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For email, add @a2schools.org Bryan Adato
Teaching Assistantemail: adatobTracy Anderson
Advanced Journalism, Intro. to Literature, Yearbook, Forumemail: andersont
Tracy has been teaching high school since 1997. She is the adviser for The Communicator online and print editions, which are student-run publications that have won numerous state and national awards. She also teaches Intro to Literature, Poetry, Modern Readings, Journalism I, Advanced Journalism, and Forum. Tracy loves to spend time with her family, bake cookies, and travel. She co-authored two books that are published by Heinemann: They Still Can't Spell? and Purposeful Writing. Neither of them have been made into movies. Her right arm is significantly stronger than her left, thanks to all of the papers she grades.
LaMar Ashford
Teaching Assistantemail: ashfordlBo Bagherpour
Teaching Assistantemail: bagherpourbJefferson Bilsborrow
Secretary to the Dean
email: bilsborrowTraci Blancke
School Social Worker
email: blancket
I am the social worker at CHS. It’s exciting to be a Zebra! I am originally from Iowa, and have since lived, studied, and worked in different parts of the country and world. Most recently, I landed in Michigan where I live with my husband, Mike, and two 15 year old cats, Micio and Joni. I found the social work profession while teaching high school English and English as a Second Language, and have been a social worker ever since (about 10 years). I am a vegetarian who enjoys swimming, hiking, and visiting local coffee shops with friends.
Becky Brent
Health & Wellness, Forum, Community Resource
email: brentr
Please, call me Becky! I have 16 years of experience teaching students about Health, with a BS in School Health Studies from Western Michigan University, and an MA in Quality Schools from Graceland University. I marvel at the interconnectivity of the mind, the body, and the spirit, and look forward to sharing this space with students at Community this year. I am learning and growing every day, personally and professionally, and respect my students' capacity to do the same. When I'm taking a break from teaching, you can usually find me outside with family and friends or working as a massage therapist with a small collection of dedicated clients.Monica Bruell
Teaching Assistantemail: bruellmAmy Cline
Occupational Therapistemail: clineaSteve Coron
Digital Photography, Beginning Film Photography Italian Art & Culture,Advanced Art Portfolio Development, Open Studio, Forumemail: coron
I have had the distinct privilege of teaching at Community since 2003, and have served as a teacher in the Ann Arbor schools since 1989. I previously taught kindergarten and preschool for the University of Michigan. I currently teach classes in photography, drawing and painting, open studio, Italian Art and Culture, and Advanced Art/Portfolio Development. I have a wonderful Forum group that makes me smile and laugh every day! I am a practicing artist, currently working on a body of photographic pieces based on how humans interact with landscape. I am a native of the Upper Peninsula, and presently live in Ypsilanti with my wife Karie and two children, Philip and Julia, and our German Shepherd sisters.Kevin Davis
Community Assistantemail: daviskDianne Down
Finance, Math Supportemail: downDianne Dudley
Personal Fitness, A2 Virtual, Forumemail: dudleyd
I love teaching Fitness and Forum at Community High School. I appreciate using the community as an extended classroom. My students enjoy some of our class activities at the Arboretum, Argo Pond Loop, Wheeler Park, and the cascades. Gretchen Eby
Counseling Office Secretaryemail: ebyg
Gretchen has been the Counseling Office Secretary since 2015 and feels fortunate to be working at such a fantastic school. She has three sons who all are CHS graduates. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with family and friends, travel, run, knit, sew, and read.
John Field
CHS Building Substitute Teacher
email: fieldj_sub
Leah Followell
School Psychologist
email: followelll
Emma Hamstra
American Literature, Graphic Novels, Intro to Literature, Poetry, Sci-Fi Literature, Shakespeare, Women's Literature, Forum
email: hamstrae
Emma is a lifelong townie, with brief stops in Washington, D.C., and Dallas, TX. She is a proud product of the Ann Arbor Public Schools, by way of Burns Park, Tappan, and Pioneer. She graduated from Georgetown University with a B.A. in English and Women’s and Gender Studies, and from Eastern Michigan University with an M.A. in Teaching. Her academic interests include feminist literary criticism, comic books, confessional poetry, pop culture, spoken word, rap music, and the avant-garde. In her free time, she is the assistant coach for the multi-state champions Huron women’s field hockey team, practices yoga, bakes, and hangs out with her dog, T.S. Eliot. Marci Harris
French 1, French 2, French 4email: harrism
This is my 2nd year teaching French I and French IV at Community. I graduated from the University of Michigan over 30 years ago, moved to Chicago, and started teaching French in West Aurora Schools. I moved back to Michigan a few years later, after immersing myself in the French language at Université Laval. I spent the next 22 years teaching French at Slauson Middle School, earning my Master's Degree in French at EMU, and traveling to Quebec and France when I could. "To have another language is to possess a second soul." - Charlemagne Sarah Hechler
U.S. History, U.S. History Through Musicalsemail: hechlers
I grew up in Mount Rainier, MD, just outside of Washington, D.C. After graduating in 2008, I went to Kenyon College, where I majored in American Studies, with a concentration in Environmental Studies, and minored in Italian. After college I worked as a travel agent for six years, specializing in arranging trips for clients to the South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, and Hawaii. I moved with my now-husband to Ann Arbor in the fall of 2014. I attended U of M 2016-2017 for my Master of Arts in Educational Studies, during which time I did my student teaching at Community. I taught U.S. History, World History, and Economics for two years at Skyline, and also taught a CR course at CHS on the History of the Pacific Islands. I live in Ypsi with my husband, Jeff, and our cat, Fermata. In my spare time, I pursue a number of hobbies: gardening, going for long walks and hikes, sewing (especially vintage patterns), playing board games, and going to the movies. I love the arts, and at the moment am enjoying watercolor painting and learning the accordion. I love theatre, especially musicals. I'm so excited for this year! Joslyn Hunscher-Young
World History, Spanish 1, Forum, Community Resourceemail: hunscheryoungj
As a graduate of CHS who was given the mock award of "Most Likely to Teach at CHS" from the Communicator staff her senior year, Joslyn was excited to rejoin the Rainbow Zebra family amidst the tumultuous start of the 2020-2021 academic year. Passionate about critical thinking, active inquiry, and thoughtful communication, she is excited to teach, learn, and engage with students, staff, families, and community members to make the world more just and better for us all. And if she can do that while gardening, trying new recipes, exploring nature, and/or doing mind puzzles, then all the better.
Janelle Johnson
Community Resource, Forumemail: johnsonjaI was born and raised in Ann Arbor and I am a former Pioneer. I have been teaching in AAPS for 11 years and I absolutely love it! My first degree is in advertising and, after a short nine months, I decided to go back to college to become a teacher. It was one of the best decisions I made!Matthew Johnson
American Literature,Composition/Art of Writing, Intro to Literature,Forumemail: johnsonm
Though Matt only officially became a Rainbow Zebra in 2014, he has been a longtime fan of Community High School. As an Ann Arbor student, he took classes and CRs through CHS and, in 2006, he sought out CHS for his student teaching. At CHS, he teaches The Art of Writing, Harlem Renaissance Literature, and Intro to Literature. He is also the advisor for Forum Council and leader of the amazing Johnson Forum. Along with that, he is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Lewis & Clark College, the author of Finding Success the First Year: A Survivor's Guide for New Teachers, and the cofounder of the Mindful Writing program.Angela Keene
CHS Building Substitute Teacher
email: keenea
Courtney Kiley
Ecology, Foundations of Science (FOS) I & II, Forumemail: kileyc
Born and raised in Ann Arbor, I always wanted to go to Community. That didn't quite pan out in high school, so I feel fortunate to have been hired to teach science and be a Forum leader at CHS. I love working with such inspiring colleagues and students! Outside school, I love biking, hiking, and spending time with my family.Brett Kilgore
Economics, Geometry, Forumemail: kilgorer
