Celebration 2026

Advanced Endorsements

Carlos Amoros-Gutierrez, Physical Education & Health Teacher at Kelloggsville Middle School in Kelloggsville

Nicole Ceja, ELL Teacher at West Kelloggsville Elementary in Kelloggsville

Tiana deForest, Spanish Teacher at Zeeland East High School in Zeeland

Devin Eekhoff, Resource Room Teacher at Reeths-Puffer High School in Reeths-Puffer

Lindsay Filcik, Teacher at Evergreen Elementary in Allendale

Addyson Gerig, 8th Grade Science Teacher at Harbor Lights Middle School in West Ottawa

Angela Gonzalez-Urbina, Teacher at Holland Language Academy in Holland

Elizabeth Hain, Teacher at Grand Rapids Montessori in Grand Rapids

Rachel Haveman, Teacher at Pine Island Elementary in Comstock Park

Emily Harper, Teacher at McFall Elementary in Thornapple Kellogg

Robinson Hicks, ELA Teacher at Harbor Lights Middle School in West Ottawa

Nicholas Holt, Biology & Chemistry Teacher at Zeeland East High School in Zeeland

Makayla Irwin, 1st Grade Teacher at McFall Elementary in Thornapple Kellogg

Emma Kaiser, Resource Room Teacher at Lee Elementary in Thornapple Kellogg

Abigail Lopez, Spanish Immersion Teacher at El Puente/Kids First in Jenison

Tricia Markovich, General Education Teacher at Lee Elementary in Thornapple Kellogg

Alexandria Marzolf, Teacher at Peach Plains Elementary in Grand Haven

Emily Metzger, GSRP Lead Teacher at Kenowa Hills Early Childhood Center in Kent ISD

Gabrielle Moeggenborg, Teacher at Bursley Elementary in Jenison

Amanda Moser, Teacher at Shettler Elementary in Fruitport

Marina Prawdzik, Teacher at Gladiola Elementary in Wyoming

Danielle Rose, Math Teacher at Grandville High School in Grandville

Madalyn Ross, Teacher at Shoreline Elementary in Whitehall

Allison Siekman, ASD Teacher at Kraft Meadows Intermediate in Caledonia

Hannah Stein, Special Education Teacher at Zeeland West High School in Zeeland

Hannah Syme, Science Teacher at Fruitport Middle School in Fruitport

Kyle Welter, Resource Room Special Education Teacher at Discovery Elementary in Kentwood

Kristina Wheeler, Lead GSRP Teacher at Grandville Central Elementary in Kent ISD

Sidney Wilkins, ASD Teacher at Lincoln School in Kent ISD

Kristy Williams, Special Education Teacher at Lake Hills Elementary in Grand Haven

Special Education

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

Steven Eikenhout, Special Education Teacher 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 Zeeland West High School in Zeeland 

Milachristine Jao, Special Education Teacher at Kenowa Hills 

Heather Kelly, ASD Teacher at Bunker Elementary in Muskegon 

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

Kimberly Olson, Special Education Teacher at Timberland Charter Academy in National Heritage Academies

Kate Vanderzee, ASD Teacher at Southwood Elementary in Kentwood 

We also recognize the following Special Education Residents who have successfully completed Year 1 of their two-year Residency

Amy Vreeland, ASD Teacher at Thornapple Kellogg High School in Thornapple Kellogg

Angela Drake, Teacher at Union High School in Grand Rapids

Ashton Leggett, Level 3 Special Education Teacher at Bunker Elementary in Muskegon

Christine Spurr, Special Education Paraprofessional at Godwin Heights Middle School in Godwin Heights

Hannah Rocheleau, ASD Special Education Teacher at North Oakview Elementary in Northview

Jennifer Redeker, Special Education Paraprofessional at Ross Park Elementary in Mona Shores

Julia Mitchell, Mill Creek Middle School in Comstock Park

Kolin Herron, EI Lead Teacher at Kettle Lake Elementary in Caledonia

Kristi Swayze, District Floating Substitute in Northview

Madalyn Holbrook, ISS Staff at Empower U – South in Kent ISD

Nathan Stout, Long-Term Substitute Resource Teacher at Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids

Patrick Gushee, Wealthy Elementary in East Grand Rapids

Elementary Education

Adam Telesz, Instructional Paraprofessional at Knapp Forest Elementary in Forest Hills

