Honoring Committed Educators in Michigan

This teacher stands out above the rest”, said her nominator. We saw this when we visited her 1st grade classroom at Quarton Elementary. She even tied receiving the check for $1000 with a recent economics lesson, telling her students how they should consider spending the money on needs, not wants. A second nominator said “she embodies exactly what it means to be a great teacher – caring, kind, an excellent instructor, captivating, and in touch with her students needs”. We applaud Jennifer Wind and all the nominees that we read about each month. Thank you for all you do to engage children in learning.

Mr. Muylaert is the engineering teacher at West Bloomfield High School. If teaching a hands on class which involves students learning safety and using power equipment wasn’t enough to keep him busy teaching he also runs three after school programs for students. He is the high school Robotics coach and works with students to build a robot to compete in both the Oakland County Competitive Robotics Association (OCCRA) which in 2021 the robotics team took first place in the competition and in 2022 was semi-finalists. He also has three middle school robotics teams. Mr. Muylaert also runs an after-school video game club which has different students in his classroom one day a week and an e-sports club on another day after school. This year his e-sport club made it to states. When you combine regular class time with after school programs and weekend competitions Mr. Muylaert puts in a significant amount of time with West Bloomfield students. Thank you for all you do!

Mrs. Fenner not only teaches 8th grade science, she is also the athletic director and the National Junior Honors Society sponsor. Mrs. Fenner is the most engaging science teacher! Whether it is teaching kids about physics through the use of bottle rockets, involving them in a hands on instructional lab, or teaching them about camouflage through a design competition, she incorporates many different learning styles in order to meet the needs of her diverse learners. Thank you, Mrs. Fenner, for being an Exceptional Educator!

Mrs. Williams has many roles at the American International Academy. She teaches and handles administrative roles at every level. Her nominator said, “Mrs. Williams is always willing to take time out and help each student with whatever they may need. She always tries to encourage and push her students to be the best they can be.” Thank you for your commitment to your students and their ongoing progress. We applaud all that you do!

Mr. Abu-Rus is the principal of Oakman Elementary. Many times, you can find him teaching in the classroom or working on projects with his students. “Mr. Abu-Rus not only makes sure his students have everything they need, but also ensures that his staff has everything they need to be successful. He is loved by everyone, and his leadership has helped us bring in community partners into our building who also help to encourage and improve our students’ experience,” said his nominator. Thank you, Mr. Abu-Rus for being an Exceptional Educator!

Ms. Hall strives to make genuine connections with all of her students and their families. She believes that through engagement with the whole family, there is a strong sense of trust that allows Ms. Hall to effectively educate every student she meets. Thank you Ms. Hall for being an Exceptional Educator!

Ms. McCray created a cafe in the school cafeteria for her students to run and gain valuable life skills. With the cafe comes a feeling of pride from her students and relief from other students who get to enjoy the fresh donuts and other delicious foods. Thank you Ms. McCray for being an Exceptional Educator!

Ms. Comerford is a music teacher for all grades and goes “above and beyond everyday” said her nominator. Hope, a music teacher, received a $1,000 gift for her school, and we are happy to report the money will go back into the music program!

“Ms. Smith gives her all to her fabulous first graders each day. Even in the toughest circumstances, she finds ways to motivate them to do their best and engage with the learning in authentic ways,” said her nominator. Our sincerest thanks and applause to Ms. Smith and all our nominees for all you do for the children in your classroom!

“Tiffany is a loving caring first grade teacher that makes every child feel special and loved.” Thank you, Ms. Markavick, for being an Exceptional Educator.