Staff Appreciation

Jamie Sandy at CHS is one of those teachers that reaches a student through her deep desire to teach them how to love what they do and find talent they didn't realize they had. She is caring and generous and truly inspires her students. Thanks for being you!

Mr Odette at CHS is one of a kind- the way he has provided support, taught the kids what it means to lead and how to be a leader, and how he has offered invaluable insight helping those in senate to become their best selves. Thank you Mr Odette for your years of service as an advisor to the students in Senate!

Mrs. Flaherty at CHS has always been there often last minute to offer support, answer questions and meet a need. She is positive and very caring. Thank you Mrs. Flaherty!

These have been a hard couple years. As a school community we have had the solid leadership of Jessie Houghton at Central High School to guide, protect and encourage us. She has been steadfast in her commitment to our students and has shown much integrity. Thank you Principal Houghton! - Heather Muha
Thanks to our TCAPS Tech team for making Star Wars day fun!!! Kerri-Ann Bonaddio
I have 3 teachers to thank for this week! We have been so lucky with all of the teachers our kids have had through the years and this year is no different. Mrs. Lindsey (GSRP Blair) is SO amazing! Our daughter Makenna just adores her. She is always communicating with us and really makes Makenna feel so welcome and loved. Mrs. Hickman (1st grade: Blair) is my son's teacher for the second year in a row and the way she has pulled him out of his shell and made him love going to school will always be something we are so thankful for. When Elijah found out he had her again this year he was jumping up and down and couldn't contain his excitement. She is so so good with the kids. And Mrs. LaBlanc (3rd grade Blair) is so patient and attentive to our son, Kieran. He has some anxiety and some trouble sitting still at times but has worked with him to find the best solution to give him a place to do his best learning. She is so kind and really wants to make sure Kieran is getting the most he can out of everyday in school. We can't thank our teachers enough for ALL that they do, beyond "just" teaching, it is so much more than that and they are truly the best! Ashley Hiatt
Shoutout to Sara Bageris at Central Grade School for her wonderful communication with parents and children!

Shout out to all of the teachers and staff at Sparta office at West Senior High School! They work very hard for their students.

Just wanted to say thank you to Jim Bunek and Jeff VanDalson for the great communication and extra time they have provided this semester with math students at West Senior High.- Faye Houtz
Hello! This is an appreciation message for Danelle Brostrom.
"Danelle is an extraordinary human. Whenever I see her visiting her school(s), she is upbeat, positive, always has a smile and takes time to say hello. She is an amazing asset to TCAPS. Thank you, Danelle!" Erin Harrelson
Words cannot express the amount of positive encouragement and support Lillian Swan (Westwoods Elementary) has provided for our son and entire family this school year. Her kindness and empathy is unmatched. She has an amazing ability to connect with the age group she works with and is tireless in her efforts to bring fun and creativity to teaching. I don't know how she manages to balance such a demanding job with 2 young children at home, but she makes it look easy!! We could not be more grateful for her.
Chris and Renee Tamlyn
Thank you to Miss Hannah Scharfenberg for stepping in midyear as a 1st grade teacher at Cherry Knoll. You are doing an amazing job!
Maddy and I just wanted to thank all the staff at Silver Lake Elementary and TCAPS bus garage, custodians and lunch staff!
We appreciate you!
Special shout out to resource teacher Mrs. Lizabeth banks, Mr.gresso the 4th grade teacher, principle Mrs. Angela camp, Michelle with office administrator, Fred am bus driver-route 243, and lunch room staff. The music and art teachers Mrs. Burch and Mr. Vanhouton. The gym teacher, Mrs.ray, The librarian Mr. Pryde. Mrs. Kilpatrick, Mrs. Garcia, Mrs. Egeler, Mrs. Houston, Mrs. Budde, and Mrs.Miller.
We also would like to thank previous teachers as well. Mrs. Heitfield and Mrs. Wyatt.
Sincerely, Heather Broedell and Madelynn Baumgartner!
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Emily Fetters at Courtade Elementary. Mrs. Fetters has not just led well through a tough couple years - she has maintained positive experiences for the students at Courtade. Our favorite thing about Mrs. Fetters is when she takes time out of her busy day to personally call us with “Kind Cougar” reports - that’s the kind of call from a principal every parent wants! Thank you Mrs. Fetters, for all you do - your hard work does not go unnoticed! -Matt and Alli R.
Huge shout out to Autumn Slawter at Courtade Elementary! Miss Slawter makes learning come alive in hands on, exciting ways. Our daughter loves how kind she is and the ways in which she encourages her to challenge her thinking. We also appreciate the extra touches she integrates into school routines - from bubbles on the playground to pizza parties when the class reaches a goal, she doesn’t lose sight of fun. Thank you, Miss Slawter - we are so grateful for all the ways you make school amazing! -Matt and Alli R.
We are eternally grateful for the relationships we have grown with Sharon Piatek and Michele Dansingburg at Courtade Elementary. Our daughter absolutely loves attending extended day care, and we know that it’s because of their dedication and care. Sharon and Michele, we cannot thank you enough for the long days you put in to ensure safe and loving experiences for students outside of school hours. We are so grateful for both of you! -Matt and Alli R.
We are so appreciative of the efforts of TCAPS staff. Special shout out to Eastern's Mandy LaBarre for making every day special for these kids. We are astounded with the learning & growth we've seen this year. We especially love the kids' daily kindness acts, there is more kindness in the world because of you. We are SO lucky to have you!
Sarah Gano
Ms. Missy & Mrs. Jenkins at Eastern. Your superhuman ability to do 3,000 things at once is inspiring. Thank you for everything you juggle and on top of it finding time to love every kid that walks into the office. You rock!
Sarah Gano
Mr. Taylor at EMS, thank you for the way you've engaged the kids this year. Our daughter has loved World Geography and has continued many thought provoking topics from your class with us at home. Thank you! Thank you!
