May 17, 2005
LANSING –Daniel J. Schab was named 2005-2006 Michigan Teacher of the Year today during a visit from State Board of Education President Kathleen N. Straus and Interim state Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jeremy M. Hughes at Williamston High School.
Schab, a mathematics teacher at Williamston High School with more than 24 years of classroom experience, was selected from 14 regional semifinalists statewide.
As part of the award, the Michigan Department of Education will welcome Schab as a staff member during his tenure as Teacher of the Year and he will have a non-voting seat at the State Board of Education table.
"Dan's passion for education runs deep," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. "Michigan is fortunate to have him teach our children and impact the future of our state. He is an outstanding reflection of the sacrifice, the wisdom and the excellence that Michigan's teachers bring to our schools every day. I'm pleased to thank him for his work, congratulate him on this honor, and celebrate his profession."
Straus welcomed Mr. Schab to the Department of Education, saying, “Dan is a great example of the Michigan teacher workforce. He continues to pursue personal excellence through continued educational opportunities including participating in the 2004 International Mathematics Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark. He has experience at the local, state, national, and international levels. We look forward to his input at the State Board of Education meetings.”
Dr. Hughes said Schab will carry on the valued tradition of Michigan Teachers of the Year who have shared their teaching knowledge, expertise, and skills with educators across the state.
Williamston Assistant Superintendent Narda Murphy says Schab, “is an exemplary mathematics teacher, a leader in our district’s efforts to implement an exceptional mathematics curriculum, and a contributor to the educational partnerships with our community….He continues to establish himself as a life-long learner by participating in regional, state, national, and international conferences and by taking graduate classes both traditionally and online.”
Schab served as an Einstein Fellow in Washington, D.C., for the 2003-2004 school year, where he helped research education issues, write legislation, and worked through the committee process to get legislation passed. He participated in the rewriting of Title II of the Higher Education Act bringing the voice of the frontline educator to the work of legislating funding for professional development for teachers.
A 24-year veteran educator, Schab believes that all students need to learn mathematics and all students can learn mathematics.
“I want all students to be successful in my class,” he explained. “I need to find a way to reach every student. I want them to learn more than just math concepts in my classroom. I want them to learn how to learn. I want each and every student to leave Williamston High School with the skills and tools necessary to live a meaningful and productive life.”
He is a strong advocate of community service. He currently serves on the Ingham County Math Advisory Team whose goal is to improve K-12 mathematics education for all students in the county. While living in Washington, D.C., he worked with low-income children at a local community center; volunteered to run math and science activities for visitors at the Children’s Museum; and volunteered at the regional Science Bowl competition.
A former state high school boys golf Coach of the Year, Schab has been actively involved in youth sports for many years in the Lansing area.
Schab holds a Master of Arts degree in K-12 Educational Administration from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Grand
Valley State University. He began his career as a high school mathematics teacher at
Lansing Catholic Central, and has taught at Williamston High School for the past 11 years.
He is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
The other educators who were selected as state-level finalists for the Michigan Teacher of the Year Award were:
- Jeffrey T. Bradley, Slauson Middle School, Ann Arbor Public Schools
- Michael C. Jones, Cass Technical High School, Detroit Public Schools
- Christian LeButt, Lakeland High School, Huron Valley Schools
- Sherry Ransford, Kalamazoo Central High School, Kalamazoo Public Schools
For additional information on the Michigan Teacher of the Year program, log on to www.michigan.gov/mde. Click on Recognition Programs. Click on Michigan Teacher of the Year.
Related Images
> MDE - Daniel J. Schab 2005-2006 Michigan Teacher of the Year - 11290 bytes
|
