Partners & volunteers recognized as 200 gather at Huron High School
Video by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor
Day after day, AAPS community partners and individual volunteers freely give their time and energy to fill a vital role in Ann Arbor Public Schools.
AAPS celebrated its dedicated network of partners and volunteers during a special recognition event held at Huron High School on April 17. About 200 attendees filled the venue for the evening of appreciation, where the district formally acknowledged the invaluable contributions made by community members throughout the academic year.
The event, sponsored by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, included a selection of food prepared by Huron Culinary Arts students and musical entertainment from the Community High School Jazz band
The event provided AAPS leadership with the opportunity to express their gratitude to the individuals and organizations whose ongoing support enhances educational experiences across the district.
Staff shared their appreciation of partners and volunteers through a video shared at the event, a slideshow featuring partner and volunteer highlights, and through in-person stories.
Our partners and volunteers allow us to extend learning and support beyond the school walls, says Nancy Shore, the district’s Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement director.
“We know students learn, live, and grow in our community,” says Shore. “Partnering with community members and organizations helps us create an environment where all children have the opportunities and support they need to thrive.”
These dedicated individuals and partner organizations contribute in numerous ways, from assisting teachers in classrooms and supporting school libraries to helping in classrooms and participating in extracurricular activities to providing donations and experience to enhance student learning. While they support our students’ academic growth, foster a sense of community engagement, and help create a nurturing learning environment, their ongoing commitment helps stretch limited school resources.
For the 2024-2025 School Year, more than 200 individuals volunteered their time in AAPS schools on a weekly basis.
This includes U-M students in courses, classes, and programs, members of the Ann Arbor Rotary, Foster Grandparents, and individual community members. Volunteers spend their time assisting teachers with general academic support, helping reinforce Literacy and Math concepts, offering support to English Language Learners, and providing a helping hand to AAPS staff.
There are also hundreds of AAPS parents, High School students and members of the community who volunteer with AAPS schools every day by working with the PTOs, offering tutoring support, assisting with one-time enrichment and academic events, coaching sports and academic teams, mentoring students, serving on advisory committees for our CTE programs, engaging students through our Environmental Education programs, and much more.
For the 2024-2025 School Year, AAPS has nearly 100 Strategic Partners that work at the district level to support AAPS students every day. Strategic Partners include many U-M affiliated partners that offer academic support, enrichment and positive role models to our students, non-profit partners that provide wraparound support, mentorship programs, funding, enrichment and much more, and businesses that provide funding, speak to students about future careers and offer job shadowing and other career-readiness experiences for our students. work. In addition to these Strategic Partners, AAPS schools engage with hundreds of other organizations on a daily basis to provide real-world experiences, enrichment, programming, funding, and other support for our students, staff, and schools.
Learn more about Strategic Partnerships at a2schools.org/strategicpartnerships and volunteering at AAPS at a2schools.org/volunteer.
The following are tributes to just a few of the volunteers and partners who add so much to AAPS day after day:
Scarlett Middle School Counselor Bianca Humphries said the school is thankful for Girls Group and all they give Scarlett. As she noted: “We have two groups per grade, totaling approximately 125 girls across grades. This program is designed to empower our students by highlighting essential areas such as mental health support, college and career readiness, financial literacy, mentorship, community strength, and self-esteem.
Their commitment extends beyond the school day, as they offer additional group sessions on weekends and during breaks. These extra opportunities are well-utilized by our students.”
Abbot Elementary Interim Principal Stephan Hogan applauds the volunteer hours donated by Peace Neighborhood Center staff Mackenzie Grissom and Raven Vawters.
He notes: “Mackenzie comes and visits students throughout the week. When she arrives, the students light up and are so excited that she is here! She makes such a difference in the lives of our students and I greatly appreciate her dedication!
Raven will often come to the school and check in with students. Her heart is SO big, and she exudes care for students and families. Her presence perks up our kiddos, and she is able to inspire greatness in students.”
Logan Building Literacy Coach Hilary Wooley says of volunteer Siddarth Kaushik:
“This is Siddarth’s third semester volunteering at Logan through the America Reads program. He remains calm, even when faced with some of the most challenging students, both academically and behaviorally. Siddarth is a favorite among the students because he is helpful, kind, caring, and radiates positivity. Last year, he tutored a student who faced both behavioral and academic challenges, and thanks to Siddarth’s support, that student now does not qualify for academic assistance due to his growth. Siddarth is an exceptional tutor, and it will be bittersweet to see him graduate from the University of Michigan and move on to the next chapter of his life. The workforce will be gaining a truly special individual!”
Siddharth Kaushik has been a volunteer tutor at Logan Elementary for a year and a half, and says he loves the work. “This community is warm, supportive and inspiring, and it provides a place with students can grow and I’m really grateful to a part of,” he says.
Abbot Gina Maksimchuk says of Judy Estes:
“Judy has come to my Kindergarten classroom twice a week for over ten years! Our partnership began when her grandchild was in my class, and has continued since. Judy enables me to do fun things with the kiddos that I wouldn’t be able to do on my own due to time constraints. This year, she has helped us make applesauce, plant bulbs, make crafts, read stories, work on handwriting, and countless other things. She is kind to students and assists them with everything from bandaids, to tying shoes, washing hands, cleaning up… the list is endless! There is nothing Judy won’t do; she not only helps me, but other teachers who need her! I am so grateful that she has chosen to help me for so long!
Burns Park fifth grade teacher Michael Cramer says of Rob Dobrusin:
“Rob shows up every week and has gone out of his way to support one of my students both academically and socially. My student is relatively quiet and wasn’t always a willing participant when Rob came to visit. As the year has gone along, my student is excited when Rob volunteers and is willing to work and talk with Rob during his visits. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is extremely impactful for this particular student.”
Abbot Elementary Building Math Coach Kelsey Friend says of Leo Shedden:
“Mr. Leo is a true inspiration for our students at Abbot. He works with a 4th-grade student once a week and comes prepared with engaging activities that our student would love, asks how he can best support our student and is up to work on any challenge with him. He is currently working on building polydrons, studying algebra, learning the periodic table and much more. Leo makes math and science incredibly engaging to our student through game-based play and is happy to adapt on the fly. We are so appreciative of Mr. Leo! Thank you for being at Abbot!”
Wines Elementary Principal David DeYoung says of Angie Wolney:
“Angie has been a parent at Wines for many years having three children come through our school. Angie has been a “constant” at Wines during her over 10 years as a parent here. A former art teacher, Angie began by volunteering in the art room across many grade levels. She has organized our annual Art Night and continues to be a support in Art. But Angie has done so much more. We have an outdoor beautification “committee” at Wines which has basically been a committee of one as Angie has supported our outside beauty in myriad ways. She regularly plants and keeps flowers watered and fed. She consistently brings potted flowers and plants for both inside and outside. She has single-handedly created what started as a “Fairy Garden” but grew into an amazing outdoor classroom space that I have the great pleasure of viewing daily outside of my office. She even keeps the bird feeders at my window filled! She has worked with our 5th-grade students to create a lasting garden each year and coupled that project with a larger rain garden, which she received a grant to complete last year. The amount of time Angie has spent on these projects over the years is incalculable. In addition to her time, Angie has used her own resources to support these many projects.
Wines has a beautiful exterior that seems to get better each year. Angie is nearly 100% responsible for this!”
Clague Middle School Social Worker Chelsea says of the Kiwanis Club:
Kiwanis has helped several of our families by providing vouchers at no cost to obtain clothing every single season in addition to housing goods and furniture when experiencing housing instability or homelessness. Kiwanis has also provided us with a brand new washer to complete our laundry room, which not only helps our art department and athletic department in doing laundry, but helps our families do laundry without spending hundreds of dollars. We are so appreciative of everything Kiwanis has done to help our families at Clague.
Community High teacher Joslyn Hunscher-Young says of the Community High School PTO:
“Our PTO at CHS helps to ensure we are able to do so many important things for students. From support for field trips to help coordinating schoolwide events that help our students feel welcome, included, and a part of our school.”
King Elementary School Social Worker Lindsey Birrell says of the Ann Arbor Community Foundation:
“The Song Family Fund contributes annually to King through the social worker. These funds are restriction-free to spend on whatever is needed at King! We have been able to buy items for students in need, purchase calming bins for every classroom at King as well as restock them yearly and even add additional items, purchase materials for special education use, and more! We are so thankful for this flexible budget and how many opportunities to support students and families it offers!”
