“Exceptional” profiles

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[ March 5, 2026 ] Full Circle: From Peer Connections students to special education teachers High School News
[ March 3, 2026 ] Donna Kolokithas, Allen Elementary Resource Room Teacher "Exceptional" profiles
[ March 2, 2026 ] Pioneer students’ ceramic work selected for national K–12 exhibition in Detroit High School News
[ March 2, 2026 ] Perseverance and Resistance: A Celebration of Us – Skyline’s Black History Month Show High School News
[ March 2, 2026 ] Skyline Blues advances to ICHSA semi-finals after quarterfinal win Features

Jeff DeMoss, Huron High School social studies teacher

November 24, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Jeff DeMoss is a Huron High School social studies teacher who has spent 16 years inspiring students through innovative approaches to history and humanities education. A Michigan native, he grew up in St. Clair Shores […]

Sheril Bulley-Simpson, A2 Open 3rd/4th grade teacher

November 20, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Sheril Bulley-Simpson, an A2 Open 3rd/4th-grade teacher, was born and raised in Detroit and is a proud graduate of Cass Technical High School. Teaching is her passion. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan […]

Alicia Rey-Murrell, Haisley Elementary second grade teacher

November 10, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Alicia Rey-Murrell was born in Ann Arbor to Cuban exiles and grew up surrounded by a large, loving family. She says her everyday life was enriched by the presence of her grandparents, aunts, and parents, […]

Emily Wark, Abbot Elementary Building Literacy Coach

November 3, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Emily Wark is a proud Canadian-American who spent her early childhood in Toronto, Ontario, before moving to the Philadelphia area during elementary school. Inspired by her own teachers as a student, she went on to […]

Phoenix Purman, Pittsfield Elementary first grade teacher

October 15, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Phoenix Purman grew up in Genesee County and graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She and her husband, Jake, live in Whitmore Lake. In her free time, […]

Suzanne Vu, Logan Elementary English Learner (EL) teacher

October 7, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Suzanne Vu was born in Orange County, California, and grew up in San Diego. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara as an undergrad, spent a gap year traveling, and then attended graduate school […]

Jessica Hendricks-Pickles, A2 Virtual+ Online Learning Coordinator

September 30, 2025 AAPS News Editor

When she was very young, Jessica Hendricks-Pickles’ father changed careers from social studies teacher to Lutheran minister. Because of this, she spent her childhood in several places across Ohio and southeast Michigan before graduating from […]

Maia Gleason-Teener, Logan Elementary School Social Worker

September 23, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Maia Gleason-Teener grew up right in Ann Arbor, where she attended Dicken, Slauson, and Pioneer before going on to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Michigan. She always knew she […]

Ashley VanSteelandt, Carpenter Elementary second grade teacher

September 10, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Ashley VanSteelandt was born in Detroit and grew up in Clinton Township until her family moved to Canton Township during her fourth grade year. As an only child, she grew up close to her extended […]

Barbara Sella-Martin, Pioneer High School Spanish teacher

September 3, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Barbara Sella-Martin has been a resident of Ann Arbor for more than 30 years, though she originally grew up in Allendale, home of the Grand Valley State University Lakers. She began her higher education studies […]