Royal Oak Educator to be Honored as Oakland County Teacher of the Year

Oakland Schools will honor Addam's Elementary School educator Molly Brinker on Thursday during the 26th annual Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards in Waterford.

The Clarkston resident, who was named top elementary school teacher in the county, is among 58 nominees from 22 local school districts who will be recognized during National Teacher Appreciation Week for their contributions in the classroom.

Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards are given each year to teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels who excel in the following areas.

• Engaging students.
• Meeting students' individual needs.
• Demonstrating knowledge of a subject area.
• Demonstrating classroom management.
• Relating to parents and colleagues.
• Demonstrating good citizenship and leadership in the school community.
• Support statements from colleagues, parents and students.

Berkley resident Angela Church, who teaches at Berkley High School and West Bloomfield resident Hadeel Azzo, who teaches at John Page Middle School in Madison Heights, were the other Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award winners.

The three winners each will receive $2,000 from the Oakland Schools Education Foundation.

On March 25, burst in the door of Brinker's third-grade class with a colorful bunch of balloons to inform her of the honor.

"I am completely surprised," said Brinker. "I am overwhelmingly honored. With all of the teachers that are in our county and with everything that every teacher does to make their students learning the best it can be, the fact that I was chosen is completely beyond anything I ever dreamt."