“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

Brittane McGough-Hackney, Bryant Elementary Teaching Assistant

April 1, 2024 AAPS News Editor

Bryant Teaching Assistant Brittane McGough-Hackney grew up in Westland, the oldest of five children raised by her grandparents and an uncle. She attended Inkster Public Schools until high school, when she went on to graduate […]

Gretchen Hahn, Clague Middle School Science Teacher & Department Chair

March 13, 2024 AAPS News Editor

Gretchen Hahn’s roots trace back to New York, where she was born. As one of seven siblings, she recalls moving around a lot before her family settled in Perry, Michigan. Hahn’s love for learning blossomed […]

Audi Hahn, Bach Elementary third grade teacher

March 6, 2024 AAPS News Editor

Audi Hahn’s teaching journey began during her middle and high school years in Stratford, Connecticut, where she discovered her passion for teaching while volunteering at Sunday school. Following high school graduation, she attended Salve Regina […]

Julie Johnston, Lakewood Elementary Behavior Intervention Specialist

February 26, 2024 AAPS News Editor

Julie Johnston grew up in the small town of Geneva, Ohio, located on Lake Erie about an hour outside of Cleveland. After graduating from Kent State University in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in business […]

Karen Gerhart, Lawton fifth grade teacher

February 19, 2024 AAPS News Editor

Lawton fifth grade teacher Karen Gerhart grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Conrad Weiser High School in Robesonia, Pennsylvania, she decided to go to East Stroudsburg University to pursue a degree in education. After working […]

Kevin Chung, Slauson Middle School Counselor

February 5, 2024 AAPS News Editor

Kevin Chung was born in Seoul, South Korea and moved with his family to Michigan when he was two years old. He grew up Saline and Brighton, where he developed an interest in working with […]

Stella Rodriguez, A2 Open 1st/2nd grade teacher

January 29, 2024 AAPS News Editor

Stella Rodriguez grew up in Ypsilanti while attending school in Ann Arbor. She attended a magnet charter school, the Ann Arbor Learning Community in the early grades, followed by Pattengill Elementary and Tappan Middle School […]

Misty Noble, Burns Park vocal music teacher

January 19, 2024 AAPS News Editor

Angell Elementary music teacher Katie Ryan raves about the “seriously exceptional” vocal music instruction Misty Noble provides students at Burns Park Elementary. According to Ryan, Noble has a gift for “drawing students in and honoring […]

Elana Levine, Haisley kindergarten teacher

January 11, 2024 AAPS News Editor

Elana Levine spent her childhood in Sylvania, Ohio, where she lived until her family moved to the Cleveland suburb of Solon after she finished sixth grade. After graduating from high school, Levine headed to the […]

Emily Stepnick, Angell & King art teacher

January 4, 2024 AAPS News Editor

Emily Stepnick grew up in northwest Ohio before her family relocated to Saline during her high school years. She pursued her passion for art education, earning her associate’s and bachelor’s degrees at Washtenaw Community College […]