Royal Oak Schools recently announced its 2011-12 Outstanding Teachers of the Year:

• Anna Falkiewicz, Elementary Teacher of the Year
• Catherine (Kate) Brueckman, Middle School Teacher of the Year
• Jay Vought, High School Teacher of the Year

Ms. Falkiewicz has been teaching in Royal Oak Schools for 12 years.  She currently is a Title I teacher K-5, Reading and Language Arts, at Upton Elementary. She has organized after school clubs, tutored students, and planned events to teach parents how to use resources at home and within the community to help their children learn.  She sits on the District’s School Quality and School Improvement teams and is an active member of the PTA, Blessings in a Backpack, and Teachers-Student CARES Mentor program.  Ms. Falkiewicz has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Eastern Michigan University in Spanish, and a Master of Arts Degree from Oakland University in Teaching. 

Ms. Brueckman has been teaching in Royal Oak Schools since 1994, and is currently teaching 6th & 7th grade mathematics at Royal Oak Middle School.  She is working to design and incorporate International Baccalaureate – MYP lessons into the 7^th grade curriculum and is the Math Department Chairperson.  She is a leader at both the building and county levels on common core implementation.  Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Principals are present in her lesson design and delivery and she regularly uses data to consistently differentiate instruction.  Ms. Brueckman has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Michigan State University in Communications, an Elementary Education Endorsement from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Arts Degree in Reading and Language Arts from Oakland University. 

Mr. Vought has been teaching in Royal Oak Schools for eight years.  He currently teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics and Honors Advanced math classes at Royal Oak High School.  Mr. Vought is leading a pilot program, in conjunction with Western Michigan University and five other schools around the country, that are implementing Transition to College Mathematics and Statistics as an alternative 4^th year math course. 

He serves on multiple committees, including the Royal Oak K-12 Curriculum Committee and the Common Core Math Pilot and Review Team at Oakland Schools.  He has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Western Michigan University in Statistics and a Master of Education Degree from Wayne State University. 

Each year Oakland Schools sponsors the Outstanding Teacher of the Year program to honor and recognize teachers who have achieved, through their efforts and example, the highest standards of excellence in their profession. In making the announcement,

Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin said “All three of the Royal Oak Outstanding Teachers of the Year have demonstrated excellence in all areas of work with students, parents and colleagues. Each has demonstrated excellence in motivating and engaging students, differentiating learning for students, and providing leadership to the school community.”

These three teachers will represent Royal Oak Schools as nominees for the Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year Program. The nominees will be recognized at the Awards program in May.