Okemos Education Foundation

2004 RECIPIENTS OF "COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE" AWARD

Phil Aho has been a part of the Okemos school district for ten years. He taught fifth grade first at Hiawatha, then at Wardcliff. Now in his seventh year at Kinawa, Phil teaches, coaches basketball, and is the computer coordinator. Phil’s classes include computer technology, newspaper, and video production. He was instrumental in starting the video production class at Kinawa to introduce students to claymation, and other video production skills. This is Phil's fifth season coaching girls’ basketball, and sixth with boys.
In his early years with Okemos, Phil spent five summers as co-director of Roeper Summer Day Camp in Bloomfield Hills. Phil earned both his B.S. and his master's degree at M.S.U. He resides in East Lansing with his wife, Betsy, and their 2-year-old daughter.

Paula Pulter has been teaching first grade at Cornell Elementary School for six years. Prior to teaching in Okemos, she taught second grade and pre-kindergarten for eleven years in Oklahoma City. Paula has worked on various school committees, and currently serves on Cornell’s School Improvement Team and the district’s Language Arts Committee. She is also serving as a member of the Literacy Team on the Teachers for a New Era project at M.S.U.. The purpose of this project is to create a national model for teacher education as a university-wide process.
Paula earned her B.A. degree in elementary education and learning disabilities from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is presently working on her M.A. in Literacy instruction at M.S.U. She and her husband Dan reside in Haslett with their two children.

Jan Burchman teaches orchestra at both Chippewa and Kinawa. She has a bachelor’s degree in music from Uof M, and a master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, with emphasis on Suzuki method, from M.S.U.
Jan began her career in Okemos in 1974, teaching 5th grade strings and violin in our Suzuki Program. She regularly lectures in music education classes at M.S.U. and is a guest clinician for MSBOA workshops and Suzuki workshops throughout Michigan. Jan is a member of MSBOA, American String Teachers Association w/National School Orchestra and Suzuki Association of the Americas. She has served as both secretary and treasurer of the Michigan chapter of ASTA w/NSOA. Jan was awarded the “Michigan Orchestra Teacher of the Year” by MSBOA in 1998. She and her husband, Tom, live in Okemos where their two children attended Okemos Schools.

Dempsey Scott has been a counselor at Okemos High School since 1973. Previously he taught American Literature and Bible at a private Christian High School in Nashville, Tennessee. Dempsey earned his bachelor's degree in English from David Lipscomb University in Nashville and his M. A. and Ed.S. degrees in counseling from Michigan State University.
Dempsey is married to Jennifer Scott who teaches in the DeWitt Schools. Their son lives in Oregon and daughter in Vermont. Dempsey and Jennifer travel often to opposite sides of our country to visit grandchildren.
Dempsey is active in the Men's Ministry of the Meridian Christian Church. His past-time activities include the restoration of a one hundred and twenty-five year old cottage in Bay View, Michigan.

John Hood is the principal of Wardcliff Elementary School, and was formerly the principal at Edgewood Elementary School.
Prior to his administrative experiences, John taught 6th and 7th grade language arts and social studies at Chippewa Middle School. He co-directed five middle school musicals and the Okemos High School production of Hello Dolly. In 2001, he was recognized by the Towne Courier as Teacher of the Year.
In 1995, John earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Michigan State University and was named an Outstanding Senior and Spartan of the Year. He completed his master’s degree in K-12 Educational Administration at M.S.U. in 1999.
John and his wife Kristen have been married for six years and are expecting their first child in March.

Ross A. Vandercook has been the principal of Hiawatha Elementary for the past fourteen years. Before joining the Okemos school district, Ross was principal in Saline and also was principal and taught in Leslie. Ross earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State, his master’s degree in counseling from Wayne State, and his educational specialist degree in administration from Central Michigan.
Ross has taught classes in collaborative teaming, workshop way, and assertive discipline. He was principal of the first all-inclusive school in the state of Michigan in Saline. He is a long time member of the Michigan Elementary Principals’ Association.
Ross and his wife, Susan, a Jackson County probate judge, live at Pleasant Lake and have two children. Ross enjoys spending time with his family and golfing.