I serve in two departments here at Community: Social Studies and Math. I love teaching economics and geometry, and have an absolute blast as a Forum leader. Prior to teaching at Community, I lived in quite a few places, including Utah, Ohio, Washington, and even Australia for a summer. Now, though, I am thankful to call Ann Arbor home. As U of M grads, my wife and I love this town and are grateful to raise our son and daughter here.George Lancaster
Engineering & Design, Advanced Computer Science Privacy & Security, Principles of Engineeringemail: lancasterg
This is my fourth year teaching at Community and 17th year as a teacher. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, I spent the next ten years as a design and project engineer of automotive safety products, primarily steering wheels and airbags. I then returned to school to earn a teaching certificate. I love sharing my experience in engineering, math, physics, and computer science with everyone at Community High. Laurel Landrum
Spanish 2, & 3, Forumemail: landruml
I have been teaching Spanish in AAPS since 2006 and have been lucky to be at Community since then. I have a BA from the University of Michigan in Psychology, a BS in Spanish and Education from Eastern Michigan University, and an MA in Language Learning from Wayne State University. I was born and raised in Ann Arbor, attending Newport (remember?), Wines, Forsythe, and Pioneer. It is a privilege to raise my two daughters, Sabine and Laida, in the same great community where I grew up. I enjoy geeking out with teacher friends about language acquisition and curriculum design, but I'll only bore you with that if you ask. I love to travel, garden, and spend time with family and friends.Craig Levin
Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-calculusemail: levin
Craig has been teaching math at Community since 1999. He works diligently to support all his students through their trials and tribulations throughout their math career. Originally from Chicago where he taught for CPS a few years, he loves Community and has made solid roots here in treetown with his wife, Gabrielle, and girls, Ariana and Skye.Krystie Linton
Special Education Teacher Consultant
email: lintonk
Can't Live Without: music, sunshine, Lake Michigan, family & friends, chocolate, road trips, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, witty magnets, reruns of General Hospital from the 1990s
Unpopular Opinions: Coffee should never be iced; You never grow too old for sledding or playgrounds; Social media platforms are fairly boring
Obscure Skills: Wicked awkward mom dance moves; Ability to quickly change song lyrics to match the situation or mood; Capacity to misplace cell phone in seconds
Most Likely To: Adopt another senior dog from the Huron Valley Humane Society; Get lost in Ann Arbor; Shelve and organize items in store while shopping; Laugh like a cartoon villain; Love teaching for another 20 years!Maneesha Mankad
Algebra II, Calculus, Forumemail: mankadm
I have been teaching at Community High School since 2014. I am excited about being part of a professional community that values personal relationships and invests in the academic, emotional, and social growth of our students. I am passionate about making mathematics education relevant and equitable for all students. I love theater, music, dance, and reading, and I love spending time with my family. Ruben Mauricio
Special Education Teacher Consultantemail: mauriciorMarcy McCormick
Foundations of Science (FOS) 2 & 3email: mccormick
Marcy has been teaching science for 17 years; this is her 8th year teaching at Community. She couldn't be happier being a Rainbow Zebra! She has taught FOS 1, FOS 2, and FOS 3, and loves the Foundations of Science curriculum. She feels very lucky that she gets to work every day with such an incredible group of students and colleagues. When Marcy isn't teaching, she enjoys being outdoors, staying active playing Ultimate Frisbee on a club team, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.Sue McDonald
Special Education Teacher Consultantemail:Kelly McGuire
Speech Language Pathologistemail: mcguirekAmy McLoughlin
Counseloremail: mclough
I am super FIRED UP to be a zebra. I have been a counselor with AAPS for 11 years (Skyline for 9 years and 1 year at Pioneer). I live in A2 with my ridiculously brilliant wife, Callie, and our two dogs, Jojo and Pearl. Danelle Mosher
French 3,Community Resource, Forumemail: mosher
I've been teaching French and Forum and monitoring CRs at CHS since 1994, and I am very happy to be here. In addition to teaching French, I run the Community Resource department, lead Forum, and advise Service Club. I have three children and a husband who is a teacher in the district as well. Outside of teaching, I love to travel, knit, read, garden, and spend time with my family.Jen Niner
American Sign Language (ASL) 1, 2, & 3/4email: postj
I love teaching American Sign Language (ASL) and am very excited to be teaching at Community. ASL is my first language—both my parents are deaf. I love being able to share my knowledge of ASL with my students. I have been in Ann Arbor Public Schools for 10 years and have been teaching ASL online for the past 5 years. I got married in the summer of 2016 and had a name change (it used to be Post). I enjoy vacations, especially going camping with our new camper.
