“Exceptional” profiles

News Ticker

[ February 10, 2026 ] District-wide NAAPID celebrations emphasized the importance of family involvement in student success Features
[ February 6, 2026 ] Young chefs enjoy new Rec & Ed cooking class just in time for the Super Bowl Features
[ February 2, 2026 ] During National School Counseling Week, AAPS honors School Counselors as the unsung orchestrators of student success Features
[ February 2, 2026 ] Freda Shatara, Abbot Elementary first grade teacher "Exceptional" profiles
[ January 29, 2026 ] Pioneer sophomore Natasza Dudek—the fastest female high school runner in the country—adds yet another honor to an incredible record Features

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 […]

Moe Nagpal, AAPS Capital Programs Manager

August 12, 2025 AAPS News Editor

AAPS Capital Programs Manager Moe Nagpal moved to Ann Arbor from Houston with his family 22 years ago. His son, Sebastian, and daughter, Natalie, attended Ann Arbor Public Schools before continuing to the University of […]

Ruth Stagner, AAPS Finance Department Buyer

July 29, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Ruth Stagner’s connection to Ann Arbor runs deep. Born and raised here as the youngest of four children, she attended Ann Arbor Public Schools throughout her formative years before proudly receiving her diploma from Huron […]

Holly Klotz, Rec & Ed Program Manager

July 25, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Holly Klotz considers herself very fortunate to have grown up in Hawaii and California. Her father served in the Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor, and her parents got married at the Pearl Harbor […]

Jessica Lucke, Secondary Compliance and Transition Coordinator

July 17, 2025 AAPS News Editor

Jessica Lucke grew up in Willis, just south of Ann Arbor, and graduated from Lincoln Consolidated Schools in 2010. She earned her associate’s degree from Washtenaw Community College and her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education […]