Amanda Love, 1:1 Paraprofessional at East Elementary in Grandville

Amy Maatman, Instructional Assistant at Jefferson Elementary in Holland

Caren Meerman, RTI Paraprofessional at South Elementary in Coopersville

Christopher Thornley, Premier Substitute at Early Elementary in Orchard View

Colin Haggerty, TEAM21 Site Coordinator at Lee Middle School in Godfrey-Lee

Danielle Cornell, Reading Interventionist at Cherry Creek Elementary in Lowell

Dolores Chanthavong, Substitute Teacher at Los Lagos in West Ottawa

Heather Wood-Gramza, Teacher at Choice Schools in New Branches Charter Academy

Jenifer Jackson, Transcriber at Holland Middle School/Holland Heights in Holland

Jessica Kovach, Teacher Assistant at Duneside Discovery Center in Grand Haven

John Tolley, Associate Preschool Teacher/Elementary Paraprofessional at Douglas Elementary in Saugatuck

Joshua Kuh, Instructional Paraprofessional at Harrison Park Academy in Grand Rapids

Kelly Smedley, Student Supervision Coordinator at Breton Downs in East Grand Rapids

Kendra Tabor, Instructional Paraprofessional at Knapp Forest Elementary in Forest Hills

Kristina Reginaldo, Paraprofessional at Ottawa Area Center in Ottawa ISD

Lluvia Saucedo, EL Paraprofessional at Godwin Heights Elementary in Godwin Heights

Megan Plummer, Title I Paraprofessional at R.R. Oehrli Elementary in Montague

Melissa Andersen, Teacher at Sparta ECC in Kent ISD

Patrick Herdegen, Instructional Paraprofessional at Hamilton Elementary in Kentwood

Paul Krispin, Instructional Assistant at Beach Elementary in Fruitport

Sari Rogers, Substitute at Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center in Godfrey-Lee

Sekayi Bracey, Teacher at Mulick Park Elementary in Grand Rapids

Shauna Bellaire, Substitute at Discovery Elementary in Kentwood

Stacy Sipmann, ELL/Lit and Math Assistant and District Substitute in Northview

Susan Fischer Dennis, Instructional Aide at Stoney Creek in Comstock Park

Suzanne Neiderheide, ASD Paraprofessional at Cedar View Elementary in Cedar Springs

Victoria Anderson, Preschool Teacher at Early Childhood Center in Zeeland

Secondary Education

Angie Anderson, Math/Engineering Teacher at Kenowa Hills High School in Kenowa Hills

Bianca Edwards, College and Career Readiness Teacher at Godfrey-Lee High School in Godfrey-Lee

Brandon Bard, Substitute at Mona Shores High School in Mona Shores

Courtney Cronkright, Special Education Paraprofessional at Hamilton High School in Hamilton

Erin O’Malley, ESL Paraprofessional at Godwin Heights High School in Godwin Heights

Kariya White, Substitute and Test Center Coordinator at Mona Shores High School in Mona Shores

Liam Barker, ASD Substitute at Aberdeen Elementary in Grand Rapids

Marina Pakhomova, EL and At-Risk Intervention Specialist at Kent Career Technical Center in Kent ISD

Matthew Grodus, EL Paraprofessional at Kenowa Hills High School in Kenowa Hills

Matthew Petrone, Instructional Paraprofessional at North Park Montessori in Grand Rapids

Nathan Braun, Building Testing Coordinator and Academic Support at Northern Hills Middle School in Forest Hills

Sadie Essex, Substitute Teacher and Music Director at Comstock Park High School in Comstock Park

Sarah Hippler, Substitute Teacher at Reeths-Puffer High School in Reeths-Puffer

Taylor K. Meinema, Paraprofessional at Mona Shores Middle School in Mona Shores

Victor Humphrey, Bus Driver in Thornapple Kellogg

Mary Kay Murphy, 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, Founder

Dr. Laura Castle has spent more than fifteen years serving as a teacher, school leader, and advocate for students and educators. She began her career with Teach For America, teaching high school English in St. Louis and middle school in Gary. She later served as Director of School Culture and Instruction at a K-8 school in Chicago and went on to become the founding principal of a K-8 school on Chicago’s southwest side.