Back to School 2015
I hope everyone had a fun-filled but relaxing summer. We are excited to welcome our students and families for the 2015/2016 school year. We have been busy this summer with some changes to our building leadership team due to retirements and new opportunities for some of our administrative staff. Dave Minsker has taken over the principalship of Hartland High School as Ben Mainka was chosen for a position with the Michigan Association of School Administrators. With the retirement of Lindsay Smither after 25 years with Hartland Schools, Anthony Howerton will be taking over the helm at Lakes Elementary School. And these changes of course had a ripple effect: Alice Lashbrook is now Assistant Principal at Hartland Middle School; Chris Chanavier subsequently moved into the vacated Assistant Principal position at Hartland High School; and Jason Reck moved from Athletic Director to Dean of Students. With Jason’s move Hartland welcomes J.D. Wheeler, formerly of Grand Blanc Public Schools, as our new Athletic Director. Dotty Selix is the new principal for Round Elementary School and Ethan Hawker has moved from the classroom at Hartland High School to fill the new position of Curriculum Coordinator/Math Coach. We are very pleased to welcome all of our administrators and staff to a retooled and reinvigorated 2015/16 Hartland Consolidated Schools!
As many of you may know, I meet monthly with Hartland’s District Parent Advisory Committee (DPAC) that includes representatives from each building’s PTO/PAC. These building organizations do an amazing job of getting information out to our families, providing fundraising opportunities for the building, and most of all – they make most of the activities going on in the buildings possible by volunteering as chaperones, homeroom aides, organizers, drivers – really the list is endless! Please check out the PTO/PAC groups in your students’ buildings and consider participating. The more parents that volunteer, the lighter the load for the whole group and your students will appreciate your participation and the opportunities it provides them.
We continue to offer exemplary programming and opportunities for our students and look forward to beginning our work together. Please take a few minutes to stop in and see our facilities and what is happening in our classrooms.
Hartland Consolidated Schools 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Michelle Wentzel
“Upbeat, Positive & Looks for the Good in Every Child”
The 2014-2015 Hartland Teacher of the Year has been awarded to special education and reading support teacher Michelle Wentzel. Wentzel, who currently works at Creekside Elementary, has been teaching for more than 17 years and has spent her entire career in Hartland. The veteran educator, who was nominated and selected by her peers for the award, was described as “kind, conscientious, knowledgeable, and amazingly effective.”
“During her time at Hartland Schools, Michelle has been a strong advocate for her students and works tirelessly to ensure their academic success as well as focusing on their social and emotional needs,” Hartland Consolidated Schools Superintendant Jan Sifferman said. “We are fortunate to work with such a talented and dedicated teacher.”
“Michelle is a remarkably caring individual,” Creekside Principal Lawrence Pumford said. “I have seen her take a child under her wing and turn a sad face into a happy face. She is able to help students find their strengths and build on them. Her room is known as a place of refuge for all students, but especially for those who are struggling.
“She has a “knitting corner” in her room for children to come and roll and knit yarn,” Pumford said. “Many needy children come to participate in her knitting club. They love to be part of the group and they love to be around her.”
As an educator, Michelle loves teaching students to read, including her three grandchildren. When Michelle is not teaching, she loves to knit or read to relieve stress and also enjoys spending time with her family and husband of 36 years.
“Michelle is truly an amazing teacher and individual,” Pumford said.
The 2014-2015 Hartland Teacher of the Year has been awarded to special education and reading support teacher Michelle Wentzel. Wentzel, who currently works at Creekside Elementary, has been teaching for more than 17 years and has spent her entire career in Hartland. The veteran educator, who was nominated and selected by her peers for the award, was described as “kind, conscientious, knowledgeable, and amazingly effective.”
“During her time at Hartland Schools, Michelle has been a strong advocate for her students and works tirelessly to ensure their academic success as well as focusing on their social and emotional needs,” Hartland Consolidated Schools Superintendant Jan Sifferman said. “We are fortunate to work with such a talented and dedicated teacher.”
“Michelle is a remarkably caring individual,” Creekside Principal Lawrence Pumford said. “I have seen her take a child under her wing and turn a sad face into a happy face. She is able to help students find their strengths and build on them. Her room is known as a place of refuge for all students, but especially for those who are struggling.
“She has a “knitting corner” in her room for children to come and roll and knit yarn,” Pumford said. “Many needy children come to participate in her knitting club. They love to be part of the group and they love to be around her.”
As an educator, Michelle loves teaching students to read, including her three grandchildren. When Michelle is not teaching, she loves to knit or read to relieve stress and also enjoys spending time with her family and husband of 36 years.
“Michelle is truly an amazing teacher and individual,” Pumford said.