Our Staff

Education: BA in Elementary Education from Grand Valley State University (2009), plans to start MA in Speech and Language Pathology January 2012 or September 2012. Experience: This is my 2nd year here at Angell as a Supervisor in the Child Care Program. I previously worked for Wyoming Public Schools, a suburb of Grand Rapids. Hobbies: Reading, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and recently cooking!

Education:  University of Michigan: AB, Psychology; Eastern Michigan University:  Specialist in School Psychology

I am excited about beginning my ninth year as the school psychologist in this wondrous community of learners.  The commitment of staff, parents, and students toward achievement and interpersonal development is a joy to observe.  I also am the psychologist assigned to Scarlett Middle School and consult with several non-public schools as well.  Since 1987, I have provided school psychological services to most of the buildings in Ann Arbor, K-12.  My job responsibilities include evaluating students to determine if there are learning difficulties, assessing students' progress, devising strategies and interventions to help improve students' performance and monitoring student progress.  I collaborate with Angell teaching staff and other support staff members including the social worker, teacher consultant, speech pathologist and occupational therapist.  I have worked in outpatient clinical settings in the past, providing support to children, adolescents, and families.  I hold National Certification as a School Psychologist (NCSP) and a State of Michigan Limited License (LLP). 

I love to play golf, tennis, and pretend to play the piano.  Our children are graduates of AAPS (Pioneer and Community) and I am the proud grandfather of Zaryah Bower (age nine) and Myanna Bower (age one week!).

I have been teaching in the Ann Arbor Public Schools for 13 years.  I began my career at Bryant Elementary in 1999 where I taught kindergarten for seven years.  After teaching at Bryant, I began teaching Physical Education for the Preschool and Family Center as well as Pattengill Elementary School. I spent five years in that position and this year I am excited to teacher P.E. at the Preschool and Angell Elementary.  

I have an eight year old daughter named Eva, a wonderful wife named Autumn, and a dog named Gracie.  I love being outside doing anything, but tennis is one of my favorites!  I have played and coached tennis for over 25 years,  most recently at Huron Valley Tennis Club where I run the tennis programs.  Stop by and say hi anytime!

Education:  B.S. History/English EMU.  M.A. History EMU.  M.A. Educational Leadership EMU  Ed.S Educational Administration UM.

Hobbies:   Family - wife Myra, son Peter (20)  and daughter Sarah (16), cat Zippy and golden retriever Sandy.  In addition I enjoy reading, winter camping, attending our daughter’s field hockey and tennis meets, home improvement projects, seasonal golf and skiing, and old trucks (currently an unrestored but very functional 1953 Willys Overland pickup. )  For the past several summers, I have worked with families who live in Tijuana, Mexico and inner-city Detroit.    I have served on various boards including the UM Alumni Board of Directors, and the Washtenaw Interclub Swimming Conference.

Length of Service: 30+ years.  Principal at Angell the last two years.  I taught English, and social studies at Scarlett Intermediate School.  I served as a principal at Clague, Scarlett, Slauson and Tappan middle schools.

Education: Texas A & M University, BA 1991; University of Michigan, MA 2000.

Hobbies: Travel, Tennis, Academic Games (advising/coaching 'the math team'), Reading, recently taken up Surfing...

Professional Strengths: Mathematics education; co-teaching mulitage students; encouraging academic risk, collaboration, and personal responsibility creatively and openly.

Service in Education: 10 years in elementary classrooms; 8 years on AAPS Mathematics Advisory; 8 years coaching/advising AAPS Academic Games teams, including 6 State Championship titles; 3 years on the Michigan League of Academic Games Executive Board; varying stints on advisory panels for the Michigan State Board of Education in Mathematics Ed, as well as a past Teacher Advisor for the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum.

After completing my BS in Elementary Education with a Science major at EMU, I worked as a building substitute and taught a reading class in Garden City for two years. I moved with my husband to San Antonio, TX, where I taught Middle School Science for three years. After taking a break to start a family and moving back to Michigan, I began working on a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education while volunteering in my children's schools. I went back to substitute teaching in Washtenaw county and was recently hired as a Teaching Assistant at Angell. When I'm not working, I enjoy camping and going to Lake Michigan with my family. I also love reading, swimming, working on my home and yard, playing games, and watching youth hockey.

