Jackson chamber honors educators

The Jackson Chamber of Commerce will honor five teachers as Educators of the Year at a banquet April 27.

The award winners are Geri Beussink, Kyle Mabuce, Donna Shaver, Charlotte Knaup and Tim Mirly.

The banquet will be held at the Jackson Knights of Columbus Hall starting at 6 p.m.

The award winners, chosen by the chamber's education committee, will receive crystal apples and gift packs, said chamber executive director Marybeth Williams.

The Jackson School District Foundation will present $100 checks to each of the teachers.

Williams said the process of selecting the teachers starts in January. "They are nominated by fellow teachers and go through an interview process," Williams said.

Beussink is in her 25th year of teaching. She taught two years in the Meadow Heights School District and has taught at the Gordonville Attendance Center for the past 23 years.

She taught second grade for 20 years. The last three years she has taught a split class of first- and second-graders.

Her most prized possession, she said, is an old black binder that holds photos of all her students.

Mabuce has been teaching American history at the Jackson Junior High School for 10 years. He told the education committee he's a "history geek" who enjoys passing his love of history on to his students.

Mabuce credits his love of history to his grandfather, who served in World War II, and to history teachers he had in high school and college.

Shaver has been teaching for 26 years, 23 of those at Jackson High School. She teaches geometry and geo-tech. Chamber officials said she demonstrates a lifelong passion for learning and strives to instill this desire in her students.

Knaup has been teaching 29 years, the last 10 in the Jackson School District. She is the librarian for Orchard Drive Elementary School.

Chamber officials said Knaup enjoys motivating students to become avid readers.

Mirly has taught at St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson since 1992. He has served as youth director, teacher and technology coordinator. He currently teaches math, computer science and physical education.

He played a major role in implementing a new student information system at St. Paul School this year, chamber officials said.