Heidi L. Capraro

2004-2005 Michigan Teacher of the Year

Heidi Capraro is a sixth grade teacher at Hillside Middle School, Northville Public Schools. She has more than 14 years of classroom experience. Capraro was selected from more than 15 regional semifinalists statewide.

“Her proven skills as a teacher, mentor, and creative leader make her the perfect ambassador for the teaching profession in Michigan,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Watkins.

Capraro will spend the 2004-05 school year as a staff member at the Michigan Department of Education and she will have a non-voting seat at the State Board of Education table each month during her tenure as Teacher of the Year.

Education WOW!

As Chief Financial Officer for Detroit-based Strategic Staffing Solutions (S3), Paul Huxley manages the financial affairs for one of the nation’s leading information technology staffing and service providers. For much of 2003, however, Paul held a different title: Executive on Loan to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). Paul spent eight months at MDE as part of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm’s Executive on Loan program, where business leaders volunteer their services to help state agencies find ways to streamline services and operate more efficiently. Paul came away from the experience with a deep admiration for MDE staff and State Board of Education members. “They are a tremendously dedicated group who focus every day on what can be done to help teachers teach and children learn,” he says. “Governor Granholm, the State Board of Education, and State Superintendent Tom Watkins and his team truly make a difference every day in the quality of education in Michigan.”

For more information, contact: Paul Huxley, Chief Financial Officer, Strategic Staffing Solutions, 645 Griswold, Ste. 3446, Penobscot Building, Detroit, MI 48226-4216, (888) S3-TEAM1, (313) 965-9967 fax; s3corporate@strategicstaff.com, or visit www.strategicstaff.com.

For more information on the Executive On Loan Program, contact Liz Boyd, Press Secretary, Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 30013, Lansing, MI 48909, (517) 335-6397, (517) 335-6863 fax.

Paul Huxley underwrote the printing of They Help Us Paint Rainbows— Conversations with Michigan School Children, a collection of quotes from children to the question “what makes your teacher great?” posed by Superintendent Tom Watkins. Tom wrote the book as a way to help recognize and uplift the great teachers throughout Michigan. Limited copies are available. To receive a copy, email cartersh@michigan.gov or call (517) 241-0494.

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