Teachers of the Year go above and beyond
Area educators set to be honored April 11
You probably remember your favorite teacher.
They may have impacted you with their unique style, effort or knowledge.
Teachers with these traits will be honored during the annual Macomb County Outstanding Teachers of the Year celebration presented by the Macomb County Association of School Administrators and the Macomb Association of Curriculum Administrators on April 11.
This year’s Teachers of the Year winners include more than 60 elementary, middle and high school teachers being recognized by local districts for their dedication and service to the students and families.
Among this impressive group are three teachers receiving special recognition as Macomb County Outstanding Teachers of the Year including: Renee Kraft (South Lake Schools Elmwood Elementary), Amanda Mazzio (Romeo Community Schools Romeo Middle School) and Mike Sekich (Utica Community Schools Stevenson High School).
“Teachers make a difference every day by creating engaging lessons that are designed to meet the unique needs of their students,” said Alesia Flye, chief academic officer for the Macomb Intermediate School District, in a news release. “Additionally, they provide positive and nurturing learning environments where students feel safe and are able to thrive. They truly make a difference.”
Heather Bowersox concurred.
The Elmwood Elementary School principal, who could not be happier about having a Macomb County Outstanding Teacher of the Year for the first time, said Kraft brings so much to her school.
“Renee is a phenomenal teacher who goes above and beyond in so many ways. Her passion for teaching is as big as her heart and her love for her students — and her community,” Bowersox said, recalling a recent project that had Kraft’s fourth-graders decorating the cup sleeves for Vasi’s Cafe and Bake Shop with words of inspiration. “She’s super creative,” added Bowersox.
During Black History Month her students were asked to pick someone who made a difference in the world and then develop a presentation that included a costume and narrative that they could say during a special assembly attended by fellow students and parents.
“We’re thrilled for her because it’s so well deserved,” Bowersox said, of Kraft’s award.
She pointed out that enthusiasm was shared by the students in her class who cheered her on during a photo session.
‘It’s just overwhelming,”
Kraft said, while fighting back tears of joy. “I planned on doing this for 25 years and here I am in year 24. To be recognized this way heading into my last year? It feels really good.”
Every teacher has a different way of approaching a subject but one common element among them all is their effort to do more than what’s asked of them as in the case of Mazzio, Romeo Middle School’s language acquisition teacher who learned of her award during a morning assembly.
“What she provides to our school community is indispensable,” according to the application submitted by the math support and reading intervention teachers who nominated Mazzio, Lyndsy Bickmann and Michelle Schommer. “She consistently advocates for her students by making sure families are able to have access to resources and information. She communicates to administrators and colleagues using different methods to best service our community. She knows many of our families quite intimately and she has built a bridge of trust between (them) and the school.”
Mazzio’s philosophy as an educator has always been that teachers are gardeners and that her role is to discover what each of her students need to grow and to provide conditions in which they can thrive.
“In order to care for the whole child we must understand their background, interests, learning styles, wealth of experiences, prior knowledge and more, so that we can give each student what they need to flourish,” she said.
Her advice to future educators is to become involved.
“Figure out what drives them and make the most of your time with each of them,” she said.
And while the job encompasses a lot, considering what teachers do in the classroom as well as before and after school, she believes it’s important for teachers to discover what they love the most about the job and let that guide, sustain and propel them forward as it has done for her.
“Amanda’s positive impact on students goes way beyond her classroom to the school and the community,” said Brad Martz, principal of Romeo Middle School. “I could not be more proud of Amanda’s accomplishments. She is very deserving of this award.”
The same can be said of Mike Sekich.
Not only did he and five of his children graduate from Stevenson High School but he has been teaching band at the school for more than 30 years, many of them including award-winning performances.
As he stated in his application his goal as an educator has always been to create a safe family-like environment where learning can take place.