2023 Inspirational Educators
Laura Wagner, Washtenaw International High School
Laura Wagner is a Chemistry Teacher at Washtenaw International High School.Laura models personal and professional growth while building a connection with students and making chemistry a concept that can be understood by the students in her classrooms. Laura shares, “It feels so rewarding to be nominated by a community member. You always hope as an educator that you've made an impact on the lives of your students!”
Letisia Walter, Symons Elementary School (Milan Area Schools)
Letisia Walter is a paraprofessional who works with 3rd grade students in Milan Area Schools at Symons Elementary. She will go above and beyond to create a connection with her students. Letisia expressed, “I enjoy being able to support each child to be and do their best, and to encourage them to be confident and successful in every part of their life.”
Daneya Griffin, Child Elementary (Lincoln Consolidated Schools)
Daneya Griffin is an elementary teacher in Lincoln Consolidated Schools at Childs Elementary she teaches 2nd grade students. Daneya says that she loves to see her students work hard to overcome and strive for greatness. She shares, “They show me every day what triumph looks like. I work hard to be intentional in the interactions I have with each of my students so they know that they are enough and that the work they do is meaningful.”
Leslie Stuber, Early On (Washtenaw ISD)
Leslie Stuber is an Early On Speech-Language Pathologist in the Early Childhood department at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and has worked for the district for five and a half years. Leslie helps the community by providing services to young children with language delays/disorders. She states, “I love coaching their parents/caregivers and there is nothing better than seeing a parent/caregiver feel empowered to help their child learn and grow.”
Abby Sievers, Saline High School (Saline Area Schools)
Abby Sievers is a Special Education Teacher in the Saline Area Schools at Saline High School. Abby finds a way to connect with her students and finds creative ways to build an inclusive environment for her students. When talking about her students, she shares, “Witnessing progress of any kind, no matter how small, makes my job incredibly rewarding! The relationships that I get to create with students and their families is such an honor and I am grateful to do the work that I do each day!”
Jessica Krueger-Koupal, Ypsilanti Community High School (Ypsilanti Community Schools)
Jessica Krueger-Koupal is an Instructional Coach supporting math, science, and engineering at Ypsilanti Community High School. As an Instructional Coach, Jessica creates a positive space and encourages students to try new things. When reflecting on why she loves teaching, she says, “I love teaching math and seeing a student's growth over time as they improve in both mathematical ability and confidence. The best part of being an educator is getting to work with students to apply content area learning to a project that makes an impact in their community.”
Jennifer Maciag, Carpenter Elementary School (Ann Arbor Public Schools)
Jennifer Maciag is a kindergarten teacher in the Ann Arbor Public Schools at Carpenter Elementary School. She creates an environment where she encourages her students to take ownership of their education by asking questions and problem-solving. Jennifer shares, “I love the connections I make with my students and their families. I love to see each student grow and progress in both their learning and their life. And I love my teaching team; the support we provide for each other empowers us to persevere.”
