2022-23 Regional Teachers of the Year

Region 1 and Michigan Teacher of the Year:
Lemmer Elementary School, Escanaba Public Schools

Mrs. Nanette Hanson is a proud teacher with 20 plus years of varied teaching experiences in several teaching positions from alternative high school through first grade. Each position has offered her ample opportunities to become a better educator, leader, and mentor. Nanette has worked as a Music teacher, Title I Reading teacher, Computer teacher, Alternative High School teacher, and for the last 16 years she has worked for Escanaba Public Schools as a first grade teacher. She has had the great privilege of working with many wonderful students and staff members during these years. Nanette graduated from Northern Michigan University with her Bachelor of Education degree and a Master of Educational Administration. She believes teaching is not only a lifestyle but a state of being. Nanette never feels like she has a “job” to go to because she knows that when she gets to school each day she has the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of her students. Her biggest responsibility as an educator is to establish a strong relationship with each one of her students so they know school, and her classroom are safe spaces where they can learn and explore. She tries to create a strong sense of community, respect and belonging in her classroom; a room where both students and the teacher work together to uncover learning in an authentic and meaningful way. Nanette strives to cultivate an atmosphere of excellence both in the classroom and with her colleagues. She also works as a team leader of the Leader In Me Lighthouse Team, which works to coordinate a school wide leadership model to promote the Leader In Me principles and connect them to the school’s vision. Nanette aspires to leave a positive learning legacy that her students and colleagues will remember and a legacy of being a fun loving, caring and passionate teacher.

Region 2: Roscommon Middle School, Roscommon Area Public School District

Kathryn Lamberies is a 6th and 7th grade English, Social Studies, and Title I Reading teacher at Roscommon Middle School in the Roscommon Area Public School District. Kathryn is in her 19th year of teaching, all of which have been in the Roscommon Area Public School District, with the past 7 years at Roscommon Middle School. She is a member of the Building Network team, Talent Management team, a teacher mentor, and a lead teacher for After School Academy and Summer Learning Lab.

Region 3: Holland Middle School, Holland Public Schools

Bill Boerman is a 7th grade STEM and 8th grade Advanced STEM teacher at Holland Middle School in Holland Public Schools. He is in his 24th year of teaching, his 7th at Holland Middle School. At Holland Middle School, Bill also served as the coordinator of the school’s greenhouse, trainer for the school’s Makerspace lab, and technology coordinator for the building. In 2022-23, Mr. Boerman is moving districts, and will teach the 4th grade gifted and talented program at Woodbridge Elementary in Zeeland Public Schools.

Region 4: Swan Valley High School, Swan Valley School District

Mrs. Dawn Perez has worked at Swan Valley School District for 30 years. She began her career as an Adult/Alternative Education Instructor in 1991. Dawn has been at Swan Valley High School since 1995, where she teaches business/computer courses. Currently, she is teaching courses in two state Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs called Business Administration Management & Operations and Finance & Financial Management Services. These courses consist of Accounting 1 & 2, Technology Applications I & II, Audio/Video Broadcasting, Business Leaders of Tomorrow, Entrepreneurship, Legal Concepts, and Records Management. Mrs. Perez has been the Cooperative Education Coordinator for over 15 years and the Work Experience and Cadet Teacher Coordinator for the past 6 years. She has been involved in post-secondary level teaching as an adjunct at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) for 13 years, Mid-Michigan College for 2 years, and Delta College for 1 year.

Dawn is currently involved in the following educational organizations: Business Professionals of America (BPA) Advisor for 22 years, Michigan Education Association (MEA), Michigan Association of CPAs (MICPA), Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA), National Education Association (NEA), Michigan Business Education Association (MBEA), and Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL). Swan Valley Education Association (SVEA) Representative Assembly Report, SVEA Regional Council Report, MOS Testing Center Proctor and Administrator, CTEIS User Group Representative, CTE Program Manager, the Secretary for Parks & Recreation Committee for Kochville Township, and a 2022-2023 Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council (MTLAC) member. Dawn values educating students for their success in their future and helping to mold them into successful members of society.

Region 5: Flushing Senior High School, Flushing Community Schools

Karen Sleno is a high school math teacher with 30 years of teaching experience in both parochial and public schools in Michigan. Currently, she is sharing her joy of mathematics with students in AP Calculus, Pre-Calculus and Consumer Math at Flushing High School, where she has taught since 1994. Additionally, she is an adjunct instructor at Mott Community College in Flint. Outside of her teaching, Karen is the department coordinator, coaches the high school quiz bowl team and advises a local chapter of the national math honor society known as Mu Alpha Theta. A career-long member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics as well as the Michigan chapter, Karen has been an active participant in the AP Calculus reading since 2006, currently serving as an exam leader. She also serves as treasurer and membership chair for the Flushing Education Association. Her summers are spent conducting AP Calculus workshops for teachers around the country.

Region 6: Delta Center Elementary School, Grand Ledge Public Schools

Ashleigh Lore is the BK-4th grade music instructor at Delta Center Elementary School in Grand Ledge Public Schools. Ashleigh is in her eleventh year of teaching and second year at Delta Center. In addition to being a published author and national presenter, Ashleigh is the Education & Outreach Coordinator for the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Treasurer of the Michigan Music Education Association (MMEA), President of the Mid-Michigan Orff-Schulwerk Association (MMOSA), Finance Committee Member of the International Orff-Schulwerk Forum Salzburg (IOSFS), Public Relations Chair of the Eaton County Education Association (ECEA), and Treasurer of the Grand Ledge Education Association (GLEA).

Region 7: Schoolcraft Junior-Senior High School, Schoolcraft Community Schools

Dustin Sayers is an 8^th grade social studies teacher in his 10th year of teaching. This year marks his 9^th year with Schoolcraft Community Schools. Before that, he worked at River Rouge High School in River Rouge, Michigan. Dustin loves teaching history, and he is the current 7^th - 12^th grade social studies department chair for Schoolcraft Community Schools.

Region 8: Pinckney Community High School, Pinckney Community Schools

Stacy Trosin is a high school science teacher at Pinckney Community High School in Pinckney Community Schools. This is Stacy’s eighteenth year of teaching all of which have been completed at Pinckney Community High School. Stacy is a member of the high school's Building Leadership team, acts as the science department lead, and is a member of District Leadership Team.Stacy is also a member of the National Science Teaching Association, Michigan Science Teacher Association, and the National Association of Biology Teachers.

Region 9: West Bloomfield High School, West Bloomfield School District

Jennifer Sepetys teaches social studies to grades 9-12 students at West Bloomfield High School in the West Bloomfield School District. Now in her 16th year of teaching, Jennifer taught for ten years at Orchard Lake Middle School and five years at West Bloomfield High School, where she is currently the social studies department chair. Jennifer also serves on the Teacher Advisory Group at the Zekelman Holocaust Center. She was chosen as an Auschwitz Legacy Fellow for the State of Michigan and she’ll travel to Poland in July 2022 with a team of fellow educators. Jennifer is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Oakland University. 

Region 10: Fisher Magnet Upper Academy, Detroit Public Schools Community District

Carl Brownlee is a former U.S. Marine and Gulf War veteran who started his teaching career with the Detroit Public Schools and Community District in 1998. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Campbell University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from The University of Michigan, and a master’s degree in Education from Marygrove College. Carl is in his 23rd year of teaching. He is currently an educator at Fisher Magnet Upper Academy, where he teaches 7th and 8th grade Social Studies. Carl is a member of the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL), a Teach 313 Ambassador, and a member of IAMINDEMAND.