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Founders Day Celebration Honors Parents, Teachers, Support Staff

The annual event recognized those who engaged, inspired and achieved Berkley School District students.

Libby Turpin, Neighbor

Posted Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 3:35 am ET|Updated Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 3:19 am ET

The Founders Day Celebration hosted by the Parent Teacher Student Association on Wednesday lived up to its theme of Engage, Inspire and Achieve.

The banquet room at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Warren, packed with a crowd of more than 150 PTSA members, was astir with positive energy.

PTSA president Amy Valesano, who chaired the council that organized the celebration, said she values the strong parental involvement within Berkley schools.

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Working hand in hand with the PTA is something principal Beth Krehbiel also said she values. “They are our lifeline to all the children,” Krehbiel said. “We couldn’t offer the extras if we did not have our PTA.”

Berkley Board of Education President Marc Katz and Superintendent Michael Simeck greeted attendees with a plea to contact their legislative representatives to voice their concerns about Gov. Rick Snyder's proposed school funding budget cuts.

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Using the captivated crowd as a venue to send his message, Simeck said: “Schools should be the last place that we, as a society, should cut funding.”

Katz went a step further. “I invite everyone to come bang on some doors in Lansing with me,” he said.

Six out of seven of the board members were present to offer support; Mary Jo Israel was out of town and unable to attend.

The Founders Day awards honor an educator, a support staff member and a PTA member within each of the Berkley schools. The PTSA in each school as well as the entire school community can nominate a member for each award. The Founders Day Council committee in each school then selects a recipient. Norup bases its recipient on number of nominees for each person. The other schools compile a list of the nominees and base their recipient on examples of service provided throughout the year.

Anderson Middle School principal Vince Gigliotti, Wednesday's jovial presenter, turned the crowd's attention back to the award recipients. He took stacks of nomination letters and turned them into an honorary introduction speech for each recipient, leaving the crowd inspired. Each award recipient then was presented with a collection of letters, notes and mementos illustrating why their school community chose to honor them.

The recipients were grateful to be honored.

math teacher Andrew Meloche said the recognition isn't what makes his job satisfying. “I love the diversity,” Meloche said. “I love the wide range of religions, cultures and races. It makes my job interesting.”

Overall, the annual Founders Day celebration engaged a community dedicated to inspiring young minds. As Barb Blanchard said: “There is no other group to speak for our kids.”

Read on for a complete list of Founders Day winners: