Every student remembers a certain teacher who helped them ace that hard math test or taught them how to complete a sentence with proper grammar.
To help reward those teachers who’ve made such a strong impact on student’s lives, Oxford teachers Marie Schneider, Pete Stremersch and Todd Bidlack were selected to be the school district’s nominees for the 2005-06 Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.
Each of the 28 school districts in the county selects three teachers at the high school, middle school and elementary levels to be nominees for county Teacher of the Year at their respective level.
The three county-wide winners will be announced the first week of April. All the district nominees will be recognized May 10 during a special event at the Oakland Schools administrative building in Waterford.
The nominee for the elementary level went to Oxford Elementary teacher Pete Stremersch who called his nomination ‘a great honor.?
‘Especially with the great teachers that are here in our building,? he said. ‘I’m very humbled by this, to say the least.?
Stremersch, 29, has taught subjects like math, science, reading and writing to third graders at OES for the past six years. The drive to become a teacher came from his mother who taught art for 30 years. ‘So, that was a good experience for me growing up,? he said.
Stremersch received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Oakland University in 2000 and is working on getting his master’s degree in reading in April.
He student taught fifth grade at Croswell Elementary in Romeo and landed the job at OES very shortly after.
Stremersch said he enjoys the students at OES the most and that he tries to ‘make the most out of every day by having some fun in the classroom? while helping them learn at the same time.
He occasionally creates ‘stupid songs? using current songs, like ‘Bad Boys,? that has to do with the subject he’s teaching.
‘I have a little dance and make sure they’re engaged,? he said. ‘It’s not a by-the-book? kind of thing.?
Stremersch is expecting his first child in July with his wife, Jodi, but don’t think that will take him away from teaching. ‘I’ll be here as long as they’ll have me.?
The nominee for the middle school level went to OMS teacher Todd Bidlack, who, like Stremersch, was ‘pretty surprised? and ‘humbled? at his nomination.
‘I was first shocked because this is only my second year here and I felt quite honored that my peers would not only nominate me, but that they would vote for me too,? he said.
Bidlack, 29, teaches math and science to sixth graders at OMS and said he got into the teaching field because he ‘enjoyed the educational process? when he was in school.
He received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Michigan-Flint in 2003 and is finishing his master’s degree in administration at Eastern Michigan University.
His student teaching took him to a middle school in Kearsley, a suburb of Flint.
For Bidlack, teaching middle school-aged children is the greatest experience.
‘I think that’s the best grades to teach just because they’re old enough where I don’t need to be a mother figure to them,? he said. ‘Yet, they’re young enough that they still are impressionable enough where I feel like I can still make a difference.?
Although Bidlack teaches math and science, he likes to come up with projects that may involve more than math, like being a good citizen.
‘I try to build an atmosphere where students feel comfortable and they feel like they’re in a safe environment,? he said.
The cliche of wanting ‘to make a difference? may be at the back of Bidlack’s mind, but he got interested in teaching mostly because he just enjoyed it so much.
‘You can make a difference in almost any career you pick, but I picked education because I have fun doing it,? he said.
Bidlack said working in Oxford has been tremendously easy because most of the parents are in a partnership with him to help the students succeed.
‘It’s ‘what can we do to help? and not trying to work against me,? he said.
When Bidlack’s not teaching, he’s spending time with his wife Jamie and two children ages 18 months and three months.
The nominee for the high school level went to Crossroads for Youth teacher Marie Schneider who was also surprised when she heard about her nomination.
Schneider, 54, has taught math and reading to students at Crossroads for the past 21 years and said as soon as she interviewed in Oxford, she ‘knew it was going to be a wonderful place to teach.?
Schneider received her bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque in 1974. After she and her husband moved to Michigan for an ‘adventure,? she received her master’s in 1980 from OU.
Like most teachers, Schneider said she loves working with the kids because it’s ‘fun every day? and she’s ‘never bored.?
Although teaching at Crossroads has given Schneider many fun moments, it can be challenging because students ‘come and go constantly? and start at different levels.
‘I might have one student working on algebra and another one working on basic math at the same time,? she said.
When Schneider’s not working with her students at Crossroads, she spends her time with her husband, Lincoln Eddy and their two older children.
at OMS, he’s spending time with his wife, Jamie and two children ages 18 months and three months.
He has ‘absolutely no plans? of leaving Oxford anytime soon, but does see himself teaching college one day or being in administration.
The nominee for the high school level went to Crossroads for Youth teacher Marie Schneider who was also surprised when she heard about her nomination.
Schneider, 54, has taught math and reading to students at Crossroads for the past 21 years and said as soon as she interviewed in Oxford, she ‘knew it was going to be a wonderful place to teach.?
Schneider received her bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque in 1974. After she and her husband moved to Michigan for an ‘adventure,? she received her master’s in 1980 from Oakland University.
‘We both applied to jobs all over the country and then just chose what sounded best,? she said.
Like most teachers, Schneider said she loves working with the kids because it’s ‘fun every day.?
‘I’m never bored,? she said.
Although teaching at Crossroads has given Schneider many fun moments, it can be challenging because students ‘come and go constantly? and start at different levels.
‘I might have one student working on algebra and another one working on basic math at the same time,? she said.
When Schneider’s not working with her students at Crossroads, she spends her time with her husband, Lincoln Eddy and their two older children.
Schneider said she could retire, but doesn’t see that happening in the near future.
‘It’s kind of a luxury,? she said. ‘As long as I enjoy it, I can keep doing it.?