Sarah Gano
Mr. Schafer at EMS, because of you, I'm officially embarrassed to sing next to my daughter. Thank you for sharing your passion with these kids. We are blown away by the talent at every concert.
Sarah Gano
Mrs. Brian, I hear often how great you are! Thank you!
Sarah Gano
We want to give a big shout out to the staff at TCAPS Montessori, especially Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Tomlinson, Mrs. Girard and Mrs. Stocknik. These teachers have helped our children grow and mature in so many ways this past school year. Thank you for all you do!!
Sincerely,
Chris & Beth Hines
Marlee is my third child to graduate from Central Grade School. Riley will be a junior at West and Ryan will be going to Central High School in the fall. I wanted to express my appreciation for all of the wonderful teachers we have had over the years. Mrs. Forsyth, Mrs. Dall’Olmo, Mrs. Katt, Mrs. Cocklin, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Hanley, Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Kyser and Ms. Thomas. It has been a pleasure having you teach and nurture my children . Riley still talks about the great books Mrs. Hanley used to read to the class and how it inspired her to learn about history. Marlee forms special bonds with all of her teachers but she got teary eyed and said , “I am going to miss Ms. Thomas the most.” This is so wonderful when you can reach children in this special way. Thank you all so much.
Sincerely, Renee Goetz
Erin has been an amazing GSRP teacher for our son at Long Lake Elementary! She has given so much care and kindness to her students and went above and beyond to provide a special experience for her students. My son is excited to come to school each day and has shown so much growth in his academic journey. I'm grateful for this program and her exceptional skills as a nurturing, patient, and engaging teacher. Thank you Ms. Harrelson!
Kelly Zenz
Thank you to all of the wonderful support staff at Eastern Elementary, whose art lessons, books and songs brighten our daughter's days!
Our family is forever grateful to Mrs. Ferguson, who encourages curiosity, kindness and love every day of Kindergarten! Her lessons will be upheld in our family long after our daughter's days in Kindergarten have passed.
Love, The Mapes Family
Thank you to all bus drivers on the westwoods Red bus that drive my child safely to school everyday. Really appreciate you for doing this and making it fun. :)
Thank you to Mrs. Lauters, who welcomed my child half way through the school year. She made him feel safe and right at home in her classroom.
Thanks to the admin staff to helping me find my way in Westwoods. Coming from the Netherlands where things are a little different, they always patiently assisted me with questions.
Hilde Bowman
We are so grateful for the education our daughter receives at Cherry Knoll! She has a great teacher, who engages us in her learning and gives her to the tools to grow as a student. Thank you Miss Leestma!
From, Shannon and Tom Owen
As a Traverse City resident beginning in 1985 as a first year teacher, then parent and middle school mathematics teacher and teacher leader, I would like to express my gratitude to the teachers from Willow Hill, Eastern, East Middle School, West Middle School and West Senior High. My adult children, Kelsey and Eric, benefited from an amazing variety of learning experiences across disciplines throughout their Pre-K through 12 school years from 1995-2015. Each of them earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University, where they excelled in their coursework based on the solid foundation established as West Senior High School graduates.
I hold a special place in my heart for the secondary mathematics teachers with whom I have grown and collaborated: Trish Brian, Jodi Murphy, Jane Porath, Jen Rundio, Tamie Rosenburg, Bob Sagan, Mike Schrotenboer, Maria Taplin, Jody Thompson and Mike Wilson. Our professional and personal relationships have made my teaching career that much richer. I have also had the opportunity to work with amazing interdisciplinary team mates: Bonny Babel, Tanya Donahue, Melanie Rizzo, Mya Sagan, Amy Six-King, Jon Moore, Annie Somerville, Christina Steele, Gabe Taylor and Jessica Unger to name a few. Each person brought a unique strength to our team which made our students' learning opportunities that much stronger. Each of these teachers is a dedicated professional who goes above and beyond to give his/her personal best each day.
Wishing You the Very Best for Today and All of Your Tomorrows,
Mary Beth Schmitt
Thank you to every staff member at Courtade Elementary! Special thanks to Ms. Sack who has taught and supported my son through his second grade year. Thank you for being kind, patient, and encouraging. Thank you for being accepting. We appreciate you and everything you do to help Noah succeed!
Carly Britton
In honor of National Admin Assistant Day (April 27th)- We want to wish Jennifer T. and Carolyn R. a very happy day! They are the dynamic duo that keep Cherry Knoll going. My sons absolutely adore them, their energy and kindness are one of a kind. We are so thankful to both of them!
Kaitlin Markwart
Eastern Elementary Front Office Staff: Jill Jenkins and Missy Waskiewicz
If you’ve ever stepped into your elementary schools’ front office, you’ll know that the front office staff are the glue that hold our school together! Not only do these ladies at Eastern Elementary greet each and every student and grown-up with kindness, but they’re answering hundreds of calls a day, making sure our students are happy and looked after, and caring for our students when they are ill awaiting a pickup. We appreciate you so much Jill and Missy!!!!
Lydia Potthoff
Eastern Elementary, Julie Edwardson, kindergarten:
The kind, calm, rigorous learning environment that Ms. Julie Edwardson creates in her kindergarten class is incredible. She is so patient with each student and creative at keeping her students’ attention. We are so lucky to have her at Eastern Elementary!
Lydia Potthoff
Eastern Elementary, Noon Lunch Duty:
Lunch can be a time for kids to get a bit rowdy and extra chatty with their friends, but with our lunch duty staff our students are safe, learning appropriate behaviors and manners, and well taken care of! We are so lucky for the Noon Lunch Duty Staff at Eastern Elementary!!
