Schools
Ferndale School Board Honors Outstanding Teachers, Employees
'It does not raise my pay or give me a different position, it just feels really good inside,' one staffer says of district recognition.
In what Superintendent Gary Meier calls his “favorite ceremony of the year,” the Ferndale School Board of Education honored 25 outstanding teachers and staff last week.
“I feel very honored,” said Jackie Stroker, who is the office manager in the superintendent’s office and is described by the school board as the district's “biggest cheerleader.” Stroker, who has worked for Ferndale Public Schools since 1982, said she spent 29 years doing what she loved. “I always felt my job is a vocation, I always enjoyed what I do,” she said.
In order to have great employees you need strong leadership, and Stroker credits the work ethic of the district to the leadership of Meier. “Because of our leadership I feel we all have been very fortunate in dealing with any issues (in the district)," she said. "We will do whatever is necessary to maintain the status quo and we have been very fortunate.”
Stroker represents Ferndale’s districtwide Employee of the Year and is nominated for the Oakland County School Boards Betty Campion Support Staff of the Year Award. She also volunteers for the Ferndale Youth Assistance organizing events such as the annual student award recognition ceremony, so she knows the importance of recognition. “We all get so busy we don’t think to say, 'Hey you are doing a good job,'” Stroker said.
“I think it’s a major kudos for each individual,” said Sheila Rembert, Employee of the Year at . Although this is Rembert’s second time receiving the award, previously chosen in 2007, she said she still gets the same fulfilling feeling of honor. “It does not raise my pay or give me a different position, it just feels really good inside,” Rembert said.
Rembert, who has worked in Ferndale Schools since 1994, is described as a “right hand” to all teachers and students for her creativity and classroom management skills.
Honored from is student supervisor and basketball coach Eric Lloyd. “We do it every year and usually I nominate people, but this year I had the honor of being nominated,” he said.
Lloyd has worked for Ferndale Public Schools since 2006 and is respected among the staff for his ability to use different situations as teaching moments for students. “I think (the award) is very important, it helps the moral around the school,” Lloyd said.
The Ferndale School District employees honored at the ceremony are as follows:
- Robin Dare ( Teacher of the Year)
- Wanda Eldridge (Grant Early Childhood Center Employee of the Year)
- D’Anne McNeil (John F. Kennedy School Teacher of the Year)
- Sheila Rembert (John F. Kennedy School Employee of the Year)
- Johnny Borg ( Teacher of the Year
- David Wills (Roosevelt Primary School Employee of the Year)
- Kiada Watts ( Teacher of the Year)
- Jean Bokram (Coolidge Intermediate School Employee of the Year)
- Rick Piornack ( Teacher of the Year)
- Wanda Riches (Ferndale Middle School Employee of the Year)
- Deanna Eberle ( teacher of the Year)
- Athena Jennings (Ferndale High School Employee of the Year)
- David Gardner ( Teacher of the Year)
- Arthur Leszczynski (University High School Employee of the Year)
- Sue Jackowski ( Employee of the Year)
- Bev Friedenberg (Jefferson Center Teacher of the Year)
- Eric Lloyd (Jefferson Center Employee of the Year)
- Christine Lovins ( Teacher of the Year)
- Sonya Ross (Taft Education Center Employee of the Year)
- Mary Irwin ( Teacher of the Year)
- Nicole Booker (Crossroads Campus Employee of the Year)
- Barb Hodge (Ungerman Transportation Center 2010-11 Bus Driver of the Year)
- Donna Cunningham (Ungerman Transportation Support Person of the Year)
- Heather Coleman-Voss ( Employee of the Year)
- Jackie Stroker (District Employee of the Year- nominee for the Oakland County School Boards Association Betty Campion Award)
