Dedicated employees, hardworking students honored in Eastpointe, Roseville

EASTPOINTE/ROSEVILLE — As the 2023-2024 school year came to a close, it gave school officials the opportunity to recognize students and staff at recent school board meetings.

Eastpointe
The June 10 Eastpointe Community Schools Board of Education meeting began with Superintendent Christina Gibson’s report.

Gibson began the report announcing that Eastpointe High School junior Kalia Monroe won the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 state championship in the shot put with a throw of 45-6, beating her previous record by more than 2 feet. The star athlete also finished seventh in the discus with a throw of 124-1 inch.

There also was time to recognize several graduating seniors who received scholarships. They were Britney Howard, Maurisha Davenport, Trinity Brown, Ta’Leah Butler, Stephanie Sorlien and Kerdy Ngolo.

“Eastpointe Community Schools gives a number of scholarships away annually,” Gibson said. “It is because of the generosity of community organizations — former students as well as former staff members and their families.”

Nine ECS staff members who retired this year also were honored. The educators were not present, but will receive school bells with their names and years of service engraved on them.

The following retirees were acknowledged: Pleasantview Elementary teachers Elizabeth Bur and Tricia Dickens; Eastpointe High School counselor Rebecca Ceresa; Crescentwood Elementary teacher Susan Crosslin; Eastpointe Middle School teacher Brian Fahning; Pleasantview paraprofessional Vicki Sue Gassel; Eastpointe High School social worker Susan Martin-Hamden; EHS teacher Flora Mukavec; and 8th Grade Academy teacher Kimberly Zatelli.

Roseville
There was plenty of laughter coming from the Roseville Community Schools Administration Building the evening of June 3. There were also tears and hugs.

At the district’s Board of Education meeting that evening, the school board recognized the 10 educators that retired from the district. School officials also acknowledged staff members who have served 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years.

Congratulations were given to the following retirees: teachers Kristine Durst-Wahl, Joni Irla, Shelly Jacobs, Kathy Morgan, Eugene Randolph, Lori Schindler and Thomas Vocke; special education aide Debra Holland; social worker Scott Parsons; and cooks Donna Awwad, Kathleen Sahlaney and Audrey Skelly.

Acknowledgements also went to Joel Lepp, auditorium supervisor, for all he does for the district; Stasi Earl, a Roseville Middle School teacher who organized the “Be the Reason” program that earned national recognition; and Joe Genest, marketing and communications facilitator for his years of service.