Thank you City Opera House and TC West Gold Jazz Band for providing the perfect atmosphere for celebrating this year’s honorees. Special thank you to our sponsor TBA Credit Union and our partners at Traverse Connect for your continued support of educators and students in our region.
Congratulations to the students who participated in the National Cherry Festival's Student Art Contest! Out of the 85 student submissions, North Ed Career Tech's Graphic Arts program had 17 students place in the top 30, including:
1st place: Delilah Walter ($1,000 Scholarship)
2nd place: Lynn Hall ($700 Scholarship)
3rd place: Emma Wilhelm ($500 Scholarship)
Best in Theme: Sawyer Kiessel ($500 Scholarship)
People's Choice (in the Top 5): Jacob Haase, Sawyer Kiessel and Delilah Walter
Others in the Top 30: Aiden Davis, Paige King, Lilah Weir, Cory Clay, Sarah Douthit, Chloe Porter, Isabel Olson, Kendal Tacktor, Ellie Marvin, Malaysia Hart, Dom Palazzolo and Emily Haas.
Today, we honor Jennifer Morgenstern for her 17 years of service as a Teacher Consultant and Service Area Supervisor for Special Education.
Jennifer is dedicated to her profession and students, consistently seeking and implementing effective strategies to meet their diverse and unique needs. She generously supports and engages her colleagues in exploring innovative educational strategies. Recognized as a leader, she guides others in adapting and planning to ensure all learners are fully integrated. Jennifer collaborates with her team and local districts, always advocating to ensure that student success is the primary focus. We will miss Jennifer’s support and passion for students and families.
Today, we honor Amy Moore for her 20 years of service as a School Social Worker.
Amy has been an integral part of our community. She has a gift of making every person she encounters feel seen, heard and valued. This unwavering kindness has made her a valued and respected colleague and the ultimate collaborative team player. In a profession that can often feel overwhelming, she has been the steady hand and reliable partner her teammates always count on. Amy approaches every challenge—no matter how difficult—with profound empathy on behalf of the families and students we serve. She has been the bridge for families in need and the champion for students who needed a voice. We are deeply grateful for her kind heart and the years of hard work Amy has given to North Ed.
We are pleased to announce the new Kristen Sak Teacher Grant, established in memory of Kristin Sak, a 29 year teaching veteran, to help provide teacher assistance with purchasing classroom supplies. We will be accepting grant applications now, until June 30, 2026, to educators teaching grades 1-5 within Kalkaska Public Schools, Traverse City Area Public Schools or Elk Rapids Public Schools.
To apply for the Kristin Sak Teacher Grant or donate to the Kristin Sak Learning Legacy Fund, visit https://www.northedfoundation.org/page/sak
As the school year draws to a close, help us celebrate our fifteen 2026 Retirees, who achieved a combined 307 years of service at North Ed.
Today, we honor Monique Mansfield for her 31 years of service as an Occupational Therapist.
Monique is a valued mentor and trusted colleague, highly respected by her peers and local school programs. Her visionary insight, paired with a tireless passion for service, has been a constant inspiration and is deeply valued by her team. She has a progressive mindset, always keeping the work moving forward to shape new concepts for curriculum integration. Monique is known as a careful listener, a master problem solver and supporter. School families value and treasure her work with the child-centered nature of her practice. She is admired for her depth of knowledge and dedication as a North Ed teammate, and we honor her many years of service.
Today, we honor Elizabeth (Lisa) Lyon for her 27 years of service as a Teacher Assistant.
Lisa combines a collaborative approach with a gentle and calm demeanor when working with students. Her contributions to student programming are consistent and positive, handily turning innovative strategies into student success stories. Her sincere care and support in the classroom will be missed.
A special thank you to the North Ed Foundation for awarding $52,750 in Tools of the Trade grants and $63,000 in academic scholarships. We are so grateful to the families, staff and supporters who champion our students every day. Congratulations to our driven graduates—we can't wait to see what you do in this next chapter!
