Lake Orion Schools Middle School Teacher of the Year has been working in the district for 29 years, and once tought in a women’s prison.
Donna deWitt-Schnell, computer applications teacher for sixth, seventh and eighth-grade at Waldon Middle School, was surprised to learn she had been named Teacher of the Year on Jan. 12.
Faculty at Waldon thought they were attending a school improvement meeting in the school’s media center.
After they had gathered, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Ken Gutman announced that they were actually there for Middle School Teacher of the Year.
Afterwards, deWitt-Schnell, a former Lake Orion resident, said she thought they were going to learn that Waldon had won the Blue Ribbon.
She was part of the committee that recently put together a 50-page document nominating the school.
‘I was so surprised,? said deWitt-Schnell, who revealed she went into teaching because she ‘just loved the learning process.?
‘I love to learn,? she said. ‘I like to fire up the kids.?
DeWitt-Schnell said working with middle school age children is ‘at the top.?
‘They have fun, but are still able to be serious about learning,? she said.
Prior to coming to Waldon, deWitt-Schnell worked at Scripps Middle School, Pine Tree Elementary, Stadium Drive Elementary.
She has been at Waldon for nine years now.
Waldon Principal Heidi Kast said deWitt-Schnell helped restructure the middle schools, and helped assure that Waldon stays above the curve in technology.
‘She recently made sure all of her curriculum was up to date for the students, and she is always one of the first teachers to arrive, and one of the last to leave,? Kast said.
Besides being a member of the school’s Blue Ribbon committee, deWitt-Schnell is also a member of Waldon’s technology steering committee and MAMSE (Michigan Association of Middle School Educators) committee.
DeWitt-Schnell has also been the recipient of a Microsoft grant for software funds, and was recently approved for free usage of $3,000 of photo editing software from ArcSoft Corp. in California.
DeWitt-Schnell has her Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology.
Waldon teacher Midge Lloyd said deWitt-Schnell is always patient with her students, and is available to them even through her lunch and conference hour.
‘My reason for being here is not just education, it’s an honor working with all of you,? deWitt-Schnell said. ‘You’re a big part of the reason I’ve stayed at Waldon.?
DeWitt-Schnell currently lives in Lapeer with her husband Thomas, a retired shipping pilot, who surprised her by being at the presentation at Waldon.
She has three adult children, Jason, Jordan and Mara, two of whom work with computers.
Jason and Mara live in Nashville, while Jordan lives in Waterford. DeWitt-Schnell also has three grandchildren.
When she’s not busy at Waldon, deWitt-Schnell is a self-described ‘basketball freak,? and loves to watch the Detroit Shock and Detroit Pistons.
‘NBA.com is the only website the kids are allowed to look at in my class,? she joked.
Among her many hobbies, deWitt-Schnell also enjoys reading, aerobics, flower arranging and cross country skiing.