Press Release #31 / April 21, 2025
Five teachers were honored on Thursday, April 17, during an event to announce the 2025 Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Students’ Choice Awards.
Those receiving the awards include:
- Kathleen Laurus from Snow Elementary for preschool to second grade teachers,
- Deanne Jones from Long Elementary for third to fifth grade teachers,
- Ghada Makled from Lowrey School for middle school teachers,
- Nawf Abou-Dib from Dearborn High for high school, and
- Andrew Wurtz for adult education.
The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce organizes the event, now in its 28th year. LaFontaine Automotive Group was the presenting sponsor. A full list of sponsors can be found on the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce website.
This year, students and parents submitted more than 2,000 nominations for 472 Dearborn Public Schools teachers.
“Teachers are true hometown heroes,” said Chamber of Commerce President Kelli Vanden Bosch. “At the Chamber, we know that the heart of a thriving community starts in the classroom. We’re so proud to celebrate this year’s Teacher of the Year nominees and winners. Your hard work, heart, and dedication are what help shape the future of our city. Thank you for all you do!”
The awards were presented during a special event at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. Teachers selected to receive the Teacher of Year Awards are recognized as positive role models who consistently provide unique, productive, positive classroom experiences. Winning teachers receive a $1,000 cash prize and a glass award commemorating their achievement. They also will join a select group of Dearborn teachers who have been recognized by the community for their dedication and passion for teaching.
“As the chairperson of the Education Committee of the Dearborn Area Chamber, I am deeply honored to celebrate the Teacher of the Year ceremony,” said Philipp Emma. “This event not only recognizes the remarkable dedication and passion of our educators, but also highlights the profound impact they have on shaping the future leaders of our community. I am pleased that we were able to hold this program, now in its 28th year. Congratulations to all of our nominees and to our winners!”
Ms. Laurus, the recipient in the preschool to second grade category, teaches preschool at Snow Elementary. In her nomination, she was praised for her work assisting a student with special needs and providing a smooth transition to school.
“Her compassion, commitment, and hard work have truly been a blessing to our family, and I cannot express enough how grateful we are for everything she has done,” the parent wrote in the nomination.
In her nominations, Ms. Jones, who teaches fifth grade at Long, was praised for not making assumptions about her students, for valuing their input, and for creating interesting assignments.
“Ms. Jones helps students find their passion,” one nominator wrote.
Math teacher Ms. Makled was praised by her Lowrey students for her humor, for making math fun and practical, and for being there for her students from extra lessons over her lunch period to personal stories that teach life lessons.
“This teacher connects with everyday life by telling us her own life story relating to almost every math lesson she teaches. She gives us great advice, and each and every story she tells us always has a lesson that could help us avoid any bad things in the future,” wrote one of her nominators.
“By giving examples from everyday life, my math teacher makes math easier to understand and shows us that we will use math outside of school. It makes me feel like what we’re learning will help me in the future. Math isn’t just numbers on paper, but it’s a big part of life!” another student wrote in a nomination.
“She always knows how to make me smile. I love going to her class every single day. She may push us, but that’s because she wants us to succeed,” according to one student.
Ms Abou-Dib from Dearborn High teaches Arabic, but also supports students with extra help after school or with applying for college. She stresses to students they must have plans to continue learning after high school, whether at college, in a trade, or at work.
“Her high expectations and tough love are the recipe for the perfect teacher,” wrote one student, who submitted Ms. Abou-Dib’s nomination as a poem. Another excerpt includes:
“Our language skills are more than a graduation requirement,
She instills in us that we must continue to learn, long past her retirement.
Laziness and excuses aren’t accepted,
With subpar work being fully rejected,”
Rounding out the 2025 Teachers of the Year is Mr. Wurtz who teaches English as a second language and citizenship classes for Adult Education students. Many praised him for helping them work towards their goals, whether that was mastering the language so they could attend nursing school or being fully prepared for the citizenship tests.
One nomination read, “A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning. A successful teacher is one who gives every person the knowledge that suits him and is good for him. … You are the greatest example of this. Thank you, my honorable teacher.”
Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko again thanked the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce and all the sponsors who helped provide the Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Students’ Choice Awards.
“We have so many great teachers in Dearborn Public Schools who are deserving of this type of recognition,” Dr. Maleyko said. “Thank you to the students for taking time to nominate their favorite teachers, and thank you to all of those who continue to help make this annual recognition possible.”
Photo caption
The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, April 17, presented the 2025 Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Students’ Choice Awards. Picture seated in the front are Andrew Wurtz, Teacher of the Year for Adult Education; Ghada Makled, Teacher of the Year for Middle School; Nawf Abou-Dib, Teacher of the Year for High School; and Kathleen Laurus, Teacher of the Year for Preschool to Second Grade. Standing, from the left, are Dearborn City Council President Pro Tem Leslie Herrick, Dearborn Public Schools Board President Adel Mozip, Dearborn Schools Trustee Jamal Aljahmi, Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi, Chamber of Commerce Incoming Chair Mahmoud Maki, Matt Szabla with the LaFontaine Automotive Group; Dearborn Schools Superintendent Glenn Maleyko; Paul Johnson with SMART, Phil Grumm with The Henry Ford, Chamber President Kelli Vanden Bosch; Chamber Education Committee Chair Phil Emma, and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib.