“Exceptional” profiles – AAPS District News

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[ September 11, 2026 ] Sara Gibson, Slauson Middle School Director of Orchestras "Exceptional" profiles
[ September 10, 2026 ] Video: Slauson 6th graders share first-week surprises, favorite classes, and locker tips Latest news
[ September 8, 2026 ] Video: Day One at Westerman Preschool & Family Center Elementary News
[ September 4, 2026 ] Video: Kindergarteners tell us about their first few days of school Elementary News
[ September 3, 2026 ] Huron High School A Cappella Choir selected to perform at state music conference in January High School News

Sara Gibson, Slauson Middle School Director of Orchestras

September 11, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Sara Gibson, M.A. Ed., is Director of Orchestras at Slauson Middle School. She brings extensive experience in music education and leadership, along with an active performing career as a cellist. Before joining Ann Arbor Public […]

Jessica Rodriguez, Wines Elementary third grade teacher

June 9, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Jessica Rodriguez is a lifelong Ann Arbor resident and a “townie” from the Old West Side. Rodriguez attended Bach Elementary, then Mack (now Ann Arbor Open), Slauson Middle School, and Pioneer High School, where she […]

Kristin Mahler, School Nurse at Logan, Pathways, and Wines

June 3, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Kristin Mahler spent her childhood in Panama before attending college in Boston, where she worked for four years. She later moved to Ann Arbor to complete a Master of Public Health at the University of […]

Lemisse Abdelbaqui, Carpenter Elementary 2nd grade teacher

May 27, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Lemisse Abdelbaqui grew up in Canton with her parents and three brothers. She attended Eastern Michigan University, where she studied Elementary Education and graduated in 2023. This is her second year teaching at Carpenter. Principal […]

Julianne Cooper, Bryant Elementary first grade teacher

May 20, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Bryant second grade teacher Julianne Cooper was born and raised in the small downriver community of River Rouge. She has been married to her husband, Jeff, for 17 years, and they live in Pinckney with […]

Sharon Jakob, School Nurse at Forsythe Middle School

May 6, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Sharon Jakob was born in Guyana, South America, and immigrated at the age of three to Canada, where she was educated and completed her Registered Nursing degree. She immigrated to the United States shortly after […]

Hookki Chance, Lakewood Elementary first grade teacher

April 30, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Hookki Chance was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and moved to Michigan at just 18 months old. She grew up in Jackson alongside her parents and four sisters. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics […]

Christy Landefeld, Logan Elementary Office Professional

April 22, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Editor’s Note: Administrative Professionals Day 2026 is today, April 22, and recognizes the vital contributions of administrative assistants, secretaries, receptionists, and other support staff. We honor this vital work throughout the district today and every day. […]

Erica Yeo, Pathways to Success math teacher

April 10, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Born in Northern Michigan and raised in Boyne City, Erica Yeo grew up spending her summers swimming and her winters snowboarding. After high school, she took a few gap years to travel and live in […]

Christine Woodson, Mitchell Elementary second grade teacher

March 23, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Christine Woodson has spent more than three decades teaching in the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor area, bringing experience, consistency, and care to her second-grade classroom. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University and Marygrove College, she […]