“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

Anne Bezeau, Skyline High School health & physical education teacher

May 10, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Story and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Nobody who knows Anne Bezeau would be surprised to learn that in addition to teaching health and physical education at Skyline High School, she also organizes […]

Skyline ELA teacher Jeff Austin named a finalist for 2017 E3 Teacher of the Year

May 9, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Story, video, and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Skyline ELA teacher Jeff Austin says he’s not an emotional person but admits he was deeply touched to be named a finalist for the Ann […]

Sarah Schemanske, Project Lead The Way Launch teacher, Carpenter and Wines

May 8, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Photos and profile by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Sarah Schemanske grew up in Highland and completed her undergraduate degree at Albion College. She then taught for seven years in North Carolina, gaining experience in […]

Quinn Strassel is the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber 2017 E3 Teacher of the Year

May 5, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Story, photos and video by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor AAPS theater teacher Quinn Strassel is on a paternity leave following the March 30 birth of his third child. So when he stopped into Community […]

Shaenu Micou, Skyline High School Intervention Specialist

April 24, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Photo and profile by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Shaenu Micou grew up in Ann Arbor in the Arrowwood Hills community, and attended Northside and Logan elementary schools, Clague Junior High, and Huron High School. Micou […]

Neha Shah, King Elementary fifth grade teacher

April 13, 2017 AAPS News Editor

By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Neha Shah grew up in East Lansing, where she attended Pinecrest Elementary School. In middle school, her family moved to Farmington, where she attended Power Middle School and Farmington […]

Cheryl Haller, Skyline High School College & Career Advisor

March 14, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Cheryl Haller grew up near the beaches of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communications & marketing from the University […]

Dawn Dennis, Allen Elementary first grade teacher

March 6, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Dawn Dennis Profile and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Dawn Dennis was born and raised in Detroit, the daughter of Herman and Marva Jenkins, a retired postal supervisor and retired executive secretary for […]

Jenni Wilkening, Huron High School science teacher

February 27, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Photos and profile by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Jennifer Wilkening grew up in Alma, the daughter of Gabriel and JanaLynn Almeida. In addition to teaching in Grand Blanc and in Durham, N.C., Jennifer Wilkening […]

Melissa Schmidt, Mitchell Elementary third grade teacher

February 13, 2017 AAPS News Editor

Profile and photo by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor Melissa Schmidt says that her parents, Eric and Mary Anne Jaeger, determined long ago that if they were blessed with children, those children would attend […]