During the 2023-2024 school year, more than 1400 students with disabilities, birth through age 26, are supported by the West Shore ESD and local school districts in Lake, Mason, and Oceana Counties.
To annually recognize our community's outstanding agencies, businesses, and individuals who go above and beyond to enhance the educational opportunities for students with exceptional needs, the ESD's Special Education Parent Advisory Committee sponsored its annual "Make a Difference Award" banquet and ceremony on Monday, May 13, at West Shore Community College.
This is the 9th year for this event.
Susan Hall was the 2024 keynote speaker.
She is an English teacher at Hart High School and her 24-year-old son, Tom, is a student in the ESD's Horizons Program.
Susan's keynote was titled A Tale of Two Mothers and she starkly contrasted the difficult and lonely life of a mother and her exceptional needs child prior to the 1975 passage of inclusive Special Education legislation with the more inviting and uplifting school experiences available for her son today.
After the keynote, 44 award winners were spotlighted and received plaques. This increased the total number of award winners over the last 9 years to 194.
Congratulations to these outstanding individuals, agencies, and businesses for "Making A Difference" this school year!
Here are the winners in each category.
Support Staff
Kim Weinert
Liane Drier
Kim Mickevich
Jennifer Tyndall
Alayne Speltz
Tori Cameron
Melissa Merrill
Kathy Dodds
Chelsea Miszewski
General Education Teacher
Michelle McCulley
John Russell
Cherie Coleman
Eric Stevens
Lindsey Boyd
Melanie Hargreaves
David Smith
Roger Bailey
Fountain Child Development Center Staff
Todd Graham
Parent/Community Member
Chris Bosse
Representative Curt VanderWall
Peer Support
Bode Powell
Elijah McFaul
Ancillary Staff
Michael Leikert
Jennifer Taranko
Dustin Webb
Stephanie Hart
Tracy Wardle
Heather Dennis
Special Education Teacher
Larry Lynch
Nancy Carder
Nicole Paul
Administration
Jessica Danielson
Troy Moran
Chris Etchison
Dana Kessell
Craig Barter
Ashela Trevino
Paula Jerry
Agency or Business
Lyrin Malburg, Wildflower Spa Co.
Jason & Stephanie Maralt, ProMaster Cleaning & Restoration
Dr. Jacob Seng, Northstar Fitness
Nate & Nicki Peterson, Backstage Hobbies & Games
Emily Garland, Mason County District Library
Thank you to the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee
Laurie Hertzler, Hart Public Schools
Melissa Mutton, Ludington Area School District
Stephanie Stakenas, Mason County Central Schools
Andrea Herrema, Mason County Eastern Schools
Elizabeth Schmeiding, Shelby Public Schools
Jennifer Latimer, West Shore ESD
April Beckman, West Shore ESD SEPAC Facilitator