dren and adults.

Teachers and Healers section without He loves joking around with kids being pulled aside by a patient and and getting to know their personalheaped with compliments. ities, while also getting to know his “Here you have an opportunity to adult patients and their families. make an impact and get to know peo“I get to see patients from pretty ple,” explained Bradley. much day 3 of their lives until potenFor that reason, Bradley and his tially the last day of their lives,” he wife, Holly, decided to settle into the said. “I think ultimately, it’s getting to Harbor Beach community about a know the patients and becoming part year-and-a-half ago, following Bradof their lives.” ley’s four-year residency in Midland.

Outside of the work, Bradley said The two were looking for that smallhe enjoys golfing, life on the lake, and town feel. spending time with his wife and their “Essentially, I really appreciated 3-and-a-half month old son, Stan. the town,” he said. “I liked the idea of “Family life is a big part of our time being in a small town and being part of outside of the office,” he said.

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