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Outstanding Teacher of the Year

teacher of year 2023 logo

We are proud to announce that we have named our top teachers from Oakland County for 2023, honoring outstanding educators in three categories. Elementary, middle and high school teachers from Lamphere, West Bloomfield and Farmington were this year’s winners.

2023 Award Recipients

Sarah Laurence with her students

Sarah Laurence

Simmonds Elementary School, Lamphere Public Schools. 2nd Grade

"To meet the needs of all students in her class, Sarah provides differentiated instruction and small-group learning opportunities to all students across all subject areas. She knows her students well, and throughout the year, she helps them learn to identify and advocate for their own learning needs."

2023 Middle School Teacher of the Year - Nicole Borst

Noelle Borst

West Bloomfield Middle School, West Bloomfield School District. Teacher for the Emotionally Impaired

"Noelle is a magical, almost mythical, creature. She is the perfect mix of an Old West sheriff, wizard, and Mary Poppins (without the umbrella). She has an uncanny ability to read people and knows just how to connect. She puts her whole heart into everything she does."

Michael-Bause-2023-TOY

Michael Bause

North Farmington High School, Farmington Public Schools. Grades 10-11, Astronomy and Earth Science Essentials

"He makes science so intriguing and interesting that there are students in his room every day before and after school, as well as before, during, and after class, seeking help and advice, helping others out, and engaging Mike in deep conversations about science and life."

2023 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Nominees

Elementary School


Lisa Momblanco
Avondale GATE Magnet School,
Avondale, 2nd grade

Kristi Metz
Norup International School,
Berkley, Elementary English Learners

Thomas Zabawa
Bingham Farms Elementary,
Birmingham, 4th Grade Teacher

Angela Parker
Conant Elementary,
Bloomfield Hills, Learning Specialist/K-5

Andrea Noeker
Harvey-Swanson Elementary,
Brandon, Kindergarten

Matthew Mair
Grandview and Botsford Elementary School,
Clarenceville, K-5 Physical Education Teacher

Karen Abdella
Schalm Elementary School,
Clawson, 3rd grade all subjects

Angelina Lowe
Lanigan Elementary School,
Farmington, 2nd grade (all subjects)

Glynis Tyler
Ferndale Lower,
Ferndale, 2nd Grade

Alicia Becker
Hoover Elementary,
Hazel Park, MTSS Teacher

Kailee Hooper
Holly Elementary School,
Holly, 3rd grade, Elementary

Jamie Page
Highland Elementary School,
Huron Valley, Third Grade

Sarah Dabrowski
Stadium Drive Elementary,
Lake Orion, 3rd Grade

Michelle Donberger
Novi Woods Elementary,
Novi, 4th grade/all subjects

Maureen Line
Pepper Elementary,
Oak Park, 3rd grade all subjects

Jessica Bull
Daniel Axford Elementary,
Oxford, First Grade

Shayla Scott
Herrington Elementary,
Pontiac, Kindergarten, all subjects

Kendra Bath
Northwood Elementary,
Royal Oak, Kindergarten

Ashley Bentz
Hardy Elementary,
South Lyon, First Grade Co-Taught Classroom

Karen Rosewarne
Leonard Elementary School,
Troy, 5th Grade

Darcy Jeneary
Oakley Park Elementary,
Walled Lake, 4th Grade ELA & Social Studies

Susan Case
Grayson Elementary,
Waterford, 3rd grade all subjects

Sage Wood
Roosevelt Elementary,
West Bloomfield, 3rd Grade all subjects

Middle School


Amanda Mulka
Avondale Middle School,
Avondale, 6th grade Geography, 6th grade

Nell Bielecki
Anderson Middle School,
Berkley, 6-8th grade Science

Kathleen Courage
Derby Middle School,
Birmingham, Science (7) and Math (8)

Laura VanGemert
West Hills Middle School,
Bloomfield Hills, 8th-Grade United States History

Patti Dunnabeck-Green
Clarenceville Middle School,
Clarenceville, 6th Grade Science

Kevin Burr
East Middle School,
Farmington, Social Studies/ELA Teacher

Barbara Logan
Hazel Park Junior High,
Hazel Park, 7th & 8th grade math and Algebra

Brian Smith
Holly Middle School,
Holly, Beginning Band; Jazz Band; Concert Band; Symphony Band

Kelly Haas
Oak Valley Middle School,
Huron Valley, Social Studies 6th Grade ELA 8th Grade WEB Leadership

LeAnn Goodall
Oakview Middle School,
Lake Orion, Grades 6-8, Computer Tech

Stacy Witkowski
John Page Middle School,
Lamphere, 7th and 8th grade Spanish 1 and 2

Lori Gerecke
Novi Middle School,
Novi, 8th Grade Science

Lois Lawton
Oak Park Prepatory Academy,
Oak Park, 6th Grade Science

Tim Foreman
Royal Oak Middle School,
Royal Oak, 6-8 Band

Leann Lambert
Centennial Middle School,
South Lyon, 6th grade math and math lab courses

Shannon Dziwanowski
Larson Middle School,
Troy, 8th Grade Science

Jill Murray
Sarah Banks Middle School,
Walled Lake, 7th and 8th English

High School


Gina Furnari
Avondale High School,
Avondale, German 1 through German 5

Jessica Sandtveit
Berkley High School,
Berkley, Algebra 1, Pre-Calculus (mixed grade levels 9-12)

Anthony Fink
Groves High School,
Birmingham, Art - 9th-12th

Krista Laliberte
Bloomfield Hills High School,
Bloomfield Hills, Instructional Coach, Student Leadership, AP Language and Composition (11)

Lesley Hildebrand
Brandon High School,
Brandon, Grades 9-12, AP Physics, Geophysics (STEM), AP Statistics

Mary McGlinchey
Clawson High School,
Clawson, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Science

Amy MacIntosh
Hazel Park High School,
Hazel Park, AP English 12 (AP Literature & Composition), Pre-AP English 9, and Yearbook Adviser (multiple grades)

Joe Walters
Holly High School,
Holly, ELA 10; US History; AP History

Anne Zambito
Harbor High School,
Huron Valley, English Language Arts Grades 9-12

Catherine Srock
Lake Orion High School,
Lake Orion, Grades 9-12, ELA and Broadcasting

Kate Vollmayer
Lamphere High School,
Lamphere, 9-12 English Language Arts Special Education

Hattie Maguire
Novi High School,
Novi, 11th grade AP English Language & Composition, AP Seminar, Incubato

Craig Trombly
Oxford High School,
Oxford, Career and Technical Education - Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering

Colin Campbell
Royal Oak High School,
Royal Oak, 9, 10, 11 grades AP Microeconomics; Economics; US History 1

John Sadowski
South Lyon High School,
South Lyon, Tech/Draw/CAD, Modern Tech, Engineering Projects, Electronic Controls

Erich Beregszaszy
Athens High School,
Troy, 9-12, Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Organic Chemistry

Peter Rabaut
Walled Lake Northern High School,
Walled Lake, 9th Grade English Co-Taught, Creative Writing

Adrienne Novales
Avondale High School,
Waterford, 9-12 Spanish 1, 2, 4

Francis “Buddy” Muylaert
West Bloomfield High School,
West Bloomfield, 9th-12th grades. Project Lead the Way Intro to Engineering Design. Engineering Academy 1, 2, 3, 4.