Archive: Around Town

Monday night the Lansing Board of Education granted tenure to five teachers and Elementary School Principal Chris Pettograsso.  Christine Evanek, Diane Dempsey, Carmela MacKenzie, LeeAnn Sinclair, and Andrea Huskie were lauded by their principals and Superintendent Stephen Grimm as they were officially tenured.  Huskie was actually tenured without a full-time position, as she was one of three teachers whose full time positions were eliminated and replaced with part time jobs due to the budget cuts.  Later in the meeting she was restored to full-time.

"I'm happy to report that here is one teacher that will be able to stay with us in a full time capacity.  Not only is she great in the classroom from the standpoint of her technical expertise, learning styles, and principals of learning, but the way she connects with kids.  She can reach and teach."

Pettograsso expounded on the teachers' achievements, and gave a sense of why they were recommended for tenure.  MacKenzie works with the more challenged children in the elementary school, currently ranging from first through fourth grades.  Dempsey is currently a Kindergarten teacher, and has taught reading in the middle school and taught fourth grade.  Evanek is currently a Kindergarten teacher who also has tenure in special education.  Sinclair currently teaches sixth grade ELA. 


Pettograsso is the elementary school principal.  Grimm praised her intelligence and experience and the ability to navigate the culture of the school.  He also noted that she didn't hold back while upper administration was in flux.

"She has a natural intuition about the right way to do things," he said.  "She has made tremendous gains in program development, and many times I turn to her for advice as well."

Huskie is currently a high school English teacher.  Two weeks ago she was among teachers and staff laid off when her position was eliminated.  She was one of three teachers who was then appointed to a part time position for next year.  As it turns out another teacher decided to leave the district because of a change in life circumstances, and Monday Huskie's termination was rescinded by the Board Of Education.

"This is somebody that we've been blessed with having come to Lansing, and glad to be here," Grimm said.  "This is her dream school district to work for.  When you combine a great young talent like Andrea with, from her perspective, a dream school it's a great opportunity for us to validate that service with tenure."

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