The Clarkston community welcomes eight new teachers to its elementary, middle, and junior high schools. They include teachers fresh from college as well as experienced veterans from other districts:
Melissa Dunham is DOLLS Lead Teacher at Early Childhood Center. DOLLS stands for Development Of Language and Learning.
‘I work with the whole family,? Dunham said. ‘It gives kidsa better chance, helps them be successful thoughout life.?
Dunham earned her high school diploma at Forest Hills Central High School of Grand Rapids, bachelor’s degree in special education at Michigan State University,and master’s degree in reading and language arts, early childhood endorsement, at Oakland University.
She taught with East Lansing and Okemos public schools, and at Hans Christian Andersen Elementary School in Chicago.
She enjoys traveling, reading, biking, movies, her dog, trying out new restaurants, and baking. She grew up in Grand Rapids and moved to Chicago after graduating from MSU.
‘I spent five years living and working in Chicago and in that time all of my immediate family moved there as well,? Dunham said. ‘I miss my family and the city terribly, but I am a Michigan girl at heart.?
She moved to Clarkston two years ago with her husband, Andrew, who works for Philips in automotive lighting.
‘We both enjoy traveling together and are always planning our next trip,? she said. ‘I am thrilled to be joining Clarkston schools.?
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Andrea Molina is a Learning Resource Center teacher at Clarkston and Pine Knob elementary schools.
‘It’s awesome to have the opportunity to work with kids and impact their lives in a positive way everyday,? Molina said.
She went to Waterford Mott High School and Western Michigan University, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in special education and elementary education.
She student taught in Farmington and Clarkston school districts.
‘I love volleyball, rollerblading and fishing,? she said. ‘Music and singing are also a passion of mine. One of my favorite things to do is sit around a campfire with friends and family and a bag of marshmellows.?
She is preparing for her wedding next summer and fixing up the house into which she and her fiance Henry will move.
‘This will be a very busy and exciting year for me in many aspects of my life,? she said.
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Megan Little teaches K-1 ASD at Bailey Lake Elementary School.
In high school, she played the cello in the orchestra, bass drum in marching band, earned a technical theatre award, and worked on the yearbook. She taught in Grand Ledge and Portland, Mich.
Hobbies include playing the cello, playing with her children, reading a good book, listening to music, and working on handy projects.
In Grand Ledge, she helped develop and build a program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and has been very involved with Start Project and local RCN (CRAN) special education programs.
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Carolyn Leuenhagen teaches kindergarten at Springfield Plains Elementary.
At Blue Valley High School in Stanley, Kansas, she ran cross country and track, and was a member of National Honor Society and Kansas Scholar.
She attended the University of Illinois, earning a bachelor of science degree in accountancy ad master’s degree in education.
‘I really wanted to work with children, making connections with them,? Little said.
She taught in Plymouth-Canton elementary schools.
She enjoys running, waterskiiing, playing piano, and spending time with family.
Her husband, Brian, is an engineer for General Motors, and their three children attend Clarkston schools.
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Mark Magni teaches Language Arts at Clarkston Junior High School.
‘I had a teacher in high school who opened up a lot of doors for me,? Magni said. ‘I want to try to do the same thing for my kids.?
He was in drama and jazz band at Sterling Heights Stevenson High School, and earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts at Wayne State.
He student taught at Dakota High School in Chippewa Valley, and taught at the Arts Academy in the Woods, a charter high school.
He enjoys reading, watching the Tigers, Lions, Pistons, and Red Wings, and spending time with his wife, Allison, and their baby son, Sam.
They were married in Lake Orion and had their reception in the backyard of her parents? home in Clarkston.
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Lorianne Snook is an 8th-grade LRC teacher at Clarkston Junior High School.
As a student at Marion High School, she was on the varsity ski team, First Honors, SADD, and volleyball. Honors at Eastern Michigan Univeristy included Student Honors Association, Dean’s List all four years, and Regent’s Scholar.
She taught at Spring Mill Elementary in Huron Valley and Sashabaw Middle School.
She enjoys downhill skiing, reading, and shopping.
She grew up in Clarkston, attending North Sashabaw and Bailey Lake elementary schools.
‘In eighth grade, I was a student aide in the special education program ? that made me want to be a special education teacher,? Snook said. ‘The kids are inspirational ? they work really hard.?
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Michelle Simonson is a seventh-grade LRC teacher at Sashabaw Middle School.
She is a graduate of Clarkston schools and Oakland University.
‘A teacher at Bailey Lake Elementary was phenominal ? she inspired me,? Simonson said. ‘I’m thrilled to be back in the Clarkston district. It’s awesome.?
Her husband, Mike, works as an engineer for Ingersol Rand in Rochester Hills.
‘We now live in Oxford with our Golden Retriever Buddy and car Tigger,? she said. ‘We love being outdoors camping, hiking, and mountain biking. We spend a lot of time traveling on the weekends and during the summer months to mountain bike races all over the country.?
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Staci Leitner teaches sixth-grade social studies at Sashabaw Middle School.
‘I like learning, and I enjoy sharing that with kids,? Leitner said.
She graduated from Waterford Kettering and Oakland University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She made the Dean’s List ?04-?07 and taught in the City Critters program at Detroit Zoo.
She student taught at Burt Elementary in Waterford.
She enjoys gardening, reading, sports, and animals, she said.
‘I visit the zoo at least three times a year,? she said.