John Lanzetta has been an administrator at Okemos High School for over 25 years. Before becoming assistant principal at Okemos High School in 1979, he taught history and government at Harrison High School in Farmington, Michigan.
John received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Detroit in 1967, and a master’s degree in political science from U. of M.. His Ph.D. in school administration was conferred by the University of Michigan in 1979.
In 1996, John was named Principal of the Year by the Michigan Association of Student Councils. He was nominated for this award by Okemos High School students.
John’s wife, Katherine, teaches at Hiawatha Elementary School. His son attends Wheaton College in Chicago, and his daughter attends Okemos High School.

Becky Ward is the reading consultant at Hiawatha Elementary School. She received her B.S. from Slippery Rock University and her master’s degree from M.S.U. Previous to her 20 years teaching in Okemos, she taught at the elementary, high school, adult education, and community college levels.
As the reading consultant, Becky works with kindergarten through fifth grade children, their teachers, and parents. Becky has served on many curriculum committees and is on Hiawatha’s school improvement team. She conducts staff inservices, holds two book fairs each year, and runs Junior Great Books at lunch time. Becky has obtained grants from the OEF for nationally known author visits for all Okemos elementary students.
Becky and her husband, Bob, raised their two daughters in the Okemos schools and now reside in Williamston.

Martha Puente has been with Okemos Public Schools since 1985. A proud part of Chippewa Middle School, she teaches Language Arts and Spanish. She received her B.A. in Applied Linguistics at Católica University in Quito, Ecuador where she lived for eight years. After returning to Michigan, she completed her M.A. at M.S.U..
Martha has been involved in various school projects and committees, and currently serves on the Building Planning Team at Chippewa. In '01, '02, and '03 she participated in the Red Cedar Writing Project at M.S.U.. This is a national writing project that promotes writing and best practices in the teaching of writing. Martha continues to be involved in the Red Cedar project through offshoot programs and the Teachers as Writers group. She is also an active member of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English.
Martha lives with her family in East Lansing.

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	Phil Aho has been a part of the Okemos school district for ten years. He taught fifth grade first at Hiawatha, then at Wardcliff. Now in his seventh year at Kinawa, Phil teaches, coaches basketball, and is the computer coordinator. Phil’s classes include computer technology, newspaper, and video production. He was instrumental in starting the video production class at Kinawa to introduce students to claymation, and other video production skills. This is Phil's fifth season coaching girls’ basketball, and sixth with boys. In his early years with Okemos, Phil spent five summers as co-director of Roeper Summer Day Camp in Bloomfield Hills. Phil earned both his B.S. and his master's degree at M.S.U. He resides in East Lansing with his wife, Betsy, and their 2-year-old daughter.		Paula Pulter has been teaching first grade at Cornell Elementary School for six years. Prior to teaching in Okemos, she taught second grade and pre-kindergarten for eleven years in Oklahoma City. Paula has worked on various school committees, and currently serves on Cornell’s School Improvement Team and the district’s Language Arts Committee. She is also serving as a member of the Literacy Team on the Teachers for a New Era project at M.S.U.. The purpose of this project is to create a national model for teacher education as a university-wide process. Paula earned her B.A. degree in elementary education and learning disabilities from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is presently working on her M.A. in Literacy instruction at M.S.U. She and her husband Dan reside in Haslett with their two children.