Lydia Potthoff
John McManus from transportation is great at everything he does. Whether it's driving a bus or doing maintenance work around the district he is always willing to help and has a smile on his face! I am happy to say I work with him!
Jenny
We couldn’t be more happier to be part of the super star family at central grade school. Mrs Grigal has been outstanding. She is patient and understanding and is always going out of her way to make sure students are achieving in a fun enjoyable way. We have been lucky enough to have her for both of our daughters and we will always be so appreciative for the hard work and dedication and love to teaching and to students.
Michelle Dittmar
We have been so lucky to be working with such wonderful staff at Central Grade. Mrs. Jackson has been so kind and loving to our son. We couldn’t have asked for a better teacher for Third Grade. A special thank you to Mrs. Forsyth and Ms. Angove! The whole Admin and Social Work Team are beyond phenomenal for all they do behind the scenes.
Danielle Jarrad
Mr. Lesinski- aka Mr. L (Central Grade Elementary School) Thank you for all the support and guidance with our daughter Sophie. She always talks so highly of your class. She is well on her way to 6th grade! Thanks again for all you do every day!
Thank you Robert & Stephanie Ellul
Thank you Mrs. Jackson (Central Grade Elementary School) for everything you do for our son, Michael! He loves being in your class! He has grown in so many wonderful aspects over this last year with you! We appreciate your support, dedication and overall love for your students! You will be sooooo missed next year!
Thank you Always,
Robert & Stephanie Ellul
Mrs. Novik (Central Grade Elementary School) Thank you for all your help/support with Michael with his studies this year! He loves going to your class, always so fun-yet learning a lot along the way and a few prizes too! Again, thank you for all you do!
Thank you,
Robert & Stephanie Ellul
Ms. Tiffany at Extended Day for always being helpful and excited to hangout with the children!
Mrs. Jackson 3rd Grade at Central Grade- the best and most involved teacher my child has had so far! Her communication with parents is far more than I have ever received in the past. It is much appreciated.
Thank you for an inspiring senior year, Mrs. Houdek (CHS). Your focus on excellence and attention to all learners is very much appreciated. Your class is challenging, inviting, and filled with supportive and actionable feedback. Just what we need more of in education today. Thank you!
Brian Lettinga
8th grade was really tough for Gigi, but Ms. Perthes (West Middle School)was a bright spot in an otherwise very tough year. She's a great listener and always willing to go the extra mile to help a kid out. Thank you!
Rachel White
I want to give a big thank you shout out to all of the staff at Silver Lake Elementary. Over the past 6 years, they have had to overcome many challenges from teaching specials on cards to very full classrooms to two separate years of construction to Covid where everything was unpredictable and unfortunately school looked different in many ways as a result. Throughout all of these challenges, they strived to create a school environment where the students felt welcome and cared for. From Mrs Ellul and Mrs Gapinski in the office to Mr Gagnon in the cafeteria to all of the wonderful specials teachers (Mrs Harod-Burch, Mr Llore, Mr Pryde, and Mr VanHouten) to all of the teachers, assistants, aides and supporting staff, every adult in that building works hard to make sure our children feel supported and valued. I want to especially thank Mrs Camp for her leadership throughout all these challenges. She has been a comfort from the first day of kindergarten to the last days of fifth grade. Silver Lake will always have a big place in our heart! We are so grateful to have been a Seehawk family.
Sincerely, Jackie Stremlow-Hansen
Thank you to Wendee Wolf-Schlarf, Eileen Mikulski, and the entire K-12 TCAPS music department. You are all outstanding, and you are truly what sets TCAPS apart. From the high level of expertise you offer in classrooms to the amazing opportunities you provide outside of school, your program is unparalleled. The musicians who graduate from TCAPS are exceptional -- and that speaks to the depth of this program and the dedication of its staff. You are the best.
Thank you to Mrs. Rintala (West Senior High)for being a wonderful English teacher! Our child is thriving in Mrs. Ritala's class thanks to her commitment to making sure her students truly learn the material. She is creative and energetic, engaging kids in a fresh and fun way.
Misha Neidorfler
THANK YOU, (Traverse City Central High School) Mentors to RAPTORS team #1711....there are not enough characters in this text box to hold the words one can say in thanks for all the countless hours you donate to the students of #1711..... Weekends, yes. Late nights, yes. Driving long hours and long days, yes. Seeing that our children learn the importance of innovation and thinking outside the box, yes. Thank you for the lessons you teach our kids and the time you comitt to volunteer. All of the above, without stipends.....THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
Brian Lettinga
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Mrs Kristin Sulecki at Silver Lake. She has had such an impact on my son over his elementary years. She has been such a calming, reassuring presence in his life and helped him work through many emotions and helped him build strong coping skills in various situations. I am so grateful for Kristin's role in my son's life, especially during Covid when everything was flipped upside down. She met with him virtually every week just to check in. I always saw a positive change once they hung up. Kristin cares deeply for her students and they feel this. We will miss her greatly when we move to middle school next year. I truly hope that the district takes note of all the wonderful things that she and Jesse Kilpatrick are doing with the students at Silver Lake and how their work in the classrooms, with friendship groups and one-on-one groups are helping our children thrive in a very complicated world right now. Thank you!!
Jackie Stremlow-Hansen
A thank you is not enough for the amazing aides at Eastern. Kristin Harnish, Christine Enoksen, Kaitlin Hicks, Kim Sills, Rebecca Hite, Jamie Lerner, and Janet Landis do outstanding work each day. Thank you for the support you show students -- and staff -- each day.
Thank you to Mr Culver, Ms Winterman and Ms Howey at Silver Lake Elementary for a wonderful Fifth Grade year. You have not only educated my son but also challenged him academically and personally. Thank you for all your hard work to help shape these children for middle school with a variety of fun activities and experiences.
