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Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation Our nationally-acclaimed schools are successful due to the extraordinary talents of our faculty and staff, who leave a legacy of well-prepared students with a lifelong love of learning. On their retirement, our community naturally wants to pay tribute to our teachers for their service. To honor retiring teachers and staff, the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation welcomes parents, former students and colleagues to create named funds within the Educational Foundation. Contributions made to the Educational Foundation under the name of a retiring teacher can be designated to support programs chosen by the teacher. In order to establish a tribute fund in a retiring educator’s honor, donors should contact Wendy Correll at the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation: |
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Existing Tribute Funds
Her first job at a parochial school in Detroit had 55 third graders. After being hired in Ann Arbor, it took her until Halloween to get used to a class of "only" 25. She enjoyed having many student teachers through the years and was awarded the "Outstanding Cooperating Teacher Award" from the University of Michigan School of Education. Cindy has been a member of Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), International Educators Society, since 1973. She is a past president of DKG and is a recipient of the "Woman of Distinction Award". A few years ago, she received a grant from this foundation to create a guide with the second graders called "Discovering Eberwhite Woods" with naturalist Nancy Scott. The booklet is complete with maps of the trails and illustrations and descriptions of plants and animals. She is grateful for the support of the AAPS Educational Foundation and the excellent projects allowing teachers and students to grow.
Link to AnnArbor.com story on Sandy's Celebration of Excellence Award
Retiring Latin teacher, Tappan Middle School Mrs. Pedley is passionate about teaching. Latin is cool to take at Tappan because of Mrs. Pedley. She is synonymous with the course. She is an avid promoter not only of Latin but of all foreign languages. She wants each child to select a foreign language and come to enjoy it as much as she does. She sees the best in students and eagerly creates opportunities for them to succeed. Her expectations are always high, with the support necessary to assure that success. Many of her pupils go to Huron, Pioneer, and Community and continue their study of Latin for four more years. Though most of her students do not go on to become classics majors, they all leave her classroom with a confidence that they can pursue a difficult subject and become the better for it. She knows that the conjugations of Latin may fade but cooperation, humor, integrity, responsibility and compassion to others will be characteristics that will see her students through life. Mary is an ardent supporter of the Agrarian Adventure. She and her husband John are annual sponsors of the fall harvest dinner. Mary regularly takes her classes to Tappan's garden to sow winter wheat and enjoy the garden's beauty as she recites Cicero. A gifted cartographer and published historian, Mrs. Pedley holds a doctorate from the University of London and is the current Adjunct Assistant Curator of Maps at Clements Library at the University of Michigan. She speaks at international cartography conferences and is a scholar of French maps. She could have taught anywhere in the world -- especially at any prestigious university -- and we should be grateful that she shared her wonderful talents with the Tappan community since 1974. Link to additional photographs.
In 1973, Pat graduated from The University of Nebraska with a degree in Speech Pathology. She then became a flight attendant for United Airlines, and flew the Friendly Skies. During that time, she married and moved to Michigan. In 1978, she and her husband started their family. It was during this time that Pat became involved and volunteered in many organizations, as well as her children’s elementary school. She was a P.T.O. officer, was part of the revitalization/renaming of Ritsema Wood at Haisley Elementary School to the Ritsema Woods Nature Area, and developed curriculum compatible teaching materials to be used by classrooms for their “woods walk.” Pat was a Cub Scout and Brownie leader, as well as a Girl Scout leader and Troop Service Director. Recycling and using our resources wisely, have always been a passion for Pat, and in 1991, she assisted in a pilot program to start recycling in the Ann Arbor Public Schools. It was successful, and to this day, The Ann Arbor Public Schools have a solid program in place to recycle paper, and cardboard in the schools. She started substituting in the Ann Arbor Public Schools in 1991, and had many long term positions at various grade levels. In 1993, she received the Golden Apple Award for recognition for outstanding qualities and excellence in teaching in the Ann Arbor Public Schools. (In 1996, she received her Masters in Education at Eastern Michigan University.) Pat was a Math and Science Enrichment Coordinator at Haisley School, and she also was a Reading Specialist at Eberwhite School. She coordinated and taught two summer enrichment camps for children at the Humane Society for three years. It wasn’t until 2004, that she was hired as a Kindergarten teacher at Eberwhite Elementary School. It was the perfect place to call home, and she had 6 marvelous years with a great staff, and of course bright, happy, loving children.
Ruth Williams, donate now Retiring Principal, Lawton Elementary School. Ruth Williams was born to lead and serve our children, families, staff and her colleagues...all of which she has done for 43 years with equal care, concern, and devotion. Ruth began her career in 1966 in the Detroit Public Schools where she worked for 2 years as an ESRP (Emergency Substitute in a regular Position, teaching first grade). From 1968-1979 she taught elementary school for the Archdiocese of Detroit, St. Theresa-Visitation School in a multi-aged classrooms for grades 1-4. If that wasn't experiential enough, Ruth then became a special education teacher for the State of Michigan in an alternative education program for adjudicated teenage youth from 1979-1987. In April of 1978 she found her way to Ann Arbor and was hired as a teacher consultant at Pattengill School. In addition to Pattengill she then worked at Angell, Bryant, Lakewood, and Pittsfield before becoming the principal at Burns Park for 7 years. Ruth is concluding her exemplary career at Lawton where she had led with distinction as the principal for the past 11 years. Ruth has two children, Toni and Michael. For the past few years, Ruth has spent her summers babysitting for her 3 grandsons---to their delight and frankly, to hers. In retirement Ruth plans to take yoga and computer classes---no doubt to keep up with her 4 year old grandson who already can't wait to go to Nana's house to use her "puter" (pronounced with a long U sound) . Ruth embodies grace and compassion. Her staff regularly reflect on how responsive and respectful she is. She is greatly admired by colleagues. Her outreach to families and underserved populations has transformed the greater Lawton School community. Throughout her career Ruth has risen to every challenge large and small. She has been a leader within the district and our extended community on issues of equity and student achievement.
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