Education: BA in Elementary Education from Eastern Michigan University, 1995. MA in Educational Technology from Eastern Michigan University, 2002.

Strengths: I have a great deal of passion for education and I love the work that I do. I love to design and write curriculum and have worked on many units and projects for the district. I am also passionate about teaching literacy and enjoy watching my students develop their reading and writing skills throughout the year. I served for many years as a Literacy Demonstration teacher in the district and continue to work on a variety of committees to help improve curriculum and instruction. I am currently the Technology Integration Coach for our building and am looking forward to bringing new ideas about 21st century learning into our school. Mostly I just love working with children and the wonderful colleagues at Angell School.

Length of Service in Education: I have taught grades 3-5 in public school for 13 years, the past 10 at Angell. Prior to that I taught preschool and Kindergarten in Ann Arbor for 5 years.

Hobbies: Gardening, baking, reading and spending lots of time with my family!

Joe DeMarsh, instrumental music, was born in Ohio, grew up in metropolitan Detroit and graduated from Seaholm High School. He holds degrees in Music Education and Tuba Performance from the University of Michigan. An instrumental music teacher in public schools since 1981, Mr. DeMarsh has been the orchestra director at Tappan Middle School since 1990 as well as teaching beginners at several Ann Arbor elementary schools at different times. A member of the Flint Symphony Orchestra since 1987, he has been a presenter at the Michigan Music Conference on music technology and is an MSBOA adjudicator.

Education:  B.A. Sociology, The University of Michigan (1992); M.A. Education/Curriculum Development, The University of Michigan (1995).

Hobbies:  Traveling, art/painting, writing, reading

Length of Service in Education:  Fourteen years at Angell School.  I have taught grades 3 and 5.

In March of 2013, I will have been working at Angell for 1 year! I have lived in Ann Arbor for 16 years and was an elementary teacher way back when. I love being at Angell Elementary and meeting the students and their families. I'm still getting to know my way around the office and doing attendance everyday helps me learn some the students' names. The office can be a busy place but talking with the students and helping them are the highlights of my day. I have senior triplets at Pioneer and a 2nd grader at Bryant. Their sports/activities are what keep me busy. I play soccer and if I have a chance I like to read, sew, or go to the movies.

What a pleasure to join the Angell faculty! I attended Angell School as a child as have others in my family, and we all share fond memories of those wonderful years. I am also the media specialist at Wines School.

I began teaching in New York City at the Brearley and Fleming Schools, and later was a private school principal in Portland, Oregon.  Happily, I was able to return to school at the UM to pursue my interests in technology and literature.  I am so happy to be part of the Ann Arbor Schools community!  

I have a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan, an M.A. in English Education from Portland State University, and a M.S. Information, also from the University of Michigan.  Go Blue!

Service in Education: I have been a  teaching assistant in Ann Arbor Public Schools for six years.  I have also worked as  a teacher/counselor at The C.O.P.E. O'Brien Center in Ann Arbor for two years  and  as a child care worker at  The St. Louis School for Boys in Chelsea for two years.

Education: B.A. from Eastern Michigan University, Education K-8 ,Special Education K-12.

I have two sons, both graduates of Pioneer High School, and a daughter who is a student at Slauson  Middle School (a real education).

Hobbies: Genealogy, Poetry, Reading and Gardening.

I love working at Angell School!

The families send us their very best children and they are terrific.  Someday I would love to write a book about all the funny student interactions and the funny things they say to me!

The Angell staff are very committed to providing an excellent education for all of our students and they are a lot of fun to work with each day.

I have been here 23 years and have also worked for the Ann Arbor Public Schools in other capacities including a day treatment program for 16-25 year olds.

Hobbies. Spending time with AJ, my grandson, and Hannah Lou, my granddaughter.  Me, my husband Rick, and our dog Quillan enjoy living on a quiet lake in Chelsea.

I am an Ann Arbor native and I attended Pittsfield, Scarlett and Huron. I have since attended Michigan and Eastern. I am currently taking classes at Concordia. I have been teaching in Ann Arbor for 18 years and prior to that was a swimming coach with the Ann Arbor Swim Club and at Huron High.

I love to spend time with my family. I love the outdoors and I love good food. I also love teaching at Angell school.

