2008 Commitment to Excellence Award Recipients

Bob Cooley, 2008 "Commitment to Excellence" Award Recipient

Bob CooleyBob Cooley is the Physical Education Specialist at Bennett Woods and Central Elementary. His teaching career began over 40 years ago when he became Okemos Public School's first elementary physical educator. Bob currently Co-chairs the K-12 Physical Education Core Curriculum and serves on a number of committees throughout the district. He also coaches a Jump Rope Demonstration Team.

Bob received his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, Biology and Health Education, and master's degrees in Counseling and Guidance, as well as Educational Specialist in Curriculum Development from Michigan State University. He has made numerous professional development presentations at the local, state and national levels. He was on the steering committee that wrote the current grade level expectations in physical education for the State of Michigan. In 2004, he was named Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year for the State of Michigan by the Michigan Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. He resides in Delta Township with his wife MaryAnne. They have two sons, Matt and Mitch, and seven fantastic grandchildren.

Frank DeWald, 2008 "Commitment to Excellence" Award Recipient

Frank DeWaldFrank K. DeWald earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Michigan State University. He has taught vocal music in the Okemos Public Schools since 1973. He has also directed the Okemos Community Church Chancel Choir, the Louisiana All-State Choir, the Lansing Opera Company Chorus, the MSU Youth Music Choir and Summer Chorale, the Montana AA Choral Festival and four Michigan School Vocal Music Association Honors Choirs (in 1987, 1993, 1997 and 2004).

Frank also acts as a clinician and adjudicator throughout Michigan. He has composed numerous choral works for church and school, incidental music for plays and six full-length children's musicals. In 1995 Mr. DeWald was named "Teacher of the Year" by the Michigan School Vocal Music Association.

Frank enjoys spending time at home in Haslett with his wife Ingrid, their two cats, his huge CD collection and the beautiful scenery of Lake Lansing.

MaryAnn Latta, 2008 "Commitment to Excellence" Recipient

MaryAnn Latta currently teaches 2nd grade at Bennett Woods Elementary School. She joined the Bennett Woods staff in 2004 after teaching at Cornell Elementary School for 26 years. She has taught kindergarten through fourth grade and thoroughly enjoys the challenges and opportunities presented by students in the early elementary grades. In addition to her current teaching assignment, she also serves as the Instructional Technology Representative for Bennett Woods. She truly appreciates the team approach that she experiences at Bennett Woods and sharing new developments in instructional technology with the staff.

MaryAnn is a graduate of Michigan State University where her focus of study was child development, elementary education, and learning disabilities. She greatly enjoys finding new ways of integrating technology into her classroom instruction as well as mentoring numerous MSU interns.

MaryAnn and her husband Bill have lived in the Okemos schools area for over 30 years and have two sons who have graduated from the Okemos Schools.

Rosemary Buscetta, 2008 "Commitment to Excellence" Award Recipient

Rosemary BuscettaRosemary Buscetta has been the Library and Media Center Specialist at Bennett Woods Elementary School since March of 2000. She finds the work particularly rewarding and is pleased to have made a significant impact on the library collection through partnership with parents, and the Gift-A-Book Program.

Before coming to Bennett Woods, she worked for three years as the Secretary to the Enrichment and Senior Citizen Coordinator at Okemos Community Education, and several years substituting in various school offices and libraries. While at Bennett Woods she has served on various committees, including the School Improvement Team and the Technology committee. As an Okemos parent, she was an active volunteer in the classroom, PTO and Band Boosters.

Rosemary has a two year Legal Secretarial Degree from the Detroit College of Business. She is married to Jim Buscetta. In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening, hiking, yoga, Tai Chi and spending time in Northern Michigan.

Don Mowry, 2008 "Commitment to Excellence" Recipient

Don MowryDon Mowry is a third grade teacher at Cornell Elementary School. He is in his tenth year of teaching in the Okemos Public Schools and has absolutely loved every minute of it. He has also taught fourth grade at Cornell for seven years. Don's main focuses in teaching are to make every student want to be involved and also to be personally responsible for his/her learning.

Don has been an active volunteer in the district helping out with report cards, technology and other various committees. He has led both the Cornell Student Council and the Safety Patrol for many years, helping to develop leadership qualities in the students of Cornell Elementary.

Don has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in K-12 Administration from Michigan State University, and is continually adding to his education by working on 2-4 classes per year. Don and his wife of thirty years, Ruth, are enjoying life in the country, and also love to travel to faraway places. They have two children who are both living on the East Coast.

Eric Staib, 2008 "Commitment to Excellence" Award Recipient

Eric StaibEric Staib has been helping students at Central and Wardcliff Elementary Schools find their artistic selves for the last six years. His work with students can be seen hanging in the Okemos Administration Building. His personal work has been featured at the MSU College of Education, and in 2006, he received the prestigious Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Power of Art Educators Award, which recognizes the top art educators in the United States.

Eric overcame dyslexia and is now a sought-after inspirational speaker. He has been the key note speaker for the Michigan Dyslexic Institute summer camp, and was guest speaker at the 2008 National Council of Teachers of English in San Antonio, Texas, and other events.

Eric lives in St. Johns with his wife Jackie, daughter Isabel and son Isaac. He received a B.A. from MSU in interdisciplinary humanities, and a post-graduate certification in art education from Saginaw Valley State University.