Staff of the Year

The Bloomfield Hills Schools Teacher of the Year and Ancillary Staff of the Year selection and awarding process aims to recognize exceptional educators for their dedication and impact on students' lives. The annual Teacher of the Year Award recognizes an educator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The Ancillary Staff of the Year Award recognizes one staff person in the district. 

At the elementary level, this year’s Teacher of the Year is Amy Kiesel from Eastover Elementary School. Kiesel is in her 27th year of teaching 5th grade. Ms. Kiesel’s ability to meet each student’s instructional needs are inspirational and evident in her partnerships with the special education support staff teams. Ms. Kiesel uses a variety of resources and is determined to find creative ways to assist students in reaching their full potential. She has been dedicated to supporting the transition of Eastover from a K-3 building to a K-5 building, finding opportunities for her students to be in leadership roles. Ms. Kiesel’s classroom is one of mutual respect founded on structure and routines and a safe place for children to learn, make mistakes, express themselves, and take risks. 

The Bloomfield Hills Schools middle school Teacher of the Year is Nancy Lewand from both North Hills Middle School and South Hills Middle School. Ms. Lewand makes an impact on all middle school students as the health teacher known for building a nurturing environment, hosting challenging health topics, and allowing open dialogue. Ms. Lewand is passionate about creating connections across multiple curriculum areas and collaborating with colleagues tailoring the specific needs and developmental stages of middle school students. Ms. Lewand is a champion for ensuring students feel valued and known. Professionally, Ms. Lewand is dedicated to lifelong learning participating professional networks including being an active International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB-MYP) educator.

The high school Teacher of the Year is Jessica Riley from Bloomfield Hills High School. Ms. Riley is a well known educator at BHHS with a talent for mentoring students beyond the classroom. Students feel comfortable in Ms. Riley’s choir room, which centers around creativity and discipline. Choir students are provided unique experiences to hone their craft and pursue passions while showcasing their talent in the greater community. Ms. Riley’s dedication to providing her students with guidance and support is obvious in the numerous resources she uncovers to meet each students’ individual needs. With a tailored teaching approach, students are encouraged to find their personal strengths ensuring each student feels seen and valued. Ms. Riley is an integral part of the exceptional BHHS music department, leading department initiatives, mentoring new staff, and helping to create a student centered environment within the building.

The Ancillary Staff of the Year is Vickie Chandler from Bloomfield Hills High School. Ms. Chandler assists the Introduction to Broadcasting, Film Production, and Digital Narratives and Production: BHS-TV News classes directly working with students on a daily basis. Ms. Chandler works tirelessly to manage the BHS-TV cable station, including recording and live streaming all Board of Education meetings. Ms. Chandler is in attendance at almost every large community event, though parents may not always recognize her because she is behind the scenes, and she has captured important student, staff, and community moments across the district for 32 years.