By: Maria Allard | Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider | Published March 17, 2024
EASTPOINTE/ROSEVILLE — Several local teachers dedicated to educating their students are being recognized next month for the lifelong impact they are leaving.
The educators have been named as their district’s 2023-24 “Outstanding Teachers of the Year.” Every year, the Macomb Intermediate School District holds an Outstanding Teacher of the Year program in which a teacher is chosen at the elementary, middle and high school levels in each district in the county.
The teachers were nominated by their peers, parents and students. Nominated teachers were evaluated in 10 categories, including teaching style, motivational expertise, lifelong learner, passion and community focus. They will be recognized at a dinner April 11 at the Italian American Cultural Society Banquet Center in Clinton Township.
Eastpointe Community Schools announced its three outstanding teachers of the year back in the fall. They are: Forest Park kindergarten teacher Lisa James, Eighth Grade Academy social studies teacher Suzanne Booth, and Matthew Ostrowski, who works in the math resource room at Eastpointe High School.
Eastpointe Community Schools Superintendent Christina Gibson gave the news in person to each educator by visiting their classrooms as they were teaching. She brought flowers for James and Booth and balloons for Ostrowski.
Because Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was at Forest Park on the first day of school for the 2023-24 school year, she congratulated James in person. According to school officials, James is known for being a positive light in the district.
Booth, who also goes by the name “Mama Booth,” let out a “whoo” when Gibson delivered her good news. A colleague nominated Booth for the award. Booth is a graduate of the district and has dedicated her entire career to teaching children.
Ostrowski was nominated by two different co-workers, who remarked on the nomination form about “the way he treats students with love and compassion, as well as his willingness to always lend a hand when needed.” Ostrowski’s mom accompanied Gibson to his classroom when she shared the news of his accomplishment.
This year’s Roseville Community Schools Outstanding Teachers of the Year are Green Elementary second grade teacher Lynn Sharpe, Roseville Middle School teacher Danielle Forsythe, and Roseville High School teacher Sarah Drouin.
“Ms. Sharpe is always researching and trying to find new and creative ways to reach her students. She is consistent and fair with all her students,” Green Elementary Principal Donna Ambrose said in a prepared statement. “Students are allowed to make mistakes without being made to feel inferior. She keeps her students engaged by making up games to get them excited for phonics, reading, and math.”
Forsythe has taught at Roseville Middle School for seven years, teaching algebra, seventh grade math, and seventh grade Math Attack. She started her career at Kment Elementary as an interventionist and also taught for several years during the district’s elementary summer extended learning program.
Drouin has been impacting students at Roseville High School for 24 years, where she has taught a variety of English language arts courses. She currently teaches Journalism I (yearbook/online newspaper), Journalism II, speech/debate and English 11. She has served as newspaper adviser her entire career, and in 2019, she also took over as yearbook adviser.