Baldwin Heights Elementary

Meet our 2025 Middle School Support Staff of the Year, Kelly Taft! Kelly has worked for GPS for over 20 years, with 15 in the middle school library! She is also the athletic coordinator for the middle school. Kelly and her husband Bill have three kids, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Kelly is a comfort dog handler for Jack at the middle school, and hosts Ritz from Walnut Hills. Kelly says: "The highlight of my time at GPS has been coaching many athletes and watching them grow and improve, chaperoning many East Coast trips, and seeing how much the comfort dogs can help some of our kids. The kids relax and just enjoy touching them and it makes them comfortable to talk." If this award came with a lifetime supply of something, Kelly would wish for a lifetime supply of maid service! 🧹 Congratulations, Kelly! 💜💛

Meet our 2025 Cedar Crest Teacher of the Year Winner, Kathy Doorn! Kathy started teaching in 1986 before computers, white boards, copy machines, and printers! She has taught in three districts across many different classrooms, programs, and subjects and is rolling into her 40th year teaching (time flies when you love what you do)! She lives with her husband and they have a daughter, son-in-law, and three lovely granddaughters. She loves being outdoors, hiking, fishing, and enjoying nature, reading, singing, and catching up with friends. Kathy says: "The highlight of my time at GPS has been teaching at Cedar Crest. This building does the most to wrap around and support kids. The staff cares so much and our students belong to all of us. I love that in my teaching I can impact all students and help them find their strengths. It is such a wonderful building with a clear vision from our principal and every staff member. We support our kids and we support each other. It makes teaching every day a joy." If this award came with a lifetime supply of something, Kathy would want it to be a lifetime supply of extra time to spend with family and friends, time to recharge, relax, and have fun. 🕓 Congratulations, Kathy! 💜💛

Meet our 2025 Cedar Crest Support Staff of the Year Winner, Tayler Hoover! Tayler is a Transitional Kindergarten Paraprofessional at Cedar Crest Elementary, which she loves! Her family includes her husband, two daughters Adalyn and Lainey, and an energetic golden retriever. As a family, they love camping, playing sports, and swimming. Tayler says: "my biggest highlight of working for GPS has been building relationships with my students. The excitement they have when you walk into the classroom each morning is one of the best feelings, my days are filled with play, fun, and learning!" The strangest thing Tayler has ever pulled out of her pocket after a day in Transitional Kindergarten are a rock, cedar leader chips, and a mini marshmallow 🪨 Congratulations, Tayler! 💜💛

Meet our 2025 High School Teacher of the Year, Andrew Samson! Andrew is the choir teacher and a 2008 alumni of GHS! Andrew is married to his wife Becca, and they have four children: Isaac, Matthew, Lucy, and Sophia. In the mornings, you can find Andrew in the weight room or on the basketball court, and after school, he enjoys reading, watching Detroit sports, and spending time with his family. Fun fact: the first group of kindergarteners he ever taught are going to be seniors this fall! Andrew says: "Taking over the program that I grew up in has been a dream come true for me as an alumnus. Some personal highlights have included seeing my students succeed as individuals in our state organization through things like Solo & Ensemble and Honors Choir, and also coordinating the Village Green Singers Alumni Choir this past January and February." When asked if he relates more to Mr. Feeny or Mrs. Frizzle, Andrew says he's more Mr. Feeny. Teaching a high school elective means he gets the same students year after year, and team teaching the middle school choirs means he could be working with the same students for 5 or 6 years! This creates a lot of mentorship opportunities for him and his students the same way Mr. Feeny was a mentor to his students long after they left high school. 👓 Congratulations, Andrew! 💜💛

Meet our 2025 Baldwin Heights Support Staff of the Year, Sara Brimmer! Sara is the principal's administrative assistant at Baldwin Heights. She has been happily married to her husband Gabe, for 25 wonderful years, and they are both GPS alumni! They have two children, Ashton and Ethan. They are also the proud hosts of Lola, the Baldwin Heights comfort dog, who brings so much joy to their lives! Their family loves to camp, travel, and stay active together in their spare time. Sara says: "At Baldwin Heights, the family atmosphere truly shines - it's a place where "it takes a village" comes to life. The Baldwin staff exemplifies this by genuinely looking out for our students, staff, and community. Over the years, some of my favorite highlights have been helping implement the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, coaching Odyssey of the Mind, and, most recently, our amazing Baldwin PTO Color Run. Baldwin isn't just a school - it's a community I'm proud to be a part of every day." One of the funniest moments Sara has ever had at school is when a student genuinely believed she had teleportation powers. She had been dropping off food and supplies to their house, often arriving before the school bus. The next day, the student told her they thought she could teleport 🛸 Congratulations, Sara! 💜💛

There will be a Special Board of Education Meeting on Monday, June 23, 2025, at 6:00pm at the Central Services Facility (1414 Chase Street, Greenville) to approve the 2024-25 Final Budget Amendments and the 2025-26 Proposed Budgets and any other necessary business.

