Shelia Lee, former teacher and head cheerleading coach at Waterford Mott High School, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Michigan Cheerleaders Coaches Association. The award is based on cheerleading coaches’ services to MCCA, longevity in coaching, and whose teams have excelled in game cheering and competition. Shelia has been a MCCA Conference speaker on game cheering ,is a former MCCA Executive Board Member, and was named Coach of the Year in 2002. Currently, Lee serves on the MCCA Board of Directors as public relations director. Shelia Lee lead the cheerleading program at Waterford Mott High School for 25 years.

Kettering and Pierce Orchestra Teacher Merlyn Beard was named one of three finalists for the MSBOA Orchestra Teacher of the Year in the State of Michigan. Beard was selected as the MSBOA District IV Orchestra Teacher of the Year. His orchestras at Waterford Kettering are superb, garnering consistent Division I ratings at State Festivals and performing virtually everywhere from Florida to the national ASTA Competition at Max Fisher Orchestra Hall.

Adams Elementary School Teacher, Julie Rule was named Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year program is a part of Wal-Mart's long-term commitment to support education throughout the United States. Winners are selected in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. She is now eligible to be considered for the state Teacher of the Year award. The State Teacher of the Year honor is given to one exceptional educator from each of the 50 states and Puerto Rico. An educational grant of $10,000 is given to each winning state teacher's school.

Brian Whiston, Waterford Board of Education President was selected as 2007 PTSA Board Member of the Year at the Michigan PTSA Conference. He serves as  President Elect on the MI PTSA Board of Officers.

John Martin, Crary Middle School teacher, was selected as a finalist in the Walter P Chrysler Closing the Technology Gap in Education awards program. This program was designed to recognize and support educators who have demonstrated unique skills in energizing student interests in the fields of math, science, engineering, and technology.

The Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO) awarded the Waterford School District the distinguished Meridian Award, acknowledging the outstanding practices in all areas of school management and education. The Waterford School District’s Video Services and Transportation Department Team were selected to receive this award in recognition of their development and promotion of the District’s School Bus Safety Training Video and the positive student outcomes associated with the training.

Carol Gesaman, Teacher at Haviland Elementary School, was selected as Waterford Foundation Teacher of the Year. Gesaman was chosen by a special committee from among seven nominees at the K-2 elementary school level. Gesaman has taught in the Waterford School District since 1990. Waterford Teacher of the Year is sponsored by the Waterford Foundation for Public Education and Suburban Ford. As Waterford Foundation Teacher of the Year, Gesaman received free use of a vehicle of her choice from Suburban Ford for one year and will be honored, along with five other nominees, at the Excellence in Education Reception. Each year the Teacher of the Year selection alternates between elementary and secondary teachers. This award is a way of affirming the value the Waterford community places on educational excellence and the critical role the classroom teacher plays in providing it.

The Waterford School District has received the Michigan Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports Exemplary Physical Education Award, Level 7, for the curriculum work the district’s staff completed during the 2005-2006 school year. The Governor's Exemplary Physical Education Award is designed to encourage and reward exemplary programs and is the fifth consecutive year the Waterford School District has been recognized for its exemplary curriculum.

Jeff Stevenson, Pierce Middle School Wrestling Coach and student teacher at Kettering High School, was named the Physical Education Major of the Year for 2006-2007 at Eastern Michigan University. This award honors one student from each major university in the Country and will be presented this month in Baltimore. The award is based on ac academic excellence, potential for future achievement in the field, as well as past involvement in sporting or coaching.

Ann Hoydic, art teacher at Adams Elementary School, has designed the Michigan Reading Association poster for the conference in 2008. Hoydic's artwork will be on promotional items, which will be all over the State in schools everywhere.

For the third 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), and is the only Michigan district to attain this recognition for three consecutive years. The 2007 roster includes school districts from 31 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. Click here for additional details.

Bill Gesaman, Riverside Principal, and Theresa Bills, Pierce Middle School teacher, were recognized by the Michigan Science Teachers Association. Gesaman was named the MSTA Administrator of the Year and Bills was chosen as MSTA Middle School Teacher of the Year for 2007. They have been invited to attend the MSTA Annual Conference in March where they will be presented with the awards.

Haviland Elementary School has received the International Reading Association Exemplary Reading Program Award. This award recognizes outstanding reading and language arts programs. Four judges from the Michigan Reading Association conducted a site visit at Haviland to observe student reading and writing and teacher instruction.

Mark Merlo, Assistant Football Coach at Waterford Mott High School has been named 2006 Assistant Coach of the Year by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association. Merlo was one of 16 varsity assistant coaches to receive the award. Merlo was hired in 2006 as defensive coordinator for Waterford Mott’s Varsity Football Team.

Haviland teacher, Rebecca Briggs, was honored at the "Walter P. Chrysler Closing the Technology Gap in Education Awards" at the Detroit Science Center. This award was designed to recognize and support educators who have demonstrated unique skills in energizing students' interest in the fields of math, science, engineering, and technology. Rebecca was chosen as one of the top ten 10 elementary educators in the State of Michigan and received $500 for her accomplishments.

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