Education: Eastern Michigan University, B.A. in Elementary Education (2003); Eastern Michigan University, M.A. in Teacher Education: Reading (2007) 

Interests:  cooking, travel, spinning, piano, spending time with family. 

Strengths: I am a positive and inquisitive person by nature and am always seeking to improve as a professional.  I enjoy collaborating with my colleagues and learning from their strengths. 

Length of Service in Education: Eight years, Ann Arbor Public Schools.

Education: B.S. Elementary education with an early childhood endorsement, Eastern Michigan University. Also, an Ann Arbor Public School graduate from Dicken, Slauson, and Pioneer.

Hobbies: Reading, camping, spending time with my family, watching my children in their sporting events.

Length of Service in Education: Eleven years at Angell and one year as a paraprofessional at Mitchell.

Education: BA from University of Akron, and, MA in Education from Eastern Michigan University.

Before joining the AAPS I was the manager of the Ann Arbor City recreational facilities. Prior to coming to Angell I was a teaching assistant at Tappan Middle School.  It is great to have the opportunity to help students learn new instructional strategies.  I love sports particularly volleyball and field hockey.  I have coached the Tappan Middle School field hockey team for the last 6 years.  They have won the city championship 5 times and they have been the undefeated city champs the last three years in a row.  I am the parent of two Pioneer High School students who will be heading off to college next year. They are the captains of the PHS crew team.

Education: BA (EMU)  in Social Work with an Early Childhood endorsement.

I am delighted to join the Angell staff this year as a teaching assistant for the Kindergarten Transition Program.  I really enjoy working with elementary students helping them develop the skills necessary to be successful learners.
          
We have two children.  Our son is a 4th grader at Lawton.  Our daughter is a junior at Pioneer High.  Both love participating in sports.   Our daughter will be the captain of the PHS golf team next year.

Hobbies: Spending time with family, watching and helping with our children’s sporting events.  I am a big University of Michigan football fan.

Hi, I am the School Social Worker at Angell School.  I have a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in Education, Human Services, and Psychology.  I have a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan.  Before I started working in the Ann Arbor Public Schools (12 years ago) I was a therapist and worked at the Psychiatric Emergency Services at the University of Michigan Hospital.  I have done outpatient therapy with children and adults and have been involved in research as well. 

I enjoy quietness, cooking, and the outdoors.  I also enjoy children, especially the children that attend Angell School.  Some of my favorite moments in the past two years have been those moments spent helping children work and play together using skills of patience, kindness, and good problem solving.

Education: The University of Michigan, B.M. in Music Education (1997); The University of Michigan, M.M. in Music Education (2009). 

Interests:  running, reading, cooking, traveling, listening to music, playing piano, spending time with my eight year old daughter. 

Strengths: I am an energetic and positive person with great enthusiasm for children and making music. I believe the feeling of community at Angell is unique and it is nurtured through music making and our appreciation of the arts. Our community gives students an excellent foundation which will help them become intelligent, compassionate members of a global society. 

Education: M.S. in Consumer Economics, University of Maryland; B.A. in Communications, University of Illinois.

Interests: Traveling, music, bicycling, spending time with my family.

Length of Service in Education: Fourteen years at Angell.

Education: Digital Video Film Production, CFVID Certification, WCC-2004.  Administration & Leadership, Concordia University-1996.

Hobbies:  Though not technically “a hobby” my husband, Michael, is the person I most enjoy spending time with when not at work.  Where Michael goes so goes our Australian Terrier, Katie (she won two blue ribbons at “puppy school”).  We also have two cats: Veronica (a calico) and Kokomo (a butterscotch-colored Maine Coon cat whom we rescued).  I also enjoy producing video biographies—the blending of personal interviews, photographs, family film, music and personal narration, then burning the production onto a DVD.

Length of Service: 10-years as a Technical Assistant for the Ann Arbor Public Schools; 6-years at Pioneer High School, and 4-years in the Tappan Cluster of Schools (Tappan Middle School and Angell, Bryant, Burns Park and Pattengill Elementary Schools).

Initially I was a lunchroom supervisor at Mitchell Elementary School.  I have been the noon hour supervisor at Angell for the past 12 plus years. I enjoy meeting the students and helping them learn how to navigate the cafeteria.  I am responsible for making sure the students are supervised on the playgrounds and have the play equipment necessary to have fun during the mid day lunch time.