Meet our 2025 Walnut Hills Support Staff of the Year, Morgan Gross! Morgan has been a paraprofessional at Walnut Hills for almost two years. She is married and has two boys, Robbie and Hunter (and a corgi named Cooper). She loves to spend time with her family in her spare time. Morgan says: "The highlight is honestly just my whole job. I work for and with the most amazing people. The kids are so awesome and it just makes it the absolute best job!" When asked if she would rather do indoor recess with 25 kindergarteners or supervise 5th grade lunch on the last day before Christmas break, Morgan answered - "Oh, easy. 5th grade lunch time. Inside recess can get way too crazy." 🤪 Congratulations, Morgan! 💜💛

Meet our 2025 Walnut Hills Teacher of the Year, Kristin Jenkins! Kristin is a 2nd grade teacher at Walnut Hills Elementary, and has been a teacher for 22 years! Kristin and her husband Mark have two children, Asa, who will be attending MSU in the fall, and Zoey, who is a high school junior. She loves spending time with friends and family, vacationing to new places, visiting the home they are currently building, cooking, and spending summer days at their condo in Grand Haven. Kristin says: "The highlight of my time at GPS is the students and staff I work with at Walnut Hills. I admire my team and colleagues' high levels of dedication, collaboration, and knowledge to make the workplace a positive teaching and learning environment. Each and every day, I am helping students become successful readers and writers, all while building positive relationships with both teachers and students." The strangest thing she's ever pulled out of her pockets at the end of a school day is jewelry that a student borrowed from his mother's jewelry box to give to the girls in her class! 💍 Congratulations Kristin! 💜💛

There will be a regular Board of Education Meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 7:00pm at the Central Services Facility (1414 Chase Street, Greenville). For more information, please visit https://www.gpsjackets.org/page/board-of-education

If you forgot to pick up your student's medications before the last day of school, they are available for pick up TODAY (Thursday, June 5) from 10:00am-2:00pm & 2:30-5:30pm at the GHS Auditorium/Gym Lobby (regardless of what school your student attends). Any prescription or nonprescription medications not picked up will be discarded/destroyed; medications cannot be stored for the following year.

Swing by your local Meet Up & Eat Up site this week to grab breakfast, lunch, or both—FREE for all children and teens 18 & under. 📍 Greenville High School, Baldwin Heights Elementary, Walnut Hills Elementary 📆 Monday-Friday Breakfast is served 8:30AM-10AM, and Lunch is served (GHS) 11AM-1PM (Elementaries) 11AM-12:30PM

Baldwin Heights school family! We are looking for an AMAZING music teacher to join our school family. If you know of someone who may be interested, please feel free to share this information with them so they can apply today! Application: https://bit.ly/baldwinheightsmusicteacher25

If you forgot to pick up your student's medications, they will be available for pick up on Thursday, June 5, from 10:00am-2:00pm & 2:30-5:30pm at the GHS Auditorium/Gym Lobby (regardless of what school your student attends). Any prescription or nonprescription medications not picked up will be discarded/destroyed; medications cannot be stored for the following year.

From all of us at Baldwin Heights, we wish you all the best this summer with family and friends. See you in the fall!

Greetings Baldwin Heights Family! It has been an amazing year and as we head into summer, here is the link to the End of the Year video that Mr. Hoenshell spends hours preparing for our students and parents: https://bit.ly/bheoyvideo25 Enjoy your time with family!

Have a wonderful summer, Jackets! 🌞

Today (Friday, May 30) is a HALF DAY & the LAST DAY for ALL GPS students! GMS releases at 10:30am, GHS releases at 10:35am & Elementary releases at 11:50am.

📣 Last Call for Nominations! Tomorrow (Friday, May 30) is the final day to submit your nominations for the 2025 Elmer Russell School Bell Award — one of the most prestigious honors at Greenville Public Schools! 🏆Presented annually to one GPS employee and one community member or organization, this award recognizes those who’ve made significant contributions to the success and growth of our schools. 💜💛 Please take a moment to recognize an exceptional staff member or community partner by submitting a nomination (or two)! 👉 https://forms.gle/adinnuvAKDrP9bfy8 ✅ Pros of nominating: – Show appreciation for someone who goes above and beyond – Help shine a spotlight on impactful work in our schools and community – Encourage continued excellence and dedication ⚠️ Possible drawback: – Takes a few minutes to complete the nomination form — but it’s time well spent to honor someone deserving!

🎉 Congratulations, GPS 2024–25 Retirees! Thank you for the incredible impact you've made on our schools, our students, and our community. Your years of service and dedication will never be forgotten. Once a Yellow Jacket, always a Yellow Jacket. Wishing you all the best in this next chapter! 💜💛 The Greenville Board of Education honored all GPS 2024-25 retirees during its regular meeting on May 12, 2025. Photographed (Left to Right): Kara Busen, Debbie Lewicki, Kevin Willemstein, Kelly Roney, and Kara Meade. Not included in the photograph: Annie Beals, Shelly Blumberg, Julie Emery, Andrew Fedder, Paul Johnson, and Lori Oxford.

Today we honor two extraordinary educators, Kara Busen and Kara Meade, as they retire after decades of dedicated service to Greenville Public Schools. With 28 years in education, Kara Busen has touched countless lives through her work in CI, Early Childhood Special Education, and most recently, Transitional Kindergarten—always bringing heart, humor, and compassion to her students and colleagues. Kara Meade, after 26 years (25 in Greenville), leaves behind a legacy of creativity, leadership, and laughter that has defined the spirit of Baldwin Heights. From pancakes and hand-churned butter to mentoring fellow educators, her impact goes far beyond the classroom. As both Karas embark on new adventures, we send them off with gratitude and admiration. Your footprints will forever remain in the halls of Baldwin Heights. ❤️