Sincerely, Jackie Stremlow-Hansen
A thank you shout out to Mrs Sticker and Ms Bowe at TCAPS Montessori. You have created an adolescent program which provides your students a variety of engaging lessons and activities which present concepts in hands-on, real world applications. We appreciate that you hold your students accountable for their work and efforts and give them the respect of treating them as young adults. Our son has said many times that he really enjoys going to class this year and we thank you for your role in fostering an environment where he feels joy in his learning.
Sincerely, Mike and Jackie Hansen
Thank you to Peg Siciliano, the EL Assistant at Eastern. Peg shows a great commitment to her students and is always going above and beyond in her responsibilities. Her intelligence, compassion, and diligence make her an outstanding employee and valued co-worker.
Thank you Mr. Hall for a great year of Algebra II Honors (CHS)! We appreciate your balance between academic rigor and knowing your students. Your class is a safe space for taking risks in mathematics and your focus on getting to know each student is commendable. Thank you!
Brian Lettinga
I would like to give a note of thanks and appreciation to Mr. Dee for his incredible energy, enthusiasm, passion and dedication to teaching and singing. When our son was struggling with the transition from online learning in elementary school to in-person middle school, Mr. Dee was so encouraging and positive, and gave him something to look forward to each day. Mr. Dee provides a space for the students to be themselves, collaborate with others, and have fun, all while becoming great singers! While we have been so impressed with the choir, it is the other lessons our son has learned, about showing up, trying his best, supporting others, being authentic, and using his voice, that are invaluable. We cannot thank Mr. Dee enough for all he does to instill these lessons in his students through the power of music.
Kate and David Glancy
Mike Livengood is doing a fantastic job for teachers in his role of union president. He listens to us and he advocates for us in a professional manner. This is a tough job and he does it selflessly. Thank you, Mike!!!
Heather Wares (WMS)is our sunshine miester in the 8th grade wing. She makes sure all birthdays are properly acknowledged and she organizes special treats for special occasions. It's been a rough few years, and we need people like Heather who are willing to step up and make a positive difference not only in the classroom (which she does effortlessly) but also with her peers.
A big thank you to Mrs. Cole, Mr. VanDalson, Mrs. Ivester, Mrs. Prichard, Mrs. McKeon-Jacobs, Mr. Nolan, and Mrs. Humphry for going above and beyond to help my grandson with a challenging year. He is so lucky to have such caring teachers. Traverse City is lucky to have a school like West High.
Diana Lyon-Schumacher
Thanks so much for all your love and support, Mrs. Kristin Stuedemann and the whole 8th grade staff at WMS. I wish all the best!
We could not be more happy with our experience with Silver Lake for our daughter. Ms. Frick is her current teacher who has been nothing but kind, caring, understanding, and personable to not only our daughter but to us. During parent/teacher conferences she spot on with who are daughter was, what she was capable of, and how much not only the teacher enjoys her but others as well. She is reading and picking out sight words which we are thrilled about! Thank you, Ms. Frick! Also, our daughter has been given opportunities both in the classroom and the school to make connections with other students and teachers of all grades. Thank you, to everyone at Silver lake who makes a difference in our daughters life! Ms. Camp, Ms. Michelle, Ms. Jessica, Ms. Marie, Ms. Sandy, all the other kindergarten teachers, Ms. Rybak, Mr. Pryde, Ms. Harrod-Burch, Mr. Llore, Ms. Buddy, and Mr. Greg and Ms. Lori she said that you guys make the best pizza! Thank you and so sorry if we missed anyone!
Rachel Light
Mrs. McCall (Long Lake) made our transition from a non-TCAPS preschool to Kindergarten a seamless event. I love receiving our Friday Folders and seeing what accomplishments her class made that week. I love how attentive she is to individual development in each of her students and admire her attention she gives to each one of them. From offering academic support to braiding my child's hair when I could not, she has made our Kindergarten year one filled with excitement and many "this was the BEST day ever" discussions on the drive home in the evenings. Thank you, Mrs. McCall!
Both my boys have had Mr. Sparks as a sub at west middle and just rave over how nice he is and how he is the best sub they have ever had. They are hoping to see him again next year!
Ashley Folgmann
We want to say thank you to all the support staff at Eastern Elementary! The work of the office staff, aides, lunch room staff, noon duty and extended day team, custodial team and special education team are felt throughout the school on a daily basis. We love our classroom teachers and know that they couldn’t do their jobs without the support of all these amazing professionals!
Laura Ashton
Mr. Kramer, first grade teacher (Westwoods) has been an outstanding educator, mentor, and loving human in my son's classroom this year. He shows genuine care and compassion for every student in his class. He challenges them in areas of needed growth. And, he is their biggest cheerleader at school. We appreciate Mr. Kramer so much! We are so grateful for all of the specials teachers, cafeteria staff, maintenance staff, and the school's administrators. Thank you for all that you do!!
Emily Umbarger
Last week our gymnasium was set up on Wednesday afternoon for our STEAM day/night on Thursday. We received notice that their was going to be a basketball game that evening so we needed to take the tables down. Our night custodian Cole Burns helped take down all of the tables, and our lead custodian Alberto Dimas had them all set back up again before we returned to work on Thursday morning. Both Alberto and Cole (TCAPS Montessori) go above and the call of duty and take time to not only help the staff but to get to know our students. We are very lucky to have such dedicated team members.
Thank you Mrs. Burwinkel (Long Lake) for your endless support with the kids, staff & parents. You’re always ready to help Carter walk into school on teary drop off mornings. With your magic touch you can turn his frown upside down. Steve and I appreciate you so much! Thanks for all that you do!
Warm regards,
Steve and Nicole Meteer
Our family wants to give big kudos to Ms. Layne at Eastern Elementary for her amazing efforts in encouraging our students to step outside his comfort zone. She has found a way to make writing fun, instead of daunting, for our son and created a new outlet for creativity, emotional growth, and communication. Ms. Layne’s commitment to her students is unparalleled!