My own children are graduates of the Ann Arbor Public Schools and I am the proud grandmother of six.

My hobbies include traveling and touring with England and Hawaii as my favorite destinations.  I also like spending time with my family.

I received my bachelor degree from Eastern Michigan University. My majors are in Biology and Physical Education. For the past fourteen years I have been teaching elementary physical education in the Ann Arbor Schools, mostly at Bach Elementary School.

I am married to Theresa (Seeger) Thompson and have two sons and one beautiful granddaughter. Family is very important to me.

My hobby is clay shooting of all types.

Being a media specialist allows me to share my passion for reading and books while helping students develop skills as 21st Century learners and users of technology. I have my BS in Education and School Libraries from EMU and my MSLS from the UofM. I enjoy UM football, kayaking,quilting, gardening,traveling and learning about new cultures, and of course reading! This is a photo from a recent visit to Rome. My husband Bob and I have 2 sons and 2 grandsons.

Education: I have a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in Teaching a Foreign Language from Eastern Michigan.

Length of Service: I have been teaching Spanish in the Ann Arbor Public Schools since 1988. I began my career at Huron and then moved to Tappan. Currently I am the fifth grade Spanish teacher at Angell, Abbot, Pattengill, Thurston and Northside.

Professional Strengths: I am very excited to be part of the team designing the curriculum for this new program and hope that my years teaching middle school Spanish will help with articulation from fifth to sixth grade. I am intrigued by how people learn and am constantly striving to improve my teaching based on best instructional practice as supported by current research. I am especially committed to teaching to my students' individual learning styles. I believe that I need to make my students feel valued and loved, while at the same time holding them to high expectations. I am keenly aware that parents send their children to me every day, and that I need to care for them and educate them to the best of my ability.

Hobbies: I think I used to have them before my four children came along! My main hobby these days is driving them to their various activities and cheering them on. In my (very little!) free time I enjoy vegetarian cooking and crossword puzzles. When the kids are a bit older, I look forward to traveling again, especially to Spanish-speaking countries.

I am pleased to work at Angell Elementary.  I am willing to go beyond the call of duty in order to help make the school beautiful.  I am outgoing and eager to help anyone.  I like children.  I am married and have 9 grandchildren and I love to spend time with them.  In the early 1980's I began working for the school district part time.  I retired from my position at the UM and have been full time with the Ann Arbor Public Schools the last several years.  Hobbies: I am pretty handy at repairing and fixing items.  I am an avid bow hunter and participate in bow competitions using moving 3D targets.  I enjoy fishing and classic cars.  Jazz and blues are my favorite kinds of music. I attended Northside, Abbott, Forsythe and am a graduate of Pioneer High.

Education:  BA Child Development, Ohio Wesleyan University. BSNursing, Medical College of Virginia; MA Counseling Psychology, Trinity International University.

Hobbies:  walking, swimming, skiing, sculpting, spending time with family

Strengths:  Beyond direct care experience in pediatrics at UMich Hospitals, I combine my child development, counseling and medical backgrounds to help students to be ready to learn.

Length of service:  9 years of school nursing with AAPS.

Education: M.A. in Elementary Education, Teachers College, Columbia University; B.A. in Geology, Hamilton College; M.A. in K-12 administration, Michigan State University.

Hobbies: ultimate frisbee, gardening, enjoying time with my family.

Strengths: I have a strong background in science and mathematics, and I bring that knowledge to the elementary classroom. I enjoy learning, and work to foster that same curiosity in my students. I work collaboratively with my fellow teachers to help improve curriculum and instruction in all subject areas.

Length of Service in Education:  Eleven years - five years in New York City independent schools, six years in Ann Arbor Public Schools. 

Education:  BS in Elementary Education, Science concentration, Eastern Michigan University, 1987.  MS in Environmental Education, Nova Southeastern University, 2007.

Hobbies: Poker, reading, hockey, softball, kayaking, travel.

Strengths:  I have a strong interest in Science and the natural world, and I have enthusiasm for teaching and learning that hasn't waned in all these years.  I try to make learning fun.

Length of Service in Ed:  25 years: 1 year cafeteria manager, 2 years vocational instructor at High Point; 1 year substitute teaching at Ann Arbor; 21 years teaching 3rd, 4th and 5th grade at Angell.