Berkley Educator to be Honored as Oakland County Teacher of the Year

Oakland Schools will honor Berkley High School educator Angela Church on Thursday during the 26th annual Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards in Waterford.

The 37-year-old Berkley resident, who was named top high school teacher in the county, is among 58 nominees from 22 local school districts who will be recognized during National Teacher Appreciation Week for their contributions in the classroom.

Other nominees from Berkley and Huntington Woods who also will be honored include Rogers Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Stacey Bronoel of Southfield; Berkley resident Lori Wettlaufer, who teaches in the Bloomfield Hills Schools district; Norup International School math teacher Amy Carter of Madison Heights; and Jason Gillespie of Huntington Woods, who teaches in the Ferndale Public Schools district.

Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards are given each year to teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels who excel in the following areas.

• Engaging students.
• Meeting students' individual needs.
• Demonstrating knowledge of a subject area.
• Demonstrating classroom management.
• Relating to parents and colleagues.
• Demonstrating good citizenship and leadership in the school community.
• Support statements from colleagues, parents and students.

Clarkston resident Molly Brinker, who teaches at Addams Elementary in Royal Oak, and West Bloomfield resident Hadeel Azzo, who teaches at John Page Middle School in Madison Heights, were the other Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award winners.

The three winners each will receive $2,000 from the Oakland Schools Education Foundation.

On March 26, burst in the door of Church's ninth grade United States history class with a colorful bunch of balloons to inform her of the honor.

"This is very cool. Thank you all for coming," said Church, smiling ear-to-ear. "This is the most famous I've ever felt."