HomeProfiles of Students, Staff, TeachersRockstar Teachers

Rockstar Teachers

There’s just something about certain teachers that draws students to them in droves and keeps them checking in years, even decades later. Here, we highlight some of these rockstars of the classroom.

Environmental educator receives fellowship

Forest Hills Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Sixth-grade teacher Patty Tolly will use her fellowship to educate students about water, its chemical composition and what pollutes it.

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Shining a light on blindness and low vision

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

For April Makley, it’s all about breaking down barriers and creating access for visually impaired students...

She came out of retirement to be a super-sub

Godfrey-Lee Alexis Stark

After retiring from over 30 years of teaching, Lisa Villemeure-Greca started her new adventure as a permanent substitute teacher at the Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center...

Just a Godwin girl

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

After 38 years, Lynn Bradford is putting away the crayons and the ‘creepy green underwear’...

Inspired by grandfather, he inspired generations of students

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

After 40 years of teaching vocational ed, Larry Ridley retires from the profession that picked him...

She chose math over snakes and cold, and students win

Kelloggsville Sean Bradley

Thinking in numbers, this Southeast Kelloggsville second-grade teacher’s love of education shines through...

Positive energy as bright as spring sunshine

Forest Hills Carol Lautenbach

Three words from lead teacher Amy Goebels led Nancy Sullivan to bring her affinity for young children to life in Collins Elementary’s Great Start Readiness Program...

Making learning ‘as local as we can’

Grand Rapids Erin Albanese

Stephanie Nielsen, the Region 3 Michigan Teacher of the Year, leads her students into the wild schoolyard around them to discover peas, dandelions, trees and cross-curricular connections...

An award-winning partner in education

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Michigan Science Teacher of the Year Grace Boersma sees herself as a facilitator, guiding students to the answers...

Environmental educator on a quest to make learning more meaningful — and fun

Forest Hills Carol Lautenbach

Central Woodlands’ sixth-grade teacher Patty Tolly knew mid-career that ‘there had to be better ways than traditional methods to help students learn.’ Her quest to find those methods continues today...

Doing what he loves by teaching tech, inspiring students

Kent City Charles Honey

In his 25th year of teaching at Kent City, Jeremy Smith helps students learn high-tech skills that they share with the community through social media...

She’s incredible, sweet and ‘boring’

Wyoming Erin Albanese

She has devoted her whole career to Oriole Park, the elementary school she attended and loves...

Chosen by art, to her students’ benefit

Northview Morgan Jarema

The recently named art educator of the year can be found at none other than Northview High School...

Teacher leads students into the great outdoors

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

From grants for gardens to learning about nearby Plaster Creek, Erin Fettig and her first-grade students are busy becoming stewards of the earth...

‘You have to teach them how to love themselves’

Grand Rapids Alexis Stark

Her classroom walls remind them they are loved, to be kind, that life is good and to believe in themselves...

‘I like to keep kindergarten playful and academic’

Caledonia Alexis Stark

It’s been thirty-two years and counting for this second-generation educator...

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ABOUT US

School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent County, which enroll more than 90,000 students. Founded in 2013, we are an editorially independent news site funded by Kent ISD, local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and photojournalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues that enhance or discourage student success, and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

Ready to lead

Leaders in achievement pass the torch

Leading to achieve

New principal envisions ‘a bright future’ at his alma mater

‘It feeds me,’ says teacher-artist

Books on the Run bounces back

It takes a community to stage a musical

Superintendent to serve on Growing Michigan Together Council

Teacher-designed classrooms help students feel supported, calm and creative

Restorative circles create safe space at the top of the day

‘Feed the kids’

‘It’s really all about providing equity’

Rockstar Teachers

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