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Livonia Public Schools honors educators and support staff of the year
Summary
The Livonia Public Schools Board recognized three district winners for 2025-26 — elementary educator Jessica Thim, secondary educator Leah Gano, and support staff Melissa Bader — and read formal resolutions honoring their work and nominations at the Nov. 17 board meeting.
The Livonia Public Schools Board of Education on Monday recognized three district employees as the 2025-26 Educator and Support Staff of the Year.
Jessica Thim, a sixth‑grade teacher at Cooper Upper Elementary, was named Elementary Educator of the Year. The selection committee cited Thimleadership of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), her work as a content-area leader and teacher‑leadership roles, and a nomination story describing how she supported a student with anxiety by establishing a routine of early check‑ins. Thim told the board: "I just want to say thank you so much for this incredible honor." The resolution noted she is an eight‑year LPS employee.
Leah Gano, a health sciences teacher at the Livonia Career and Technical Center (LCTC), was named Secondary Educator of the Year. Board materials highlighted Ganodevelopment of an Advanced Sports Medicine course and strong student recommendations; Gano said she was "incredibly honored" and credited former colleagues and mentors for encouraging her teaching career.
Melissa Bader, a 12‑year paraprofessional at Franklin High School, received the Support Staff Person of the Year award. Nomination excerpts and principal remarks described Baderconsistent work with students requiring individualized instruction and IEP supports; Bader accepted the honor and thanked her resource‑room team and family.
The honorees were recognized during a program that the superintendentnoted drew nearly 200 nominations districtwide and highlighted more than 1,900 staff across LPS. Trustees read and adopted formal resolutions for each recipient by unanimous roll call. Trustee McFarland said the evening "is what it's all about," and other board members praised the honoreesfor their relationships with students and colleagues.
The board said the recognitions would be shared on district electronic media and in community events throughout the year. The meeting then recessed briefly before returning to regular business.
