Sixteen outstanding teachers and support staff from the Oxford district were honored at an April 25 board meeting.

As a reward for their daily dedication to the education of students, Oxford teachers and support staff were selected to be the school district’s nominees for the 2016-17 Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year awards and Support Person of the Year awards.

Each school district in the county selects teachers at the high school, middle school and elementary levels to be nominees for both awards at their respective level.

The awards are presented annually by Oakland Schools to honor and reward staff in Oakland County who have achieved high standards of excellence in their profession. Nominees for the 2016-17 school year for the Oxford district were as follows:

At Oxford Early Learning Center, Childcare Program Coordinator Sue Roeher was chosen to receive the honor.

At Daniel Axford Elementary, Judy Bozinski, a first grade teacher, was nominated.

Custodian Brett Pulley was nominated for Support Staff of the Year.

Clear Lake Elementary’s Teacher of the Year was fourth-grade teacher Melissa Peruski.

Custodian Craig Birrell was chosen as the school’s Support Person of the Year nominee.

Nominated as Leonard Elementary’s teacher of the year was Helen Andreou, who is a special education teacher. Val Logan, a paraprofessional was nominated for Support Staff of the Year for the elementary school.

For Lakeville Elementary, Kerry Cisneros, a developmental kindergarten teacher, was nominated for the Teacher of the Year award. Technology Specialist John Ward received the same honor as Support Person of the Year nominee.

Oxford Elementary’s Teacher of the Year award nominee was Resource Room Teacher Robin Graft.

OES did not nominate an individual for the Support Staff of the Year award this year.

At Oxford Middle School, Vocal Music Teacher Jan Flynn was nominated to receive the Teacher of the Year award. Stacy Ruch, a special education paraprofessional, was nominated for Support Person of the Year.

Oxford High School math teacher, Joe Amabile was nominated to receive the Teacher of the Year award for the 2017-18 school year. Paraprofessional Cathy Guy was also nominated by OHS to receive the Support Person of the Year award.

For Oxford Virtual Academy, Matt Santala, an educational technology coordinator, was selected as the school’s Teacher of the Year nominee.

Oxford Schools Early College’s Teacher of the Year award nominee was OSEC Mentor Teacher Laura Merritt.

“This district has been blessed to have so many talented, committed, and deserving educators,” said Superintendent Tim Throne. “We are incredibly proud of all of our teachers and support staff, especially those who have been selected as exemplifying the best of our employees. This privilege is extra special in that our award winners were selected by their peers.”