Hazel Park board honors students and longtime staff at May meeting

The Hazel Park Board of Education opened its May 18 meeting with multiple student recognitions and tributes to longtime staff, highlighting school-level achievements and years of service across the district.

Teachers and principals introduced Students of the Month from Webster, United Oaks, Edison, Jardine, Webb, Advantage and other schools. In a brief statement introducing the high-school report, Preston Blaze, the district’s high school representative, said it was his last report and highlighted senior events, honors night and graduation plans.

Principals and staff then read a long list of employee milestone recognitions. The board celebrated 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, 30- and 35-year employees; examples named in the meeting included Janette Farnsworth Dunn and George Dimas at multi-decade anniversaries.

Several retirees also received tributes. Speakers described retirees’ decades-long service to Hazel Park and noted contributions ranging from classroom instruction to custodial and transportation support. In remarks about one retiree, a bus driver who identified herself as Tiffany said, “She has really been more than a boss to all of us,” thanking the retiree for mentorship and care.

The board also presented the Support Person of the Year award to Andrew Koehler of Hazel Park Junior High; the presenter said Koehler brings “consistency, professionalism, and a positive attitude” to the building and called his work “well deserved.”

After the recognitions the board recessed briefly and returned to routine business, thanking staff and retirees for their service to the district.

The meeting then moved into its regular agenda of motions and votes.