Jane Fanta, received CSSOC’s 2005-2006 “Volunteer of the Year” award in recognition of her years of volunteer service to benefit the families and children served by Hispanic Outreach Services in Pontiac. As a previous Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras, she brings personal expertise from living in Latin America. Fanta is always available whenever she is needed and has spent many hours working on grants and the mentorship handbook development. She serves as a mentor trainer/advisor, an Amigos Advisor Council member, and a summer teacher for the “Mom’s” group, among many other things.

Mott student, Stephanie Tapia, nominated Mr. Timko for the Wal-Mart teacher of the year. Timko received the Teacher of the Year Award and received a computer, $100 gift certificate to Wal-Mart, and Mott High School received $1,000 check to use for supplies.

Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Vickie L. Markavitch announced this year’s three top winners of the Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Mott Science Teacher James Emmerling was named one of the three winners selected for this prestigious award. All three winners will each be presented with $2,000 from the Oakland Schools Education Foundation and The Detroit Newspapers. Melissa McDermid, Kenbrook Elementary School in Farmington and Anne Campbell, Bloomfield Hills Middle School, Bloomfield Hills, were also selected.

Congratulations to Matt Lumetta, teacher at Kingsley Montgomery School for Severe Emotionally Impaired, won the Exceptional Teacher of the Year Award from the Michigan Association for Teachers of the Council of Emotionally Impaired (MATCEI).  Lumetta was nominated by his peers from Kingsley Montgomery School and was recognized at the MATCEI state convention.

For the second consecutive year, the Waterford School District was named as one of the Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America through a survey conducted by a partnership of leading music and educational organizations and the American Music Conference (AMC).

The Waterford School District has been named a winner in the annual Michigan School Public Relations Association (MSPRA) Communications Contest. Received was a Distinguished Award in the Project or Program Category for the entry: Waterford School District Graduation Program. The award was presented to Rhonda Lessel.  The District also received a Commendable Award in the Web Site/Electronic Publication Category for the entry: Waterford School District Website.  The award was presented to Chris Burlingame and Rhonda Lessel.

Mott Student Teacher and Mott Graduate Katie Reynolds traveled to California to receive the National Gamman of the Year Award. This national award was given to Katie honoring her as the Health Educator of the Year.

The Waterford School District and Schoolcraft Elementary School received first place awards in the 2005 Philo T. Farnsworth Video Festival for its District news magazine, A Closer Look, and WHRS Newscast at Schoolcraft Elementary School. The “PHILO” Awards are sponsored by The Alliance for Community (AMC) Media's Central States Region and are awarded as recognition of excellence in cable programming.

Governor Jennifer Granholm and the Michigan Department of Community Health has announced that the Waterford School District is the recipient of the Child and Adolescent Health Center (CAHC) Implementation Grant, awarding $525,000. This award will allow students to receive on-site primary health care, mental health services, health promotion and disease prevention education, and referral services.

The Waterford School District is honored to receive its third national recognition for the design and construction of the Districts’ Performing Arts Centers, located at Waterford Mott and Kettering High Schools. The award, presented to the Board of Education, is in recognition of the Waterford Kettering High School Performing Arts Center. The award is presented by the American School and University and is highlighted in the August 2005 edition of its Educational Interiors Showcase.

The Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) has awarded Mason Middle School’s Accelerated Reading Program the 2005 Education Excellence Award. The MASB’s Education Excellence Awards program is a statewide competition to identify and recognize outstanding education programs in Michigan public schools.

Waterford Kettering and Mott High Schools were recognized in the American School board Journal Learning by Design 2005, A School Leader's Guide to Architectural Design. These two facilities were showcased for school leaders nationwide to use for future planning and design of school facilities.  Click here for details.

Waterford School District Employee Bonnie Kalinowski was selected by the Oakland County School Boards Association as a recipient of the 2005 Betty Campion Distinguished Support Staff Award. This distinguished award is designed to recognize the important contributions and dedication one gives to an organization.

The Waterford School District was named as one of the Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America through a survey conducted by a partnership of leading music and educational organizations and the American Music Conference (AMC). The 2005 roster includes school districts from 34 different states whose commitment to quality music education—measured across a variety of economic, curricular and programmatic criteria—has enabled them to stand out despite the many pressures on music programs across the country.

The International Reading Association announced Adams Elementary School as the 2005 recipient of the Exemplary Reading Program Award. This award recognizes outstanding reading and language arts programs at elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Haviland, Houghton, and Schoolcraft Elementary Schools have been selected as Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary Schools by the Michigan Department of Education. The Blue Ribbon, the most prestigious education award in the state, distinguishes Haviland, Houghton, and Schoolcraft for their excellence in leadership, teaching, curriculum, student achievement, parent involvement, and community support.

The ARC of Oakland County has awarded Waterford School District employees Karen Gomez the 2005 Distinguished Service Award; Lisa Parr-Smith and Deborah Wear the 2005 Support Professional Award; Carolyn Pitcher the 2005 Community Living Award; Leonard Schiffman the 2005 Leonard Cercone Teacher of the Year Award; and Robert Garrison the 2005 Al Carter Volunteer of the Year Award.  The Arc of Oakland County awards recognize persons who have made significant contributions on behalf of or for persons who have mental retardation.

The Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) named Suzanne Antonazzo, Haviland Elementary School Principal, the 2004 Outstanding Practicing Principal of the Year. This award is presented to an administrator who qualifies as one of the outstanding practicing elementary or middle school principals in the State of Michigan.

The Waterford School District has received the Michigan Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports Exemplary Physical Education Award for the curriculum work the District’s staff completed during the 2003-2004 school year. The Governor's Exemplary Physical Education Award is designed to encourage and reward exemplary programs and is the third consecutive year the Waterford School District has been recognized for its exemplary curriculum. 
 

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