Matthew Petersen
Personal Fitness, Forumemail: petersenmBeth Portincasa
Open Studio, Advanced Art Portfolioemail: portincasa
I was born and raised in Ann Arbor and graduated from EMU with a Bachelor of Art Education, and then received a Master's degree in Sculpture. My first professional teaching job was at West Village Academy in Dearborn, then I taught at Belleville High School, Ecorse Community High School, and Onsted High School before coming back home to Ann Arbor Public Schools in 2012. This year I will be splitting between Community and Pathways, allowing me to provide a positive impact on a variety of young students in this community. I love to spend my extra time with my husband, Joel, and my two girls, Gwenlyn and Cora. Things I like to watch grow: my students, my garden, and Monarch butterflies.Luciana Qu
Math Teacheremail: qulKatie Richardson
Special Education Teacher Consultantemail: richardk
I have been working in Ann Arbor Public Schools for many years. I feel so grateful to work with such an amazing staff and wonderful students! I encourage a home and school connection. I pride myself in my ability to form meaningful connections with students and their families, to foster student growth. I am committed to supporting students' needs and helping them gain access to the core curriculum.Lee Roberson
Community Assistantemail: robersonlChloe Root
Government, Model UN, U.S. History, Mock Trial,Forumemail: rootc
This is my 11th year teaching in AAPS and I am so lucky to be here. This is my 10th year teaching at Community, but we go way back. Our previous adventures together include my being a high school student, a student teacher, and a part-time teacher. I teach U.S. History, Government, Gender Studies, Mock Trial (8-time State Champs!), and my beloved and entertaining Forum. I am also lucky enough to be the staff advisor for the Queer Straight Alliance (QSA). I believe Community is one of the best high schools in the world, and even the toughest days here are marked by the kindness, creativity, and hilarity of the students and staff. After graduating from Community, I attended Brown University, where I received my Bachelor's degree in US History and Gender Studies, and Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan, where I got my Master's degree in Secondary Social Studies Education. I live with my sweet old dog, Carmen, and am grateful to have my family in town. Katy Sanderson
Records Clerk, Scheduling, and CR Secretaryemail: sanderskKaty is the Office Administrator in the Community Resource Office, the Records Clerk for enrollments and graduated student transcripts, and the Building Scheduler for PowerSchool. She has been at Community since 2008, originally working in the Main Office as the Attendance/Book Depository secretary. She loves working with the great kids and staff at Community and enjoys being in downtown Ann Arbor every day. She looks forward to kayaking every summer with her husband in northern Michigan, and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. Jeri Schneider
School Librarianemail: schneidj
Jeri is the librarian at Community. Her love affair with libraries began in 1986 when, while studying history, she became a clerk/driver of the bookmobile for the Ann Arbor Public Library. Since then, she has earned a Bachelor's in history, a Master's in the Science of Information, and teaching certification from U of M. She manages the library, promotes reading, helps troubleshoot technology issues, and teaches information and research skills. Away from work, Jeri enjoys hanging out with friends and family, reading, running, biking, canoeing, and cooking and baking delicious vegan food. Her current favorite quote is: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." (Maya Angelou)Saad Selim
CHS Building Substitute Teacher
email: selims_sub
Ryan Silvester
U.S. History--1960s, World History & Geography, Forumemail: silvesterr
This is my second year at Community High School! I am teaching U.S. History and World History, both of which are absolute passions of mine. I grew up in Ann Arbor and attended Huron High School. That said, I am glad to get the opportunity to be a Rainbow Zebra! Meghan Stelzer
School Nurseemail: stelzermElizabeth Stern
Foundations of Science (FOS) 1 & 3,Forensicsemail: stern
Liz has worked at Community her entire career. She loves teaching science, with fabulous colleagues, to engaging students.Michael Strugala
Teaching Assistantemail: strugalam
Michael's background experience entails working for several parks and recreation departments, nonprofits, and school districts (Redford, Ypsilanti, and Ann Arbor) in the metro-Detroit area. He graduated from Western Michigan University, where he double-majored in Political Science and Communications, with a minor in Criminal Justice. He earned a graduate degree from Eastern Michigan University in Geography, with emphasis on Environmental and Transportation Planning issues. He thoroughly enjoyed his college experience and was involved in extracurricular activities. One piece of advice he would like to give seniors: Get out and participate in a student group/campus organization in college! Make it fun! In his free time, you can catch him outdoors camping, hiking, kayaking, exploring, volunteering, reading a wide range of literature, and playing board games with friends. He is excited to be here at Community working with a versatile staff and engaged students! Kim Tehranipour
Teaching Assistantemail: tehranikJonathan Thomas-Palmer
Foundations of Science (FOS) 4email: thomaspalmerj
Non-matching-sock wearing proud father of two daughters. Part-time high school physics teacher and owner of Flipping Physics®, a one-employee business dedicated to providing the world with free, entertaining, educational physics videos which anyone can use to learn physics, and teachers can use to flip their students’ learning. Devoted husband of substance abuse prevention social worker and incredible wife. Maker and wearer of tie-dyes.Mike Vial
Intro. to Literature, World Literature, Composition, Intro. to Acting, Forum
email: vialm
photo credit: Anne Glista
Mike's teaching career may remind one of Tolkien's famous line in The Lord of the Rings: "Not all who wander are lost." He has taught in multiple Michigan districts since graduating from Western Michigan University in 2003. However, teaching at Community has been his dream job since he moved to Ann Arbor with his wife--writer and editor Natalie Burg.
In 2011, Mike took a break from teaching to be a touring musician, releasing four records and various singles of his own songwriting, and performing over 1,300 gigs across the country. After the road became tiresome, he returned to the classroom in 2017 at Farmington Public Schools, enjoying Harrison High School during its last two years before closure. He continues to tour in the summer, typically playing once a year at the Ark in Ann Arbor. Mike started teaching at Community in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which correlates with the Greek mythology conflicts he shares and universal themes that guide our lives.
Mike currently teaches English Language Arts and hosts the Forum Book Challenge.Jack Wagner
Jazz I, II, III, IV, Jazz Labemail: wagnerj
Jack feels so fortunate to be the Jazz Program Director at Community which, to him, is a dream job! Jack has been at CHS since 2008. Jazz performance and pedagogy are his passions, so teaching jazz combos all day to dedicated students is a real delight. The CHS Jazz students are getting hands on experience, playing frequent gigs and concerts; they also get to work with Grammy winners and world-class musicians during CHS Jazz Guest Artist Series master classes, a program Jack began in 2008. Jack loves jazz history and sharing what he knows in this field, and he loves playing his saxophone. Jack recently wrote the jazz and improvisation textbook The Straight Ahead Toolshed: 55 Tools for the Beginning Jazz Musician. Jack lives happily with his wife, Jaimie, and their two children, Natalie and Zachary. They are extremely fun. Jack also likes to run, SCUBA dive, tinker around the house, hike, and camp in the mountains.Christia West
Foundations of Science (FOS) 1, 2, & 3email: westch
Teaching is my passion, and I've been fortunate to be a part of the CHS community since 2014. What I enjoy most is getting to know my students through Forum, coaching Team 5708 (Go Zebrotics!), and FOS classes. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time on (and in) the water. I love living in Michigan, and there are still places here I would like to explore in my kayak, or on my bike. My more sedate hobbies include reading, knitting, and playing board gamesJessika Whiteside
Intro. to Literature, Short Stories, Harlem Renaissance Literature, Forumemail: whitesidej
This is my first year at Community and I’m so excited to be here! I have been teaching for over 15 years since graduating from the University of Michigan, where I majored in creative writing and English, with a Spanish minor. I also have an MA in social foundations from Eastern Michigan University, and another MA in TESOL from Madonna. In the summers, I love to travel and go on fun adventures with my kids, who are 10, 6, and 2. I adore all forms of coffee and the color cerulean. I’m also very passionate about social justice. You can always find me reading, listening to an audiobook, or writing - if I’m not, I’m probably thinking about doing one of those things! I live in Canton with my three sons, three parakeets, husband, and Beefy the bulldog.
Brian Williams
Counseloremail: willia18
This is my 12th year with AAPS and 6th year at Community High School. When I am not busy counseling our Rainbow Zebras, my home team is renovating a 140 year old farmhouse out in Chelsea. On my off nights, I will pick up my sticks and play some drums with a couple of bands in the Ann Arbor area.Emily Wilson-Tobin
Community Ensemble Theatre (CET) Program Directoremail:
Emily was born and raised in Ann Arbor. She spent her undergrad years studying theatre and French at Wesleyan University in Connecticut before working for several years in the Metro DC area. Pursuing an MFA in Applied Drama/Theatre for the Young at Eastern Michigan University brought her home and, after graduating and a brief stint working for the CRLT Theatre Program at U of M, she spent over a decade as theatre director at Greenhills School (also her alma mater). Emily directed for CET just after finishing grad school and is delighted to be back working in a program and a school that she has admired for many years. She lives in Ann Arbor with her husband, two children, and too many pets. In addition to her love for theatre, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, watching scary movies, and visiting the Leelanau Peninsula. Olivia Wylie
Spanish 4 & 5
email: wylieo
Michelle Yager
Algebra 1, Math Support, Community Resource, Forum
email: yagerm
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