West Ottawa teacher named Regional Teacher of the Year
Sentinel Staff
HOLLAND TWP. A teacher from West Ottawa’s Macatawa Bay Middle School was named a Regional Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Department of Education.
Theresa Ziegler, a social studies teacher at Macatawa Bay, was recognized as the Region 3 Teacher of the Year, and is now one of 10 finalists for the statewide honor.
One teacher is selected from each of the state’s 10 regions. Region 3 includes Ottawa, Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana and Osceola counties.
More than 275 teachers across the state were nominated this year. Nominees then were invited to participate in a competitive application process.
9 & 10 News
April 5, 2021
The pandemic stopped many fundraising events from happening, but that hasn’t stopped students, teachers and community members in Roscommon from raising money to help a local child fighting cancer.
“It’s a helpless feeling watching somebody go through this, a family and a child go through this,” says Kenda Denlinger.
Ben Mayes was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer just before he started his junior year at Roscommon High School.
“His first surgery, they removed part of his liver, his gallbladder, and a portion of his diaphragm,” says Denlinger, a family friend.
Mayes continues to push ahead. Even through several surgeries, he made the honor roll with straight A’s.