Dearborn Schools Honors Its Teachers of the Year

Photo: Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce members honored the 2015 Dearborn Teacher of the Year recipients at a May 20 awards ceremony at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. From left: Teacher of the Year winners Samia Fawaz (3rd-5th grades), Sharifah Ahmed (middle school), and Amanda Lichocki (high school). Honoree Seena Ankouni (pre-kindergarten through 2nd grades) is not pictured. (Credit: Dearborn Public Schools)

The following press release is from Dearborn Public Schools:

Four outstanding Dearborn Public Schools teachers were honored by students, parents, colleagues and community leaders on May 20 at the 2015 Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony. More than 400 were at the event hosted by the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center.

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The Chamber’s Education Committee, chaired by Philipp Emma, had the tough job of selecting four winners from a field of more than 900 nominations for 239 teachers. Nominations were sorted into four grade level groups: pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade; 3rd-5th grade; middle school; and high school. Nominations were carefully reviewed and winners were chosen by a committee representing the educational and business communities.

The winning teachers for 2014 are:

• First grade teacher Seena Ankouni received the 2015 Pre-Kindergarten-2nd Grade Teacher of the Year Award. Ms. Ankouni began working in the District in 2011 as a second grade teacher at Lowrey and now teaches first grade at the school. She holds a bachelor of language arts from Wayne State University and a master’s degree in literacy education from Madonna University.
  
  Ms. Ankouni was nominated for teacher of the year by student Seena Abdulla who wrote, “This was my first year at Lowrey. I had no friends because I was new to the school and very shy! My teacher knew I was struggling to make friends so she asked the class if they can be my friend!”
  
  
• Samia Fawaz, a 4th grade language arts teacher at Lowrey, received the 3rd-5th grade Teacher of the Year Award. She holds a bachelor’s degree in language arts from University of Michigan-Dearborn and has worked in the District since 2012.
  
  Student Mona Berry nominated Ms. Fawaz for her tremendous efforts as a teacher, stating that Ms. Fawaz “makes learning positive and fun. (She) creates a positive and fun classroom. My classroom feels like home. I always feel comfortable in my classroom and at school!”
  
  
• The middle school teacher of the year, Sharifah Ahmed, is an 8th grade teacher who began working for the Dearborn Public Schools teaching at Salina Intermediate in 2012. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
  
  Ms. Ahmed was nominated by student Lauren Harb, who said, “There are many amazing teachers that work at Salina Intermediate School. But there is one particular teacher that is beyond amazing – my language arts teacher!”
  
  
• Amanda Lichocki, the 2015 high school teacher of the year, teaches 9th grade English language arts at Fordson High School where she has worked since 2011. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in fashion design and a master’s in secondary education from Wayne State University.
  
  When nominating Ms. Lichocki for Teacher of the Year, Fordson student Mariam Alkudari said, “I will always remember my teacher’s heartwarming attitude and try to replicate that to the best of my ability. She…taught me that the best way to live life is with a positive attitude!”

The four honorees each received a $1,000 cash prize and a hand-made glass apple award, and they are now part of a select group of Dearborn teachers who have been recognized by the community for their ability to make a difference. In addition, the school where each teacher of the year works received a cash prize.

Second Photo: Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce members honored the 2015 Dearborn Teacher of the Year recipients at a May 20 awards ceremony at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. From left: Chamber past chair Gary Kearns of Kearns Brothers; Jim Kroll of Lafontaine Automotive Group; Dearborn Area Chamber Education Committee Chair Philipp Emma; Teacher of the Year winners Samia Fawaz (3rd-5th grades), Sharifah Ahmed (middle school), Amanda Lichocki (high school); Chamber President Jackie Lovejoy; Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston; Chamber Events & Media Relations Director Ron Hinrichs, and Dearborn Education Foundation Executive Director Eddie Fakhoury. Honoree Seena Ankouni (pre-kindergarten through 2nd grades) is not pictured. (Credit: Dearborn Public Schools)