	Jan Burchman teaches orchestra at both Chippewa and Kinawa. She has a bachelor’s degree in music from Uof M, and a master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, with emphasis on Suzuki method, from M.S.U. Jan began her career in Okemos in 1974, teaching 5th grade strings and violin in our Suzuki Program. She regularly lectures in music education classes at M.S.U. and is a guest clinician for MSBOA workshops and Suzuki workshops throughout Michigan. Jan is a member of MSBOA, American String Teachers Association w/National School Orchestra and Suzuki Association of the Americas. She has served as both secretary and treasurer of the Michigan chapter of ASTA w/NSOA. Jan was awarded the “Michigan Orchestra Teacher of the Year” by MSBOA in 1998. She and her husband, Tom, live in Okemos where their two children attended Okemos Schools.		Dempsey Scott has been a counselor at Okemos High School since 1973. Previously he taught American Literature and Bible at a private Christian High School in Nashville, Tennessee. Dempsey earned his bachelor's degree in English from David Lipscomb University in Nashville and his M. A. and Ed.S. degrees in counseling from Michigan State University. Dempsey is married to Jennifer Scott who teaches in the DeWitt Schools. Their son lives in Oregon and daughter in Vermont. Dempsey and Jennifer travel often to opposite sides of our country to visit grandchildren. Dempsey is active in the Men's Ministry of the Meridian Christian Church. His past-time activities include the restoration of a one hundred and twenty-five year old cottage in Bay View, Michigan.

	John Hood is the principal of Wardcliff Elementary School, and was formerly the principal at Edgewood Elementary School. Prior to his administrative experiences, John taught 6th and 7th grade language arts and social studies at Chippewa Middle School. He co-directed five middle school musicals and the Okemos High School production of Hello Dolly. In 2001, he was recognized by the Towne Courier as Teacher of the Year. In 1995, John earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Michigan State University and was named an Outstanding Senior and Spartan of the Year. He completed his master’s degree in K-12 Educational Administration at M.S.U. in 1999. John and his wife Kristen have been married for six years and are expecting their first child in March.		Ross A. Vandercook has been the principal of Hiawatha Elementary for the past fourteen years. Before joining the Okemos school district, Ross was principal in Saline and also was principal and taught in Leslie. Ross earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State, his master’s degree in counseling from Wayne State, and his educational specialist degree in administration from Central Michigan. Ross has taught classes in collaborative teaming, workshop way, and assertive discipline. He was principal of the first all-inclusive school in the state of Michigan in Saline. He is a long time member of the Michigan Elementary Principals’ Association. Ross and his wife, Susan, a Jackson County probate judge, live at Pleasant Lake and have two children. Ross enjoys spending time with his family and golfing.

	John Lanzetta has been an administrator at Okemos High School for over 25 years. Before becoming assistant principal at Okemos High School in 1979, he taught history and government at Harrison High School in Farmington, Michigan. John received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Detroit in 1967, and a master’s degree in political science from U. of M.. His Ph.D. in school administration was conferred by the University of Michigan in 1979. In 1996, John was named Principal of the Year by the Michigan Association of Student Councils. He was nominated for this award by Okemos High School students. John’s wife, Katherine, teaches at Hiawatha Elementary School. His son attends Wheaton College in Chicago, and his daughter attends Okemos High School.		Becky Ward is the reading consultant at Hiawatha Elementary School. She received her B.S. from Slippery Rock University and her master’s degree from M.S.U. Previous to her 20 years teaching in Okemos, she taught at the elementary, high school, adult education, and community college levels. As the reading consultant, Becky works with kindergarten through fifth grade children, their teachers, and parents. Becky has served on many curriculum committees and is on Hiawatha’s school improvement team. She conducts staff inservices, holds two book fairs each year, and runs Junior Great Books at lunch time. Becky has obtained grants from the OEF for nationally known author visits for all Okemos elementary students. Becky and her husband, Bob, raised their two daughters in the Okemos schools and now reside in Williamston.

	Martha Puente has been with Okemos Public Schools since 1985. A proud part of Chippewa Middle School, she teaches Language Arts and Spanish. She received her B.A. in Applied Linguistics at Católica University in Quito, Ecuador where she lived for eight years. After returning to Michigan, she completed her M.A. at M.S.U.. Martha has been involved in various school projects and committees, and currently serves on the Building Planning Team at Chippewa. In '01, '02, and '03 she participated in the Red Cedar Writing Project at M.S.U.. This is a national writing project that promotes writing and best practices in the teaching of writing. Martha continues to be involved in the Red Cedar project through offshoot programs and the Teachers as Writers group. She is also an active member of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English. Martha lives with her family in East Lansing.