“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

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 […]

Danielle Grosos, Pattengill Resource Room teacher

September 27, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Danielle Grosos grew up in Dearborn Heights, the daughter of Mark and Anita Griffin. During high school, she worked for Dearborn Heights 20th District Court and thought about becoming […]

Veronica Nowicki, Lawton Second grade teacher

September 18, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Photos and profile by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Veronica Nowicki grew up in Saginaw, the daughter of Tony and Maria Moreno. When she was seven years old, her family moved to Puerto de Santa […]

Larissa Czuchnowsky, Forsythe Middle School Spanish teacher

September 12, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Photo and profile by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Larissa Czuchnowsky grew up in Windsor, Ontario, the daughter of Polish immigrants Dan and Mica Czuchnowsky. After high school, she took a gap year to travel to […]

Brandon Bedinger, Skyline High School community assistant and head strength training coach

June 12, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Brandon Bedinger was raised in Trotwood, Ohio (near Dayton) and graduated from Trotwood-Madison High in 2005. He then attended Eastern Michigan University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in […]