Harper Woods Middle School Science Teacher Named 2007-08 Michigan Teacher of the Year

The 2007-2008 Michigan Teacher of the Year, June Teisan, is excited about her new role as one of the state’s most honored teacher leaders. Teisan’s motto is “Quality teaching makes a difference in the lives of children.”

A seventh-grade teacher at Harper Woods Middle School with more than 20 years of experience, Teisan was named Teacher of the Year during a visit from State Board of Education President Kathleen N. Straus and Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan. She was selected from 18 regional semifinalists statewide. Her year-long term started this fall.

According to Teisan, “The core of educational leadership is a relentless commitment to doing what is best for students. From the board member formulating district policies to the legislator weighing in on key education bills, a professor guiding novice educators through practicum hours, the classroom teacher weaving an engaging unit of study, or an administrator selecting professional development experiences for his or her staff—all of these leaders must maintain a vision of how the work before them will nurture the minds and spirits of students entrusted to their care.” Teisan says, “I nurture students with respect. I hold them accountable. I challenge them, and I love them.”

Teacher leaders have additional roles beyond the classroom, she adds. “Teacher leaders must be good at communicating with staff, parents, and other community members about what goes on inside the classroom. They must commit to actively advocating on behalf of their students and step out of the classroom occasionally to provide a frontline voice in order to inform and enlighten those affecting education from beyond the classroom walls.”

Teisan will serve as the Teacher of the Year from the new Harper Woods Secondary School building. The secondary school is a state-of-the-art facility that opened its doors to students and teachers in the fall of 2007. Teisan will impact teaching and learning via 21st Century technology innovations from her classroom and through participation at State Board of Education meetings, representing the voice of the Michigan classroom teacher.

For more information, contact: June Teisan, Harper Woods Secondary School, 20225 Beaconsfield, Harper Woods, MI 48225, june.teisan@hwoods.k12.mi.us. For additional information on the Michigan Teacher of the Year program, contact: Jean M. Shane, Special Assistant, Awards and Recognition Programs, Michigan Department of Education, P.O. Box 30008, Lansing, MI 48909, (517) 241-2375, shanej@michigan.gov or visit www.michigan.gov/mde and click on “Programs,” then “Michigan Teacher of the Year.”

Teisan was recently named one of the four finalists for the nation’s top teaching honor—National Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced in Washington, D.C. in late April 2008. For more information on the National Teacher of the Year programs, visit www.ntoy.org.