“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

Shaquanda Thomas, Bryant Elementary paraprofessional

December 19, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Shaquanda Thomas grew up in Ypsilanti, the daughter of Nolen Thomas and Shirley Love, and granddaughter of Cora A. Woods, who helped raise her. Thomas attended […]

Alivia Maus, Dicken Elementary first grade teacher

December 15, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Alivia Maus grew up with her two younger siblings on her parents’ small farm in Milan just south of Ann Arbor. As a child, she […]

Amy Van Appledorn, Huron High School social studies and humanities teacher

December 7, 2017 AAPS News Editor

By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Amy Van Appledorn grew up in Ann Arbor, the younger sister of Todd and Scott, and the daughter of Carl Van Appledorn, a urologist at St. Joseph Mercy […]

Tom Pachera, Skyline’s Design Technology & Environmental Planning (DTEP) Magnet Lead and STEAM/PLTW District Coordinator

December 1, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Tom Pachera grew up in Dearborn Heights, attended middle school in Livonia, and graduated from Churchill High School in Livonia. He went on to earn a […]

Elliot Wills-Begley, Scarlett Middle School language and literature teacher

November 20, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Elliot Hammarlund Wills-Begley grew up in the woods, fields, and waters of the Old Mission Peninsula in Grand Traverse County where he spent most of […]

Darcy Knoll, Pittsfield and Pattengill elementary physical education teacher

November 15, 2017 AAPS News Editor

By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Pittsfield and Pattengill’s Elementary physical education teacher Darcy Knoll was recently named SHAPE Michigan’s Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. She is very passionate about physical […]

Don Packard, Pioneer High School English teacher

November 8, 2017 AAPS News Editor

By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Ann Arbor native Don Packard grew up on the northwest side of town and attended Newport, Forsythe, and Pioneer. Following his 1983 high school graduation, he made the long […]

Kyle Yenor, Logan Elementary fourth grade teacher

October 25, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Kyle Yenor grew up in the rural town of Morenci in Lenawee County, where he attended Morenci Area Schools K-12, was active in sports and enjoyed the simplicity […]

Becky Gracey, King Elementary fifth grade teacher

October 18, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Becky Gracey grew up in Ann Arbor and attended Lawton Elementary, Slauson Middle School, and Pioneer High School. While she was in Marlene Milazzo’s first grade class, she decided she wanted to be a teacher. […]

Harold Wimberly, Scarlett Middle School Intervention Specialist

October 9, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Photos and video by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor For the last 29 years, Harold Wimberly has been serving struggling Washtenaw County youth and families in various capacities, particularly in behavioral counseling, life-skills training and program […]