Karen A. Angeli - Marquette Senior High School
Marquette Area Public Schools

“How is it that when one is teaching, an individual just feels that the profession was made for them? I know how lucky I am that I have found my perfect fit.” These inspiring words are from Karen A. Angeli, high school English Language Arts teacher, at Marquette Senior High School. The sentiments of the 7-12 Teacher Educator Award recipient for 2008 are echoed by her principal and colleagues. Karen has taught thirteen years at Marquette. In her her role as teacher and department chair, she led her department through changes in meeting the state benchmarks and standards. The first step taken was to develop a school- wide silent reading program. The “Reading is Thinking” program gives students time to read. “It has been an exciting journey learning to change with the times and figure out what new ways I must find to hook my students each year.

Previous Recipients:

2007 - Heather Hollands – Gwinn High School
Gwinn Area Community Schools

“When a person first encounters her, they may have the impression that she is quiet, reserved, and almost shy. However, don’t let her fool you – there is fire behind her sparkling eyes.” Heather Hollands, English Language Arts teacher at Gwinn High School, hasn’t fooled any of her students. You will find Heather’s students sitting on the “hot seat” as they put themselves in a character’s state of mind or hosting a Victorian Tea Party and taking on an author’s persona.  Heather is an integral part of the leadership team of the Upper Peninsula Writing Project. In 2005, Heather wrote and received a rural poetry grant; her hard work sent one Upper Peninsula student, along with a guardian and teacher, to the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. to read personal poetry with former United States Poet Laureate, Ted Kooser. Heather encourages her students to observe the world by reading, reading, and reading. The Michigan Reading Association congratulates Heather Hollands as the Educator Award–Teacher 7-12 recipient for 2007.

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To download the 2009 - 2010 Educator Award Application, click HERE