Laura Ashton
We want to send a huge Thank You to Mrs. Pfost at Traverse Heights Elementary. I cannot say enough about her. My son absolutely adores her and I feel that love back as well. She deeply cares for each and everyone of her students and it shows in so many ways. We were so blessed to have her after a year away. She really made the adjustment back so much easier for our little guy. He is thriving and absolutely loves going to school. I know he will have a special place in his hearts for years to come! Thank you Mrs. Pfost for loving our little guy like your own!
Stephanie Wilson
If you want to find an example of Mrs Marek’s incredible talent’s as a kindergartner teacher (Eastern Elementary), you can see evidence of it throughout her class! Mrs. Marek has a genuine gift of making her students feel safe, loved, smart, curios and connected all while bringing them to new heights academically. Her focus on social emotional growth has proven to be immeasurable in a group of students that weren’t all able to have traditional preschool socialization opportunities. We could not be more pleased with our daughter’s kindergarten experience!
Laura Ashton
We feel so lucky to once again be in Mrs. Olson’s and Mrs. Getchel’s primary class (TCAPS Montessori). You couldn’t ask for a more nurturing environment than their classroom. Our kids shine from the inside out as they share with us their activities from each day. They are becoming smart, kind, and independent students thanks to Mrs. Olson and Mrs. Getchel. We are so thankful for all that they do!
Jane Price
Being first time TCAPS parents and sending our daughter to kindergarten we were nervous, but wow what a year it has been. Mrs. Dall’Olmo (Central Grade)has created a space of curiosity, warmth, love and learning. She holds a special place in our hearts. We love Mrs. Dall’Olmo!
Maggie and Hunter Gardner
Thank you to Mr. Kramer at Westwood Elementary for all you do. Jackson just loves your class. He even asks to go to school on Saturday and Sundays!! We appreciate everything you do for our son.
Kelly Niskanen
We are grateful for the guidance and patience that Mrs. McDonough and Mrs. Wohlfert (Central Grade TAG)provide our son every day. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to education and our kiddos!
Tonisty & Robert Winterer
Ms. Trillet (Westwoods), thank you for guiding our family through our first year. We know that our son is in good hands in your class. We appreciate all that you do!
Darci Schippert
Our son is in 7/8 Tenor/Bass choir. It’s his first experience with a formalized music program. Mr. Wangeman and Mr. Dee (West Middle School) run a top-notch, world class program. Our son has learned so much from both teachers and has thoroughly enjoyed his experience; so much so that he wants to continue down this musical path. Thank you for your complete dedication to your craft.
Crystal Milne
Our family is very thankful for Mr. Martin our bus driver for being so reliable and consistent. Mrs. Lauters has made a huge difference in my son. He looks forward to going to school everyday, says he loves school, and is proud of himself. We are so thankful for Westwoods staff! Leah & Matt Bennett
I just wanted to write to give a huge thank you to the best teacher my daughter has ever had. What’s funny is that she had her in 1st, 3rd and now 5th grade. Ms Peterson (Long Lake)has been a constant force in my daughter’s drive and learning. She even got completely enthralled in Harry Potter because of her. The fact my daughter wanted her year after year shows what an impact she has made on her students. Thank you for being you and for doing all you can to make our children enjoy being at school everyday!
Jennifer Worden
We have a 1st grader, 9th grader, and 10th grader in Westwoods and WSH. Our kiddos did Upnorth Virtual Live last year and all transitioned back to their brick and mortar schools beautifully. Our older daughters transitioned back into a new building having last been in person while at the WMS. Moving from middle school to high school is already a big move, but doing it after being at home for over a year is even bigger. They have both made this transition pretty seamlessly and we owe a lot to their teachers for making their classes safe spaces to ask for support/clarification/help. I would love to give a shout out to Ms. Brisbois who has been so understanding when COVID hit our house and required isolation out of school. She was so great in her communication with me and also our daughter. She has also done a great job in supporting her needs as a learner during this period of school transition. My 9th grader recently shared with me that she actually likes all of her teacher this year. I would like to especially shout out Ms. Heydlauff, Ms. Wolf-Schlarf, Ms. Rintala, and Ms. Thompson for their excellent communication with me and for the support and encouragment that they have given to our daughter. At Westwoods, our daughter was lucky to have Ms. Jesse-McPherson for her teacher. Covid shut down the schools at the end of our daughter's kindergarten year and then she was a virtual student last year. Ms. Jesse-McPherson helped make this transition smooth and our daughter has grown leaps and bounds, academically and socially, while in her class this year. Our daughter also works with Ms. Carter for reading, so I would like to thank her, as well! On top of so many good things happening in her general classroom, our daughter gets excited about her specials, too. Ms. Gang, Ms. Ray, and Ms. Wiliford are so creative and passionate in their classes that it rubs off on their students. Thank you!
Stefanie Tschirhart-Baldwin
Mrs Hall’s (TCAPS Montessori) love for learning and her students is contagious. Her gentle manner allows students to be risk takers and explore their interests in a safe manner. Mrs. Hall has gone above and beyond the past two years with our son. She communicates with our child and with us on a regular basis to help keep us all on the same page. Mrs. Hall knows my child, his strength, his struggles and his goals. We are forever grateful to have our son part of her amazing learning community. Mrs. Hall is a gem and will forever have a part in our hearts.
Jenny
A teacher I think deserves a huge thank you is Mr. Baumann (WMS/WSH). I have had him for spanish sense 8th grade, when he taught at the middle school. When I found out he will be teaching at the high school, I was very excited, and requested to have him. Mr. Baumann has been one of the most thoughtful, nice, patient teacher I have ever had. Hes funny, and has a connection with every one of his students, and makes sure they all are learning while having fun. I have learned the most in this class, and learned the most spanish. His teaching style is something I wish most teachers had.
