News to Note Spring 2016
State of the Schools Address
Schalm 2nd Grade Teacher Named Clawson Elementary Teacher of the Year
Delivered March 23, 2016 by Superintendent Monique Beels “I am pleased to report the state of our schools is good. We have had an eventful year. We have seen our students thrive and our teachers Schalm Elementary 2nd grade teacher Beth Gustafson and administrators challenge themselves to become leaders in our earned high marks from her principal, colleagues, and schools and at the county level. We have gone through major updates former students to be named Clawson’s Outstanding and repairs to our school facilities, and we have celebrated our Middle Elementary School Teacher of the Year. School emerging from “focus” school status. None of these things have been accomplished In her nomination, Brynn Stanis wrote, “Beth has always without challenges [anyone who has tried to use our pool over the last year can attest to found ways to meet the needs of all her students. this] but through it all, our focus has always been and will continue to be on the kids and the Whether it is academic, social or behavioral, she knows community we serve. when and how to support the children in her class. Beth “I’ve always believed that the real source of strength in our schools is our board of education, does an outstanding job individualizing and helping each our administrators, our staff, our students, and our parents. Our teachers, students, parents, student strive to be the best they can.” and administrators create our thriving school community through strong academics and “I would like to commend Beth for being an outstanding caring support for the growth of our students socially, emotionally, and academically. teacher,” said Principal Bianca Hill. “She truly is Together we all work to help our at-risk, special needs, and English language learners reach committed to growing herself and her children. She their full potential. You may be surprised to hear that right now we have a number of students comes to school every day with a smile on her face in our schools from regions of the world that have seen many struggles. For example, which radiates throughout the building. Her passion we have many students in our schools from El Salvador. Most of these students have not for teaching and continued learning are admirable. been in a classroom for many years. Whether our students require additional support or She is always looking to learn new things and works to excel academically, all of our students have a future, a future with choices, because of the incorporate those new strategies into her teaching. I preparation they receive through Clawson Public Schools. continue to be impressed with her positive attitude and “Our schools play a critical role in creating strong student leaders. Our students lead through love for learning. Beth is overall, an amazing teacher, participation in Junior Optimists, and through National and Junior National Honor Society colleague, wife, mom and person to have in your life.” work. Our middle school students are leaders in Robotics, not just in Oakland County or the Mrs. Gustafson has 26 years of service teaching in the state of Michigan. This year’s Robostangs team was ranked among the top 50 middle schools Clawson Public Schools. She has taught kindergarten, 1st in the world. Our high school robotics students are beginning to compete this month, and and 2nd grades at both Schalm and Kenwood Elementary I encourage all of you to attend one of their competitions to see firsthand the amazing Schools. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from Eastern machines these kids are creating. Michigan University in Early Childhood Education and a “We are also developing leaders through our sports teams, our fine arts program, and our Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. challenging academics. “Our teachers lead in their classrooms every day. Teachers are taking on roles in curriculum at their grade level, content areas, and schools as well as contributing to the educational conversations and curriculum changes occurring throughout the county and across the state. This year, we began our second cohort of teacher leaders in the Galileo Teacher Leadership program sponsored by Oakland University. These teacher leaders conduct an action research project in their classrooms focused on improving the learning and lives of their students. Our participation in the Aspiring Principals Academy through Oakland Schools just entered its third year. Three teachers with aspirations to become school and district leaders have participated in this program. “Our teacher leaders, our principals, and our students keep our schools Elementary Teacher of the Year, Beth Gustafson, surrounded by her 2nd grade safe and their community strong. Continued on page 8 students, Principal Bianca Hill (left) and Superintendent Monique Beels (right)
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