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MDE Names 2022-23 Regional Teachers of the Year
March 28, 2022
LANSING – In addition to the many roles that they play in their schools, ten Michigan educators have a new title: 2022-23 Regional Teacher of the Year (RTOY). Each of these outstanding educators will also be a finalist for the 2022-23 Michigan Teacher of the Year (MTOY).
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) organizes the Teacher of the Year program to honor and elevate teacher voice. Honorees will have the opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge as they work with stakeholders to strengthen Michigan’s public schools for our students and our educators.
“The Regional Teachers of the Year play key roles in their schools and communities and in our statewide effort to improve our schools,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “They offer insights about the needs of our more than 1.4 million public school children and more than 90,000 educators. We are grateful for their leadership and dedication to the teaching profession and look forward to working with them during the next school year.”
The 2022-23 Regional Teachers of the Year are:
- Region 1: Nanette Hanson, a first-grade teacher at Lemmer Elementary School in Escanaba Public Schools
- Region 2: Kathryn Lamberies, an English, social studies and reading teacher at Roscommon Middle School in Roscommon Area Public School District
- Region 3: Bill Boerman, a STEM teacher at Holland Middle School in Holland Public Schools
- Region 4: Dawn Perez, a business and technology teacher at Swan Valley High School in Swan Valley School District
- Region 5: Karen Sleno, a mathematics teacher at Flushing Senior High School in Flushing Community Schools
- Region 6: Ashleigh Lore, an elementary teacher at Delta Center Elementary School in Grand Ledge Public Schools
- Region 7: Dustin Sayers, a social studies teacher at Schoolcraft Junior-Senior High School in Schoolcraft Community Schools
- Region 8: Stacy Trosin, a science teacher at Pinckney Community High School in Pinckney Community Schools
- Region 9: Jennifer Sepetys, a social studies teacher at West Bloomfield High School in West Bloomfield School District
- Region 10: Carl Brownlee, a social studies teacher at Fisher Magnet Upper Academy in Detroit Public Schools Community District
The RTOYs were selected following a multi-part, competitive application process that began with being nominated for Michigan Teacher of the Year. The nominations were submitted by students, staff, and community members from across the state. A map of the 10 RTOY regions can be found on the MDE website.
The 2022-23 honorees were chosen for their dedication to the teaching profession, as evidenced by their commitment to their students and track record of service in the teaching profession.
Together, the RTOYs comprise the Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council (MTLAC). The mission of the MTLAC is to bring teacher voice to a wider audience, including direct work with MDE to provide input on proposed policies and initiatives, and to help to share valuable information and resources with teacher colleagues in their respective regions.
The next step in the process is for each RTOY to interview with a panel of statewide education stakeholders, with one individual being selected as the 2022-23 Michigan Teacher of the Year.
The MTOY has a seat at the State Board of Education table as a non-voting member; attends several national conferences with fellow state teachers of the year from other U.S. states and territories, to represent the experiences of Michigan’s teachers and students; and will be Michigan’s candidate for National Teacher of the Year.
Program expenses for Michigan’s teacher of the year program are covered through a generous partnership with the Meemic Foundation.
For more information and photos of the new RTOYs, click here.
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