Munn Finalist for Michigan Teacher of the Year

speech pathologic Kim Munn is a finalist for Michigan Teacher of the Year.

Superintendent Scot Graden and Board of Education President Lisa Slawson joined Woodland Meadows Principal Michelle Szczechowicz and interim Special Education Director Kevin Musson in presenting a plaque to Munn at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

“Miss Munn came to Saline Area Schools in 1999 and has done an outstanding job for as a speech therapist for many years,” said Graden before presenting the award. “She was our nominee and has moved on to be finalist for Michigan Teacher of the Year. It’s an outstanding honor for Miss Munn and I’d like to applaud her for her efforts.”

Graden said that Munn is also a guest lecturer at Michigan State University.

Munn is the speech-language pathologist for the Early Childhood Special Education Preschool program. She evaluates and teachers three- to five-year-old children who exhibit speech and language delays and disorders.

She also created the Teaching Articulation and Language to Kids (TALK) newsletter, which provides suggestions and ideas for parents who wish to work with their children at home.

The Michigan Teacher of the Year Program recognizes the great contribution teachers make to the state and to the learning community. According to the Michigan Department of Education, the program recognizes and honors teacher excellence. It does not attempt to select the “best” teacher; rather, to identify, from among many outstanding teachers, one teacher to serve as a visible and vocal representative of what is best in the profession.

The program is sponsored by the Michigan Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and MEEMIC Insurance Company. The National Teacher of the Year Program, sponsored by the ING Foundation and Target, is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers in partnership with the University of Phoenix Foundation and People to People Ambassador Programs.

The Michigan Teacher of the Year meets with policymakers, educators, parents, students, and citizen groups, sharing a passion for teaching and a vision for learning and schools. The MTOY participates in the National Teacher of the Year activities including a national conference in Dallas, Texas, announcement of the NTOY in Washington,

D.C., and Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

The selection of the Michigan Teacher of the Year also brings recognition to the teacher’s school system, according to the MDE. A financial award is presented to the school by MEEMIC Insurance Company. Many gifts are presented for the teacher’s use in the classroom including a classroom technology package from SMART Technologies.

According to the MDE, the Michigan Teacher of the Year must meet the following criteria: