Celebration 2025

Elementary Education

Charles Ball, 2nd Grade Co-Teacher at Explorer Elementary in Kentwood 

Hayley Blair, ASD/VI Paraprofessional at Bursley Elementary School in Jenison 

Kari Briggs, LRE Aide at RR Oehrli Elementary School in Montague

Richard Bulkowski, Pre-K GSRP Associate Teacher at Sibley Elementary in Grand Rapids

Teyondra Burch, Prevocational Instructor at Kent Career Tech Center 

Kara Dennings, MTSS Behavior Interventionist at Ada Elementary in Forest Hills

Jennifer DeSander, DHH Instructional Support Specialist at North Oakview Elementary in Northview

Rebecca Faulkner, English Language Learners Teaching Assistant at Ridgeview Elementary in Sparta 

Maricela Gallegos Cisneros, Teacher at Holland Language Academy in Holland 

Ronald Haga, Associate Teacher at Kent Career Tech Center 

Marisa Halford, MTSS Paraprofessional at Bentheim Elementary in Hamilton

Lourdes Hernandez-Vasquez, Long-term Substitute at Holland Language Academy in Holland 

Nicholas Kenny, Long-term Substitute at KEC Oakeigh with Kent ISD 

Isaiah Kirksey III, ASD Professional at Grandville Middle School in Grandville 

Faith Lawyer, Paraprofessional at North Park Montessori Wellerwood in Grand Rapids 

Shannon McManus, Library Media Clerk at Central Elementary and Reeths-Puffer Elementary 

Daniel Malseed, Building Substitue at Ross Park Elementary in Mona Shores 

Nereida Martinez, ESL Paraprofessional at Godwin Heights Middle School 

Vandiebilt Matthews, Dean of Students at Muskegon Heights High School 

Trayon Miller, GYO Teacher at Crestwood Middle School in Kentwood 

Margaret O'Leary, Instructional Support at Kelloggsville High School 

Mary Ortega, EL Paraprofessional at West Godwin Elementary in Godwin Heights 

Francis Paladino, Kindergarten Paraprofessional and Special Education/ASD Paraprofessional at Wealthy Elementary in East Grand Rapids 

Celeny Quintino, Paraprofessional at Southwood Elementary in Kentwood 

Shakur Sanders, Student Teacher/Building Substitute at North Oakview Elementary in Northview 

Anselmo Sarabia, EL Bilingual Success Coach at Lee Middle School in the Godfrey-Lee District 

Gordon Sherman, Paraprofessional at Century Park Learning Center in Grandville 

Anna Sprik, EL Paraprofessional at Ken-o-Sha Elementary in Grand Rapids

Jillyn Swanson, Title 1 Reading Interventionist Paraprofessional at Jeffers Elementary in Spring Lake 

Emma Veldhouse, Teacher Aide, Resource Room at Lakeshore Middle School in Grand Haven 

Jordan Voss, EL Paraprofessional at Stoney Creek Elementary in Comstock Park 

Mary Ward, Lead Teacher at Kent Career Tech Center 

Erin Weinburger, Academic Interventionist MLL at Explorer Elementary in Kentwood 

Karly Woodruff, GSRP Lead Teacher at White Lake Community Center in Whitehall 

Secondary Education

Bobby Bell, Director of Student Responsibility Center at Crossroads Middle School in Northview 

Tanner Kosten, Floating Substitute Teacher at Kenowa Hills Pathways High School in Kenowa Hills

Lillian Minnebo, Instructional Assistant at Holland High School with Ottawa ISD 

Rachelle Purosky, Special Education Paraprofessional at Mona Shores Middle School 

Gabrielle Ramos, Long-Term Substitute EDUStaff at Burton Middle School in Grand Rapids 

Makayla Russell, Varsity Volleyball Coach at West Michigan Aviation Academy 

Lena Thornton, Group Leader for T.E.A.M. 21 at Lee Middle School in the Godfrey-Lee District

Special Education

Grace Brandenburg, Special Education Elementary Teacher at Lakeshore Learning Center Muskegon ISD 

Steven Eikenhout, Special Education at Lincoln Elementary School in Zeeland 

Kathy Emelander, Teacher's Aide with Young Adult Services at Felch Street Building/Roerink Knoll Educational Center with Ottawa ISD 

Austin Haney, Instructional Support Specialist at Lincoln School in Kent ISD 

Lisa Hann, Paraprofessional in Categorical Program at Cityside Middle School in Zeeland 

Milachristine Jao, Special Education Teacher at Muskegon Maritime Academy with Muskegon Heights Public Academy 

Heather Kelly, CTE Specialist at Kent Career Tech Center in Kent ISD 

Casey Nagle, Instructional Support Specialist at Lincoln School with Kent ISD 

Kimberly Olson, Registered Behavior Technician at Ottawa Area Center with Ottawa ISD 

Kate Vanderzee, ASD Teacher at Southwood Elementary in Kentwood 

Brooke Davis, Director of Mental Health Services - Kenowa Hills Public Schools

A highly motivated leader, Brooke has dedicated 25 years to serving children, families, and school systems, while also spending the last decade as an entrepreneur.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from Aquinas College and a Master’s in Social Work from Grand Valley State University. In 2015, she founded BTD Consulting LLC, a company that provides tailored, system-wide solutions for school districts, small businesses, and organizations. Through training, coaching, and consulting programs, BTD Consulting ensures success for all employee groups by fostering equitable and inclusive practices.

A committed community leader, she serves as a board member for Grace’s Table, an organization dedicated to supporting teen mothers, and is a Leadership Grand Rapids graduate. 

With three decades of experience as a licensed social worker, she is dedicated to providing empathetic and impactful therapy to educators, couples, adolescents, and families. 

Mary Kay Murphy, Interim Executive Director

Mary Kay is a seasoned leader, educator, influencer, and equity practitioner with over 20 years of experience in education. As the Supervisor of Teacher Development for the West Michigan Teacher Collaborative (WMTC), she brings a wealth of knowledge from both school systems and the educational nonprofit sector.

Previously, Mary Kay served as the Managing Director for the Midwest Region of Leading Educators, where she worked with districts to enhance professional learning systems. Mary Kay has held various impactful roles throughout her career, including teacher, principal, instructional coach, and district consultant. Her work with national nonprofits such as Partners in School Innovation and The Education Trust-Midwest further deepened her educational equity and system improvement expertise. Mary Kay earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Aquinas College and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University. 

Laura Castle, Founding Executive Director

Laura Castle has been a teacher and administrator for over fifteen years. Laura began her career teaching students in underserved communities as a member of Teach for America, teaching high school English in St. Louis, Missouri, and later middle school in Gary, Indiana. Laura then served as Director of School Culture and Instruction at a K-8 school in Chicago. These experiences motivated her to pursue a master’s in educational leadership at the Teachers College at Columbia University, and in 2013 she was hired to be the founding principal of a K-8 school on Chicago’s southwest side. Laura moved to Grand Rapids with her family in 2019 and is pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Michigan State University. She is passionate about developing the next generation of excellent teachers and is excited to share her experience with the students and teachers of West Michigan.

Laura recently earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University. She successfully defended her dissertation, School Leaders' Perspectives on Inclusion, in which she examined the disconnect between beliefs and practices for students with disabilities.

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