Local schools name teachers of the year

BLOOMFIELD HILLS/BIRMINGHAM — Teachers of the Year have been named for Bloomfield Hills Schools and Birmingham Public Schools, three teachers in each district.

The Bloomfield Hills Schools Foundation provided Bloomfield Hills Schools Teachers of the Year with a $250 grant as they were honored at the April 27 Board of Education meeting. The Bloomfield Hills teachers that were recognized are Angela Parker, Laura VanGemert and Krista LaLiberte.

Parker teaches at Conant Elementary School and was recognized as the Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Parker is a learning specialist at Conant Elementary School. She has been working with kindergarteners through third graders for the last 20 years.

Parker began her teaching career at Detroit Public Schools.

Conant Elementary School Principal Robert Phelps presented the award to Parker at the Board of Education meeting.

“With a growth mindset and a relationship-first mentality, she scaffolds lessons for students that fold into their classrooms, providing them accelerated growth and more importantly, confidence in themselves,” Phelps said during the meeting.

Phelps added that she has been a leader in Conant Elementary School’s work with diversity, equity and inclusion.

Parker will be transitioning into retirement next year.

The Middle School Teacher of the Year recognition was given to VanGemert who teaches eighth-grade American studies at West Hills Middle School.

Rob Durecka, the interim associate principal of West Hills Middle School, presented VanGemert’s award.

“She achieves far more than just helping students gain a deeper understanding of our country’s history,”  Durecka said during the meeting. “Laura helps students better understand who they are as learners, supporting the growth of critical thinking, communication and self-management skills, all while building meaningful relationships with her students.”

LaLiberte, Bloomfield Hills High School’s instructional coach, AP language and composition teacher and student leadership advisor, is the High School Teacher of the Year. LaLiberte has been with the district for 19 years and is very involved with students’ extracurriculars, such as the National Honors Society.

Bloomfield Hills Schools Associate Principal Cathy McDonald presented the award to LaLiberte.

“She is the pulse and heartbeat of our community at BHHS. It is with her wealth of institutional knowledge, Krista takes the lead and does so naturally,” McDonald said during the meeting.

LaLiberte said one of the most rewarding parts of being a teacher is experiencing her students’ “aha moment.” She said she got to experience this recently after her student’s AP test when they shared with her how prepared they felt for the exam.

“The best part for me is when they realize for themselves how (much) they have personally accomplished,” LaLiberte said.

Birmingham Public Schools Teachers of the Year include Thomas Zabawa, Kathleen Courage and Anthony Fink. They were also recognized as nominees for Oakland County Schools’ Outstanding Teacher of the Year honor.

Zabawa was recognized as the Elementary Teacher of the Year for Birmingham Public Schools. Zabawa is now a fourth-grade teacher at Bingham Farms Elementary, but he has taught every grade level from first through fifth.

He has been working at Birmingham Public Schools for over three decades and has taught at Midvale, Greenfield and Bingham Farms elementary schools.

“I love getting to know the kids and building those relationships. I love when they come back and visit and share their memories of the year we had together,” Zabawa said.

When Zabawa was presented with the award, administrators and his family came to his classroom to surprise him.

Zabawa was able to read the testimonies of people he has worked with. He said he was especially touched by the testimony written by a former student who is now in sixth grade.

The Birmingham Public Schools Middle School Teacher of the Year award went to Courage. She is a math and science teacher at Derby Middle School.

Fink was named the Birmingham Public Schools High School Teacher of the Year. Fink is the art teacher and head of the Groves Mural Club at Wylie E. Groves High School.

Each of the Birmingham teachers was given a celebratory gathering at their school.