Hartland Teacher of the Year Says 'Laugh with Students and Let Them See Your Human Side'

By Hartland Schools

Congratulations to Mike Joseph, Hartland Consolidated Schools 2013 Teacher of the Year. 

Mike teaches Honors Algebra 2/Trig., and Trigonometry at Hartland High School.  Mike has taught for 25 years, all of which have been with HCS.

Mike was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in Ferndale, Michigan with his parents and 3 brothers and 3 sisters. Mike attended Salesian High School in Detroit.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree from University of Detroit and his Master’s Degree from Eastern Michigan University.

Mike lives in Hartland with his wife of 45 years.  He has three daughters.  One daughter lives in Hartland, another in Clarkson and another in Toronto, Ontario.  He has 6 grandchildren (3 boys and 3 girls, who are the loves of his life!

Mike had been in the carpet business for 18 years when he decided to become a teacher.  His youngest daughter volunteered him as coach her 6^th grade basketball team.  After coaching the team, he knew what career he wanted for the rest of his life.  He enrolled in college 6 months after that season and became a teacher 4 years later.

Since coming to Hartland, Mike has taught all levels of math in grades 7-12.  He taught at the Farms Middle School level for 5 years before transferring to Hartland High School. 

Mike enjoys interacting with his students and watching them grow and mature during their high schools years.  He loves hearing about the special moments in their lives.  He has fun every single day that he teaches. He loves that his coworkers/friends and students make him laugh every day.

Mike’s words of advice to his fellow teachers; “Laugh with their students and let them see your human side.” The memorable moments of the past 25 years are too numerous to mention but the most special moments have been the times that former students and/or athletes return from college or their work place to thank Mike for being part of their education.