“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

Kristi Krile, Logan Elementary first grade teacher

April 4, 2018 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Kristi Whitaker Krile was a military brat. Her father was in the Air Force, so she and her younger sister lived all over the world, including […]

Nicole Smitka, Carpenter Elementary 5th grade teacher

March 13, 2018 AAPS News Editor

By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Nicole Smitka grew up in Ann Arbor and considers herself lucky to have attended Lawton Elementary, Slauson Middle School, and Pioneer High School. With a passion for math and science, […]

Scott Thobe, Tappan Middle School social studies teacher

March 6, 2018 AAPS News Editor

By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Scott Thobe (pronounced “Toe-bee”) and two older sisters grew up in the small Ohio farming community of Ft. Recovery. Thobe says that because there wasn’t a lot to do […]

Lisa Ziegler, Burns Park Project Lead the Way teacher

February 26, 2018 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Lisa Ziegler grew up in Hastings and attended Hastings Area Schools, as did her two younger brothers, Mike and Jimmy. Her father, Dave Storms (who now […]

Phyllis Newman, Mitchell Elementary preschool teacher

February 19, 2018 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Phyllis Newman was born and raised in Ann Arbor, the daughter of the late Dr. Rev. A.J. Lightfoot Jr. and Mary C. Kidd-Lightfoot. She attended Haisley, Forsythe, […]

Amanda Houston, Bach Elementary first grade teacher

February 6, 2018 AAPS News Editor

By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Amanda Houston was born in Houston, Texas, and spent her childhood in North Brunswick, New Jersey. At the age of 13, her family—including her parents, Michigan natives Donald and […]

Nathan Hatt, A2 STEAM lead teacher/Project-Based Learning coordinator

January 31, 2018 AAPS News Editor

By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Nathan Hatt, lifetime Ann Arbor resident, is a product of the Ann Arbor Public Schools and a University of Michigan alumnus. After five years working as a production artist, […]

Jackie Moray, Haisley Elementary kindergarten teacher

January 24, 2018 AAPS News Editor

Jacqueline Moray was born and raised in Ann Arbor, the daughter of David and Michelle Moray, and sister of Katie Moray. Growing up on Ann Arbor’s southeast side in the Buhr Park neighborhood, she […]

Colleen Creal, Pioneer High School guidance counselor

January 15, 2018 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Colleen Rose Creal was born in Lima, Ohio on January 13, 1966, the fifth of six children of James (a salesman) and Rosemarie (an educator) Furlong. […]

Gwen Cowhy, Slauson Middle School science teacher

January 5, 2018 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Gwen Dekker Cowhy was born and raised in Ann Arbor and attended Allen Elementary, Tappan junior High and Huron High School. She and her two […]