Today, we honor Lisa Kenny for her 12 years of service as a Teacher and Teacher Assistant.
Lisa has a special rapport with countless students and families. Her keen ability to lean into collaboration with all stakeholders has been a proven influence in supporting her team. Even when faced with challenging situations, Lisa delivers a steady approach to help others feel safe and comfortable. She has a wonderful practice of balancing play-based learning techniques with social and emotional learning, allowing a vehicle for growth and creating purposeful environments. Lisa’s humor and excellent classroom management skills will truly be missed.
Today, we honor Britney Kellett for her 16 years of service as a Teacher Assistant.
Britney demonstrates a profound understanding of autism and commitment to supporting evidence-based practices. She puts students first by approaching every challenge with a gentle spirit and a kind heart. Britney is a valued collaborator and a well-respected team player. We appreciate her many contributions.
Last week, North Ed Career Tech Welding instructor Mark Stein and students Max Jones from TC Central High School, Hannah Batchelder and Summer Skiver from Benzie Central High School visited Ms. Leppien's 4th grade class at Cherry Knoll Elementary. Our students taught these 4th graders about welding and other opportunities at North Ed Career Tech. Thank you to this North Ed team for representing us and sharing your talents, and thank you Ms. Leppien for inviting us!
Learn more about our Welding program: https://www.northwested.org/o/ct/page/welding
This week, we had the pleasure of delivering goodie bags courtesy of TBA Credit Union to all of our 2026 Outstanding Educators! We look forward to celebrating these remarkable individuals at the annual Outstanding Educator Awards at City Opera House on June 3. Don’t forget to RSVP by May 29! Congratulations to all of our honorees!
See a full list of honorees at https://rebrand.ly/2026oea
Today, we honor Peggy Dohm for her 10 years of service as a Teacher Assistant.
Peggy is skilled at building student engagement and maintaining a steady classroom routine. Students respond exceptionally well to her kind approach, and everyone is grateful for the safe and positive learning environment she cultivates through her strong work ethic. Those around her appreciate her friendliness and ability to keep one step ahead in her planning and preparation, which guides student success. We are thankful for Peggy’s valuable time and dedication.
Join the North Ed Career Tech Film & New Media students for the 3rd Annual Student Film Festival!
This free event at the Elk Rapids Cinema will showcase original short films created by talented high school filmmakers.
Doors open at 6:00 pm and showtime is 7:00 pm. Tickets are free, and popcorn and refreshments will be available for purchase.
June 11, 2026
Elk Rapids Cinema, 205 River St, Elk Rapids, MI 49629
For more information on the North Ed Career Tech Film and New Media program, visit https://www.northwested.org/o/ct/page/film-new-media
Last week, we hosted a signing day for our Agrisicence students who earned the Michigan FFA State Degree and in turn have earned 6 general education credits at Michigan State University (MSU). Thanks to Cristin Hosmer (Program Coordinator for the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology) who joined us for the signing day and recognized each of our students.
The State Degree is the second highest honor that can be awarded to students in the FFA Organization. North Ed FFA members worked tirelessly to meet the criteria to receive this high honor including; 350 hours or $2,000 in earnings in their SAE (Supervised Agriculture Experience) project, 25 hours of community service, attending five FFA competitions and/or events above the chapter level and also earning both the Greenhand and Chapter FFA Degrees. Help us congratulate the following students recognized at the 98th Michigan FFA State Convention in March during the Michigan FFA State Degree Award Ceremony:
Gretchen (Gee) Arnold, TC High School
Paige Brown, Grand Traverse Academy
Gavin Chile, Elk Rapids High School
Grace Forton, TC Central High School
Ezra Hubbard, Elk Rapids High School
Jack Matchett, TC Central High School
Cohen Reinhardt, Elk Rapids High School
Cora Speer, Northport Public School
Briley Stone, North Central Academy
Nora Wnek, Elk Rapids High School
