Avondale School District announces Teachers of the Year

“How do you narrow down the best of the best in a teaching community filled with highly qualified staff, devoted to giving students everything they need to succeed in school and even beyond graduation?” That was the question posed by Avondale School District Superintendent, Dr. James Schwarz, as the District prepared to name three teachers, one each from the elementary school level, middle school level, and high school level, as Teachers of the Year.

“It’s an almost impossible task when you consider the number of Avondale teachers who challenge themselves every day to be innovative and energized while inspiring their students,” Schwarz added.

After a months-long process of wading through colleague, parent, and even student recommendations, the committee selected Auburn Elementary teacher Serena Stock, Avondale Middle School teacher Mary Nofs, and Avondale High School teacher Edmond Guay as 2017 Avondale School District Teachers of the Year.

Avondale Elementary Teacher of the Year, Serena Stock, has a long history with Avondale, first as a student and now as a second grade teacher at Auburn Elementary. By her colleagues she is seen as a teacher with an incredible depth of understanding of curriculum, child development, learning theory, pedagogics, formative assessment, and educational research as well as someone able to create a classroom culture that is, in a word, remarkable. She is considered a life-long learner, continuously looking for ways to grow as an educator while pioneering innovative teaching and learning strategies at Auburn Elementary and across the District such as Teacher Lab – a researched-based approach to staff development designed to improve classroom outcomes.

Avondale School District parent, Angel Lau, describes Stock as a teacher who relates to all children able to make learning engaging and entertaining. “Students want to come to school each day to be with her,” Lau said, adding that “more than anything, all of her students know that she loves them.”

Avondale Middle School teacher of the Year, Mary Nofs, takes a very active, high-energy approach to teaching in which all students are expected to participate and be engaged in their own learning. She has been known to change her students’ educational paths by setting high but reasonable expectations for them. Her students know that she will accept nothing less than their best effort. She supports her students as they strive to reach their best with hours of before- and after-school and lunch hour assistance. As a teacher in the school’s Academic Center – an opportunity for students who may struggle in certain content areas – she demonstrates solid ability to teach to different learners who she holds to the same expectation standards as her Advanced English students.

“In all of her classes Mary builds a culture of acceptance, challenge and accountability,” said Avondale Middle School teacher, Shavonne Jacobson. “Her students respect her and strive to achieve the learning challenges she presents daily.”

Avondale High School Teacher of the Year, Edmond Guay, has been with Avondale School District for 30 years as a high school teacher and the director of the school’s theater department. Thousands of students have benefitted from Guay’s commitment to taking student learning beyond the classroom. Under his mentorship, the student-run Avondale Theatre Company (ATC) has been recognized at local, state, and even international levels. He challenges ATC students to excel on and off the stage and develop life skills that will serve them long after graduation. “Mr. Guay is a vibrant, creative, out-of-the-box thinker who challenges students to strive for excellence and grow in their ability to present themselves to the world around them and become the world’s future leaders,” said Avondale School District parent Susan Youngs.

As a classroom teacher, Guay challenges his English students in the same way. “His English class, much like ATC, is about discovery,” said Avondale High School senior, Meghan Gwilt, adding that students learn who they are as citizens of the world in Guay’s class. “He teaches about so much more than just the books. He helps kids find their voices and helps kids find who they are.”

Serena Stock, Mary Nofs, and Edmond Guay will represent Avondale School District teachers as nominees for the 2016-2017 Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. In addition, the trio will be honored at a Board of Education meeting with their families and colleagues present.