“Exceptional” profiles

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[ June 2, 2026 ] Ann Arbor Student Building Industry Program celebrates latest home at annual banquet High School News
[ June 1, 2026 ] AAPS relay teams shine at state finals with record-setting 4×800 performances High School News
[ May 30, 2026 ] Commencement 2026: Community High School Features
[ May 28, 2026 ] Community High junior joins state student advisory council High School News
[ May 27, 2026 ] Michigan Department of Education official tours Scarlett Latest news

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 […]

Jean Kim, Dicken Elementary noon hour coordinator

March 16, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Jean Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to Lawrence, Kansas, when she was six months old while her father pursued his master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Kansas. Growing up in […]

Kaylee Keena, School Social Worker at Tappan Middle School

March 9, 2026 AAPS News Editor

By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Kaylee Keena grew up with a younger brother in Fremont, Michigan, where her parents still reside. Growing up in a small farming community, it wasn’t uncommon for her friends to […]

Donna Kolokithas, Allen Elementary Resource Room Teacher

March 3, 2026 AAPS News Editor

Donna Kolokithas grew up in Allen Park, where she developed a strong connection to education and community. She attended the University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a focus in […]