Community High School teacher Danelle Mosher says of Ann Arbor Farm & Garden:
“Through annual generous grants from Ann Arbor Farm & Garden starting in 2019, Community High staff, parents and students have been able to take an unused outdoor space and transform it into a thriving abundant garden with vegetables, herbs and flowers that we use and/or donate. The garden also has a Little Free Lending Library and benches for students and the community to sit and enjoy nature. CHS students have participated in writing the grants, presenting a report to AAF&G and buidling and maintaining the garden. Without the support of AAF&G, none of this would have been possible.”
Some quotes from students:
Gardening with others is less overwhelming, and so much more fun!
Gave me a place to start learning about gardening in a structured way
Has encouraged me to try gardening on my own
Gardening is an excellent way to destress after a long day of sitting at desks inside
One of my favorite parts of the CR has been sharing the produce we grow with our classmates and teachers
We also have the freedom to make impactful decisions about what the garden is and how it operates
I enjoy learning ecology and botany through the garden
Spending time outside enriches my learning in all walks of life
Pioneer Media Specialist Janine Bauer says of Veterans of War:
“Every year School Librarian Nathaniel Powell promotes and reviews candidates for the Voice of Democracy contest that is sponsored by the Ann Arbor Veterans of War. Students submit an audio essay that explains to win scholarships typically ranging from $1,000 and up to $35,000 for the National first place winner.
They also accept blanket donations from our Naptime Ninja Club.”
Huron High School CTE Culinary Arts Instructor Samantha Dye-Gorring says of Zingerman’s, specifically Paul Swaney and Chef Ji Hye Kim:
“Zingerman’s has provided work-base learning opportunities for the students (job shadowing, mentoring, tours of facilities, pop up dinners, etc), Trainings on interviewing and good employment skills, training and judging students to help prepare for Skills USA competition, provided employment opportunities for our students, members on our Culinary CTE Advisory Boards, etc.”
Project Lead the Way/Robotics Coach Cynthia Heraud says of Michigan Space Grant Consortium, KLA, Kiwanis:
“In a small classroom filled with the hum of excitement, a young girl named Maya hovered over a robotics kit, her eyes filled with wonder. Just a year ago, she had never imagined herself building and programming a robot—let alone flying a drone. STEM had always seemed like a world meant for someone else, not for a girl like her.
Thanks to the generous grants from the Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) – NASA and KLA, opportunities that once seemed distant are now within reach for students like Maya. These grants have allowed us to create hands-on experiences, bringing the magic of robotics, drones, and engineering into the lives of underrepresented minorities and young women who may have never considered STEM as a path for their future. Ann Arbor Forsythe has received this generous MSGC Grant 3 years in a row and a generous 1:1 match.
Beyond the classroom, support from Kiwanis has made it possible for an all-female field trip to the Challenger Learning Center at SC4 two years in a row. This STEM-focused program for students in grades 3–12 offers immersive, space-themed learning experiences, bringing real-world problem-solving to life. Located in the Experience Center at SC4, it provides an opportunity for young girls to see themselves in the world of space exploration, engineering, and mission-based teamwork.
Through specialized workshops, competitions, and summer programs, we are not just teaching technical skills—we are building confidence, fostering innovation, and inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and creators. The impact is clear: students who once hesitated to raise their hands in class are now leading teams, designing robots, and piloting drones with precision and passion.
This is just the beginning. With continued support, we will keep opening doors, breaking stereotypes, and ensuring that every student—regardless of background—has the opportunity to soar.”
Lawton Elementary Principal Rose Marie Callahan says of Pioneer Trailblazers:
“We have had a long standing partnership with Pioneer Trailblazers. Our staff work with Mr. Packard and about 12-15 students each year. These students commit to coming to Lawton every single day. They form relationships with our students and mentor them as positive role models. They encourage our students to persevere in difficult tasks and to really give it their best. Their presence increases student attendance and accountability for their work. Students who are partnered with a High School Trailblazer form a deep and trusting connection with a student they can look up to who is happy to see them everyday. This program and partnership we have formed is invaluable to our community.”
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