Troy Teacher of the Year Honored at Board Meeting

In front of a room packed with her peers, Laurie Pickell graciously accepted an award 27 years in the making at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting.

Pickell, a teacher at Martell Elementary School who learned she had been awarded as the Troy School District's Outstanding Teacher of the Year in late February, received her honors on Tuesday.

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In addition, the board honored Smith Middle School teacher Patrick Koneval and International Academy East teacher Omar Hakim as outstanding teachers from their respective grade levels, and seven other teachers who were nominated by their peers, by parents and by former and current students.

Pickell, a kindergarten teacher who has worked in Troy for 27 years, relished the chance to acknowledge current and former students at the podium. 

"That's what it's about, everybody ... it's about the passion that we're just blessed to have as teachers," Pickell said. "This is what it's about ... my classroom is a family. The boys and girls in our class are a family."

In a sentimental moment, Pickell was joined by a fellow Troy kindergarten teacher, Lori Carmichael, who graduated from Pickell's kindergarten class and kept in touch with her through her own life.

"Thank you all for making a difference and having children move on to really enjoy their passion of life and really spread that to others," Pickell closed by saying, arm-in-arm with her current and former students. "This is the circle, a family."

The Teacher of the Year is chosen by a committee of school district personnel. Other teachers who were nominated include:

• Nancy Haboush, Leonard Elementary
• Elizabeth Mayne, Hamilton Elementary
• Lynn Mui, Wattles Elementary
• Jessica Thudium, Hamilton Elementary
• Karen Muzljakovich, Morse Elementary
• Faith Clay, Bemis Elementary
• Alan Gieleghem, Wattles Elementary