Madison Waggener
On behalf of our family I would like to extend sincere gratitude to Alison Lauters (kindergarten), Dan Tiesworth (Principal Westwoods), Miss Paula, Miss Christina, Mrs. Cullen, and Mrs. Kaberle for being top notch educators and humans! We will be forever grateful to have our son's kindergarten experience with all of you!
Sarah von der Hoff
I can't tell you how much I appreciate the entire staff at TCAPS Montessori. They have loved and supported both of my children. My girls are excited and happy to go to school every day. Our family is so grateful for all of them! Huge thank you to Ms. Borths, Mrs. Yarch, Mrs. Sievers, Mr. Albert, Mrs. Smith, Ms. Teachout, Mrs. Danielson, Mr. Q, Mr. R, Mrs. Ruggero, Mrs. Vogel, Miss Bonnie, Mrs. Hancock, Mrs. Ballmer, and Mr. Stewart. We love you all!
The Brostroms
As the parent of a Kindergartener, we are so grateful to the staff at Courtade Elementary School for making our first year at TCAPS wonderful! An extra special THANK YOU to Mrs. Myers for giving our son a kind, compassionate, and positive learning experience during his first year! With Gratitiude, Jennifer K.
Westwoods has such a positive environment our son always comes home happy. Mrs. McPhearson has been such a positive person in our life. Her energy and patience is admirable.
Andrea Tharp
My daughter is in 3rd grade at Westwoods and has an IEP for writing and speech and also spends some time with a reading intervention group. Our family just moved back to TC last summer and she really struggled with the remote learning back in Massachusetts and TCAPS has been a life saver for her! She has made friends and even reading for fun (never did before)! The team has been so amazing and willing to hear me out when needed! So to our whole team Amy, Carla, Beth and Suzanne we wouldn't have made it through this year with out all of you!
Beth Selleck
I want to take a moment to say thank you Emily Howard, a math teacher at Central High School. Emily is our Freshman daughter’s geometry teacher at CHS. She is, quite simply. AMAZING! I have never met someone with such positive, radiating energy. She is a favorite teacher of so many (including our daughter) and it’s not hard to understand why- she makes every student feel loved, appreciated and seen! She’s often in the audience at various school musical and sporting events- she seems to make it a priority to show up for, encourage and support her students. I wish I’d had a math teacher like Mrs. Howard - had his been the case, I’m almost certain I would have worked a lot harder in math class. Great teachers look past skill sets and inspire students to work to the fullest of their potential, Emily Howard is a great teacher and makes CHS a great place to learn ! Thank you, Emily!
Kira
Aedan is in 1st grade and loves his teacher at Westwoods! Our family just moved back to TC from Massachusetts so this is our kids 1st year ever at TCAPS and it has been amazing! Aedan is so supported and feels so safe with his teacher Mrs. Chambers she has been a blessing everyday and helped with his transition into a new school after we had remote learning for most of his kindergarten year and was very nervous. She had him feeling at home In no time! I'm not sure we would have made it through this year without her. Thank you Karan and all the staff at Westwoods for making us feel so at home and like we have always ben here!
Beth Selleck
We’d like to send a big thank you to Mrs. Taplin and Mrs. VR at West Middle School for their hard work, compassion and continued support and well as Mrs. Jackson at Central Grade for rocking it yet another year!
They are the best!
Sincerely - Harry and Andrea Burkholder
Thank you to Ben Berger, Julie Flaherty, Sara Dennis-Parker, and Brandee Ludka (CHS) for going out of your way to help our daughter have a successful start to her high school experience. Our family appreciates each one of you and what you do for our daughter and all students daily. Go Trojans!
Our family would like to thank Mr. Failor, Ms. Houdek, Ms.Howard, Ms. Boulengar, Mr. Draper, Ms. Mazurek, Mr. Lantz and Ms. Lynch at Central High School for going above and beyond each day to help our daughter be successful. We appreciate that you are willing to go the extra mile to help her achieve both as a student and as a person. Thank you!
Chris and Stephanie Jackson
Thank you to Mrs. Swan (Westwoods)!!! You have helped Alex see his potential with encouraging words and actions. He has really enjoyed your class and you have helped him have an awesome 5th grade year.
Melissa Winter
A huge thanks to Mr. Schrotenboer at West Middle for making Math my daughter’s favorite class and favorite teacher to dress up as this past Halloween!
Erica Kashmerick
Kristin Stuedemann is a rock star!!! Thank you for everything you do at West Middle School. Your energy, laughter, care and organization is very much appreciated. You are leaving a positive impact with your students everyday. (Even if they don’t realize it, YET). Thank you!!
Marci Perthes
Bette Dienes is a gift to West Middle School through her work in our cafeteria. She ensures that students are nourished and cared for each and every day as she greets them, has conversations and makes personal connections. Bette always treats students with kindness and understanding even when they are not at their best. If she notices that a student is having a tough time she brings it to the attention of staff members who can provide additional support. Thank you Bette for making West the Best!
Kristin Stuedemann
Thank you to Alison Lauters and Erin Sorenson for all of their work in helping our sons to reach their highest potential as learners. Ben and Jack have flourished under the thoughtful and caring instruction of both teachers. We are incredibly thankful to ALL of the staff at Westwoods for creating a welcoming, safe and supportive school community!
Kristin Ann Stuedemann
Mrs. Walston (Central Grade) is such an amazing first grade teacher! My son has learned and grown so much this school year, and his love of reading has soared! Thank you, Mrs. Walston!
Tamra Beaver
Mrs. Wohlfert (Central Grade) is a wonderful teacher! My son loves all of her creative hands-on lessons, and her passion for teaching shines! Thank you, Mrs. Wohlfert!
