The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Teacher makes cut
Stephanie Moore among state's Teacher of the Year finalists
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 1, 2008
Stephanie Moore wanted to become a teacher because she liked big sticks of chalk.
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She knew what she wanted to do from the day her father brought home a large blackboard from a school that was being demolished and she made her younger sister sit in the basement while she pretended to be a third-grade teacher.
"When I'm a teacher," she thought then, "I can use all the big chalk I want."
Now she is that third-grade teacher, and last month was named one of five finalists for the Michigan Teacher of the Year Award.
The Symons Elementary School teacher was nominated by a parent and was bowled over to learn of the nomination in October, when she received a letter from State Superintendent Mike Flannagan.
"I don't even know if I'm the best teacher in my hallway, let alone the state of Michigan," Moore said.
But she decided that if someone took the time to honor her with the nomination, she should at least follow complete the process.
She prepared 22 pages of an autobiography and essays that described her educational history, professional development activities, philosophy of teaching and thoughts on emerging trends and issues.
In March, she learned she was a regional finalist and then around 5:30 p.m. April 13, Moore's cell phone rang.
She was, appropriately enough, in her classroom.
The call was to inform her she was a state finalist.
At 32, she is the youngest of the finalists and the only elementary teacher. Moore started teaching at Symons eight years ago after she and her husband, Andy, a basketball coach at Bowling Green University, moved to Michigan from Pennsylvania.
Moore received a bachelor's degree in special and elementary education from California University of Pennsylvania, where played softball on a scholarship and won two national championships.
She joined the district as a special education teacher and moved into general education three years ago as classrooms became more inclusive.
Teaching is the most rewarding career she can imagine, she said.
"I have this opportunity to touch a life," she said. "I really feel that if I can light one candle, it will go on to light other candles."
Nancy Tetens, principal at Symons Elementary School, said Moore is a remarkable teacher.
"One of the best traits Stephanie possesses is her ability to work with any child, show them how much she cares, and do whatever is necessary to allow for their success," Tetens said. "She also brings humor and fun into her classroom, and students really love her."
It is not always easy, however, because Moore becomes emotionally invested in her students' academics and personal development. There are challenges that come with passion.
"I get so invested in my kids and when things happen I can't make better, it's difficult," Moore said. "There's a lot of tears. "I mean, I knew I loved kids in the beginning, but I never knew how much."
If she is named Michigan Teacher of the Year, Moore will be responsible for representing the state at national conferences and will make monthly trips to Lansing to advise the State Board of Education. She also will travel around the state as a keynote speaker at events.
"I envision myself in the role of being a voice for teachers and students," Moore said. "My theme will be how to meet the needs of all students and providing opportunities of professional development to teachers."
The selection committee is expected to make its choice later this month or possibly early June. The other finalists include seventh-grade English teacher Jennifer Haberling of Hudsonville Public Schools; Robert Martonen, a biology teacher at Kingsford High School; Judith Nixon, who teaches Spanish and Japanese at Eaton Rapids High School; and social studies teacher Mark Oglesby from Howell Public Schools.
Moore is excited by the recognition and opportunities her being named Michigan Teacher of the Year might bring the school district.
"I don't want to win this for me," she said, "I want to win this for Milan."
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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