At Embracing Our Differences Michigan, we firmly believe that the effective functioning of our organization is a collaborative effort, with every individual playing a crucial role in fulfilling our mission. Acknowledging this, we have instituted the Teacher of the Month Award to honor exceptional educators
who significantly promote diversity and inclusion.
Winners:
Tyler Rindo, Estabrook Elementary School
Tyler Rindo holds a Michigan Provisional Teacher License in Music Education K-12 and is pursuing a master’s in Teaching and Learning with an ESL endorsement at Wayne State University. They earned a Bachelor of Music and Teaching Certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, graduating Cum Laude, and completed Wisconsin Elementary Teacher Licensure focused on Early Childhood Education.
Since 2017, he has taught music at Estabrook Elementary, where they designed a student-centered curriculum, organized performances, and received multiple “Teacher of the Year” nominations. Their experience also includes teaching first-grade English and music in China and developing music programs for grades 4K-4 in Wisconsin. They have led school-wide initiatives like PBIS and Unified Arts.
Reema Jarjoura, 4th-grade teacher at King Elementary School
Reema’s dedication and innovative lessons to instill diversity and inclusion in her students have had a profound impact. Her students, inspired by her lessons, have submitted their artwork and quotes to EOD for display at Gallup and Riverside Park. Several of her students’ quotes now grace the banners at these parks, a testament to the influence of her teaching. Even the art that didn’t make it to the banners the art is on display in CutureVerse EOD’s Virtual Gallery.
Kathy Fisk, Ypsilanti International Elementary School
Katherine Bastian Fisk An artist and art educator with expertise in Arts Integration, TAB, Choice-Based Education, Project-Based Learning, and Art Assessment. She has taught in Ypsilanti Community Schools for 23 years, including 15 years in elementary schools, and currently teaches at a school applying for IB – Primary Years Programme status.
She has also taught at Ypsilanti New Tech, integrating art with geometry, biology, and Spanish. Additionally, she led courses at Eastern Michigan University, Ann Arbor Art Center, and other institutions. As an artist, she creates textile-based wall pieces and sculptures
Peggy Wier Leonard, Lakewood Elementary School
Peggy Wier Leonard, a lifelong Ann Arbor resident, attended Mack, Forsythe, and Pioneer before earning a bachelor’s in art education from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s in art therapy from Wayne State University. She began her teaching career in Oxford, Michigan, returning to Ann Arbor to launch her own art business. In 1998, she rejoined AAPS, where she taught at Lakewood Elementary for 20 years and also taught at Ann Arbor Open.
Renowned for her leadership in art education, Leonard actively builds partnerships to showcase student artwork throughout the community.