Tamra Beaver
Mr. Deneen (EMS) has made such an impact on many of our young musicians and I’m so grateful for the time and effort he puts into the students. Mr. Deneen has touched the hearts of many, he put endless hours of practice and performance together and helps the kids reach their potential! He greets them their very first year of instrument instruction and follows them to the field as they march, he never stops believing in them. Thank you, Mr. Deneen, I hope you know how much you are truly valued by your students, parents and this community.
Tanya Helman
We are so happy about the love, care and the attention and support our son has received from Ms. Morrice (Long Lake). We are thrilled with her communication and patience with all her students and the calmness her classroom exudes. We will be sad to end his third grade year with her but proud in the growth he has made because of Ms. Morrice! Thank you, Eric and Megan
Jamie Sandy (CHS) is one of those teachers that reaches a student through her deep desire to teach them how to love what they do and find talent they didn't realize they had. She is caring and generous and truly inspires her students. Thanks for being you!
Heather Muha
Mr Odette (CHS) is one of a kind- the way he has provided support, taught the kids what it means to lead and how to be a leader, and how he has offered invaluable insight helping those in senate to become their best selves. Thank you Mr Odette for your years of service as an advisor to the students in Senate!
Heather Muha
Mrs. Flaherty (CHS) has always been there often last minute to offer support, answer questions and meet a need. She is positive and very caring. Thank you Mrs. Flaherty!
Heather Muha
These have been a hard couple years. As a school community we have had the solid leadership of Jessie Houghton at Central High school to guide, protect and encourage us. She has been steadfast in her commitment to our students and has shown much integrity. Thank you Principal Houghton!
Heather Muha
We couldn’t be happier with the amazing staff at Eastern Elementary. Our children are loved, encouraged, and nurtured by everyone from the office (Ms. Jenkins and Ms. Waskiewicz), the principal (Ms. Ruskowski), custodians, kitchen staff, noon duty, instructional aides, and most especially their teachers. Ms. Edwardson, Ms. Brott, and Ms. Roeder truly see and know our kids and have created dynamic and safe places for them to grow and learn. We appreciate everything you do so much! Shoutouts to Ms. Bui, Mr. Kowalski, Ms. Culik, and Ms. Asiala for expanding our boys’ academic worlds with kindness and creativity!
Paige Paul
Mr. O'hare (Blair), thank you for being a great teacher. You have a fun class and I like all your jokes. -Jayden Evans
Thank you to Wendy Wiederhold, Stephanie Havens, and Carolyn Athanson (Blair). You ladies are an amazing team! Thank you for all of your hard work and all you do!
We want to extend our gratitude to Mrs. Gilpin (Willow Hill) for another wonderful year. Our son has admired you and your teaching for two years. You have helped him grow, learn and loves being in your class. You are very understanding and willing to do whatever you can to aid in his learning. We will miss you after this year. Hope to have you teach his sister down the road. Truly thank you!
Rhiannon Diffin
Thank you to Mrs. Essenberg's Community Outreach class and Academic Resource Specialist, Juli VanPelt for making TCHS staff feel valued and appreciated this week!!
We would like to thank the staff at Central High School. Our daughter, while a freshman, came home from school her first week with these words: ‘I can’t believe how lucky I am. I get to go to a place every day where staff members love what they do! They genuinely care for all the students and love teaching!’ She is now a junior and feels the same as she did then. Remarkable, considering these have been the most challenging few years for students and staff. Mrs. Houghton, Mr. Forton, Mrs. Puckett, Mr. Gle, Mrs. Paul, Mrs. McNamara, you inspire! Your impact will be life-long.
-Christopher and Ann Thaxton
Bryn Lynch, Central High School, led a group of students through the preparation process for participation in Model United Nations this year. Ms. Lynch and Jamie Sandy, also a Central High School teacher, resolved logistical challenges and wore multiple hats (bus drivers, chaperones, coaches, mediators, and advisers) to ensure that TCAPS students were able to participate in the Model United Nations conference in March. Thank you to both teachers for your dedication and support of the MAMUN program and TCAPS students.
Judy Robinson Arnold
Jodey Mackey at East Middle School has made a large contribution to opioid awareness and education amongst EMS students and in our community. In 2018 she guided her 7th & 8th grade Digital Media class in all aspects of the production of a short film, "Predator & Prey." The film provides a snapshot of the dangers and impact of opioid addictions in the Grand Traverse Community and has been a tool used by area non-profits for the past 4 years. Last week, Ms. Mackey and some of the students that worked on the film and were recognized for their contribution at an awareness event highlighting and reflecting on progress made over the 4 years since the film launched. In addition, Susan Roskelley, Journalism and ELA teacher at Central High School, supported the writers of the CHS Black & Gold Quarterly newsmagazine to continue the coverage of the topic in an issue this year. The publication revisited participants in the "Predator & Prey" film and covered additional wellness and mental health topics. Kudos to these teachers for guiding students on reporting on challenging topics and raising awareness of addiction, mental illness, and wellness.
Judy Robinson Arnold
Our junior has had a stellar group of teachers at Central High School this year. Joelle Kolody and Larissa VanderZee provided challenging assignments and excellent preparation for college level writing assignments in English Language and Composition. John Failor exceled at teaching Calculus and provided great insight to students by inviting recent CHS grads back to class for panel discussions on post-secondary experiences. Keith Forton's entertaining lectures, labs, and demonstrations made Physics "a do not miss class," and students gave him rave reviews in the form of standing ovations. Paige Paul taught US Government & Politics in a balanced fashion and ensured students fully grasped the political process through an engaging Mock Congress experiential learning program. We are grateful for these outstanding teachers.
Judy Robinson Arnold
Central Grade School's Jennifer Wohlfert and Ann McDonough have led their 4th grade classes on some epic virtual trips around the United States and through some mad science worthy experiments with grace and aplomb during a less than normal year. Thank you for persevering and being true Central Grade Superstars.
Judy Robinson Arnold
A huge thank you to all who have signed up, stepped up, or taken on an additional role to cover absences, provide relief, or substitute for staff members this year. Whether you filled in for a classroom teacher, drove a bus, served up lunch, supervised recess, filled in for admins, pushed a broom, covered a special, coached a team, or worked extended day, this school year could not have happened without you, and TCAPS is lucky to have you on board.
Judy Robinson Arnold
I am in awe of Toby Tisdale and his ability to connect and engage with students and their families and ensure needs are met. His dedication to education and the learning process is evident daily in the building. He is a strong, empathetic leader and devotes countless hours to his role as Principal at Central Grade School. Thank you for your tireless work.
Judy Robinson Arnold
Thank you, Mrs. Olson, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Getchel, and Mrs. Lomasney (Montessori), too, for creating such a fun, safe, engaging, and loving classroom for our daughters to learn in. We are so thankful for each of you and the positive impacts you’ve had on our children during their primary years. Love, the Hanley Family
Kate has loved kindergarten since the first day of school and we have Mrs. McManus (Willow Hill) to thank for that! She makes learning fun and engaging while also motivating Kate to do her best. Mrs. McManus has recognized from the beginning the special gift and needs of each student and supported them in feeling safe and comfortable in school. We are so thankful Kate started her elementary school experience with Mrs. McManus.
Kate Dillon
We would love to extend our deepest appreciation to Mrs. Cobb at Traverse Heights Elementary. It is our son's last year in elementary and she has made it the absolute BEST! I cannot count the number of times my son has come and and uttered words along the lines of "Mrs. Cobb is such a great teacher, I love her" So a huge thank you for making this last year so special! Thank you for being you!
Stephanie J Wilson
A huge thank you to Mrs. Ballmer and Mr. Steward at Glenn Loomis for all of their care and hard work with our 1st and 3rd graders this year. We are thankful for all of your hard work! Also, Mrs. Bevier and the other Oak Park preschool teachers have been absolutely amazing with our preschooler. We are so sad to see the program end as it has been hugely impactful on our youngest learner. Thank you for all you do to make school so special for our kiddos!
Emily Moore
Thank you to all the wonderful behind the scene staff at Blair Elementary! Diane Chandler, Jennifer Soper, Patti Aprea, Cathy Nelson, Colleen Drezwiecki, Cheryl Erickson, Gael Eschelweck, Stephanie Beckstead, Monica Marquez and Leanne Laucky. Thank you for all of your hard work and all that you do to keep the school happy and safe! Much Appreciation. -Anonymous
Big shout out to the staff at TCAPS Montessori! Our staff supports each other and fills in wherever needed in order to best serve our students. I am honored to be a part of this team!
Liz Yarch
Thank you Brooke Stier (Westwoods) for your dedication to helping Matilda through her "leadership style" personality. We appreciate that you find creative ways to work with her in the classroom and direct her learning in a positive manner. You are a bright spot in her day and she (and we) are thankful for your teaching expertise and patience!
Sarah Lantz
Thank you to Janelle Jesse McPherson (Westwoods) for helping our Elliott become more independent in his learning, and helping give him the ability to be confident in making his own decisions and being conscious of his environment. You have an amazing way with your class and a superior teaching style. We are so lucky to have as a teacher. Thank you!
Sarah Lantz
We just want to say a HUGE thank you to all of the office staff at Traverse Heights! Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Rokos you are both so amazing and and you do so much more for our school than most people probably even know. But we appreciate all you do to keep our school running and awesome!! And we cannot forget Mr. Kay - thank you for being there for the kids! The good and the bad times! We also would like to say Thank you to Mrs. Mapes the librarian at Traverse Heights. You really are the best. Our boys just love you and your involvement in helping them love to read. My boys just adore you! And one last shout out to all of the other teachers and staff that we often never talk to or may even not know about...lunch team, recess helpers, janitors, subs, PE, music, art, volunteers, coaches....the list goes on - THANK YOU all for making Traverse Heights what it is! WE ARE ONE!
Alex our kindergartener says "I love Mrs. Gross (Willow Hill) as a teacher because she is nice and helps me learn!" we as parents echo that statement and would add we so appreciate Mrs. Gross for her organization, communication, willingness to address and follow-up on any concerns, and serve as a great role model for our girl. Alex has thrived in school this year and we know we have Mrs. Gross to thank for that!
Although I hope we have made it known all year long, we love and appreciate Courtney Hanley at Central Grade! Her positivity and enthusiasm toward teaching is obvious. Our son loves being a part of her class and has enjoyed a terrific year as a result. She is always so responsive when we have questions or concerns, and she is a wonderful encourager and cheerleader.
Jason and Kellie Parks
Mrs. D (Central Grade) has been such a wonderful teacher and she is such a delight to have as a kindergarten teacher. Her energy and enthusiasm throughout the year is so inspiring to see. She has helped my son learn and develop greatly. Mrs. Dall’Olmo is always responsive to any questions or concerns, and is always a delight to talk to. She is truly appreciated by us!
Savannah Smith
We appreciate Mrs. Bageris (Central Grade) for all of the kindness, patience, and care she shows each day! It shows in the enthusiasm my daughter has for school and the growth we’ve noticed in her over the school year. Thank you Mrs. Bageris!
Krista Patz

Celebration of Our 2023 - 2024 Retirees

Celebration of Our 2023-2024 Retirees

TCAPS is pleased to celebrate its 2023-2024 retirees, recognizing the impact these 37 employees have had on the children of the Traverse City. Thank you!

TCAPS BOARD OF EDUCATION All Employee Retirement Recognition 2023/2024 May 30, 2024 TCAPS educates, inspires, and supports all learners to maximize individual excellence and success.