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Mr. Bruce
Bruce Foerch was born and raised in the small farming community of Ovid,
Michigan. He graduated from Ovid-Elsie High School and went on to
receive a BA degree and an elementary and secondary teacher certificate
from Western Michigan University. He also has a MA degree in Education
from Michigan State University. He has taught children from
kindergarten to high school. Bruce has also coached basketball from
fifth grade to high school and is certified through the National
Federation of State High School Associations.
Bruce has been the director at Discovery since July of 2002. He came
from Alaska where he served as a Principal and Teacher for twenty-four
years. Prior to that he was an elementary teacher with St. Johns Public
Schools in St. Johns, Michigan for six years.
Bruce has been involved with faculty from the University of Alaska to
develop curriculum materials for elementary and high school students.
He has made a number of curriculum presentations throughout the United
States and Canada. He has received numerous awards and citations for
excellence in education during his thirty-plus years of educational
service.
His family owned and operated a Bed and Breakfast in Alaska, and they
were involved in commercial herring and salmon fishing for many years.
He designed and built his own home and commercial fishing boat.
Bruce is an avid hunter and fisherman. He is a private pilot and has
owned two different airplanes. Besides spending time with his family,
he enjoys reading, photography and going to the movies.
Bruce says that one of the most enjoyable parts of his job is working
with the students. The parents at this school are also very special.
The Board of Education is one of the most dedicated group of individuals
that he has had the pleasure of working with.
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Ms. Cece
Cecilia Soriano grew up in
Saugatuck, Michigan and went to school at Douglas Elementary and
Saugatuck High School. Ms.Cecilia has been working at Discovery since
the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year.
She has also worked for the
City of Saugatuck, the License Bureau and Flashes Publishing. Ms.
Cecelia's family is her husband Tito, her sons Natividad and Roberto.
She likes working at Discovery because the environment is friendly. She
said, "Both students and staff, I believe, have one goal for all
students to succeed at their own pace and ability, which is
unique."
Ms. Cecilia likes to watch her husband and sons play
soccer.
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Ms. Sonya
Sonya Ouendag grew up in Grand
Rapids. She went to school at Forest Hills Northern and Davenport
University. Ms. Sonya has been working at Discovery for about eight
years.
She was a volunteer secretary the first year the school was open.
She also worked at Goodwill Industries. She has two daughters in sixth
and eighth grades and two dogs.
Ms. Sonya likes working at Discovery
Elementary, she says, "Because of the kids!" Her hobbies are
reading, sewing, camping and crafts.
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Ms. Jaime
 Jaime Onken grew
up in Saugatuck, Michigan. She went to college at Western Michigan
University. She has been teaching at Discovery for five years.
Ms. Jaime has worked at Kid Connection, Fennville Migrant Program, Debby
& Company and Saugatuck Dune Rides. In her spare time, she enjoys reading.
What she likes about
working at Discovery is getting to watch the kids grow up and seeing the
parents often. She describes the students and parents as
"great."
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Ms Tanya
Hi! My name is Ms. Tanya Zook, and
I am delighted to be a new team member at Discovery Elementary teaching
seventh and eighth grades. I am a 2005 graduate of Grand Valley State
University, graduating with an elementary minor and an art major. This
is my first traditional setting teaching assignment, and I am already
loving it!
I have many hobbies, including
running, mountain climbing, and dragon boating. I also enjoy anything
that involves spending time in the great outdoors. What I hope to bring
to my new school home this year is excitement and a passion for
learning. I anticipate many good things happening this school year, and
I am delighted to be a part of it. Please know my door is always open
to any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the best for
students.
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Mr.
Chad
Chad
Gimenez grew up in Hillsdale, Michigan. He went to college at Hope
College and Grand Valley University. He has worked at Kohl’s
Department Store and West Ottawa Waukazoo Elementary.
Mr. Chad’s
younger brother, Justin, has two children and a third on the way. What
he likes about working at Discovery Elementary, he says, is that “the
multi-age setting and thematic instruction allow him to be creative and
try new and exciting ideas!”
Mr. Chad’s hobbies are camping,
gardening, cooking and reading medical mysteries. He is teaching cooking
to students in his multi-age activity class now.
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Ms. Noel
Noel Weigel grew up
in Southern California and Northern Michigan. She attended Grand Valley
University and received a bachelor's in Language Arts and Elementary
Education. She has worked with 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th,10th,11th and
12th grades in Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grandville Public Schools
and Wyoming Public Schools.
What does she like about working at Discovery Elementary? She says,
"The learning family we have here; from the students to the parents to
the staff, we are united and committed to quality education." "I am VERY
excited about the level of education here, it's amazing!"
Ms. Noel's hobbies are reading, playing outside, visiting with family
and friends, taking in a good musical, traveling and cooking.
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Ms. Val
Ms. Val grew up on the North side of Holland and went to
school at West Ottowa. This is her second year at Discovery.
She previously worked at Holland Community hospital,
Fennville Area Ambulance and Fennville Public Schools. She has
"three wonderful children, one awesome husband and two cool
dogs."
What she likes about working at discovery is watching
all the children learn.
In her spare time she enjoys fishing, listening to
Christian music, camping, walking and meeting new people. She also
enjoys spending time with her immediate family and her church
family.
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Ms. Deb
Ms. Deb grew up and graduated from John
Glenn High school in New Concord, Ohio, home town of astronaut John
Glenn. She has an associate degree from Muskingum Area Technical College n
Zanesville, Ohio. She also has a one hear bible degree from Appalacian Bible
College in Bradly, West Virginia.
Ms. Deb has worked at various day care
centers both in Michigan and Ohio. She also worked at Calvary Christian
School as an assistant teacher. Her and her husband were House Parents
at Baptist Children's Home in Mt. Pleasant.
Ms. Deb has been married for ten years
and has two children, both attend Discovery Elementary.
She likes "the great kids and the
awesome family atmosphere among the staff."
In her spare time, Ms. Deb enjoys hiking
and spending time with her family.
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Ms.
Michelle
Ms. Michelle grew up in Michigan and has lived in Fennville for 15
years. She went to Bloomingdale Public Schools and graduated with a
bachelor degree from the University of Phoenix in Grand Rapids. She has
worked at Discovery for the past 5 years. She is also a member and
faculty of the William Glasser Institute.
Ms. Michelle has worked with children for several
years. She has been an Au Pair for a family in Chicago and has taught
early education classes at Telamon Corporation (Pullman Migrant
Headstart) and has worked for the Fennville Summer Migrant Program as an
assistant teacher. She has also worked with troubled youth and was the
past director at Fennville Area Youth Services.
Ms. Michelle enjoys her family! She has one
nephew that she enjoys a lot that also attends Discovery Elementary
School. When asked what she likes about working at Discovery, she
replies, “The close community we have with parents, children and staff.
Especially, with everyone working together to achieve our goal of
becoming a Glasser Quality School.”
Ms. Michelle loves to travel to warm sunny places
and is looking forward to traveling to another continent someday. She
enjoys reading, listening to music, speaking other languages, viewing
Broadway theatrical plays and being with her close friends.
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Ms. Dawn
Dawn
Anderson provides special education services for students and
families at Discovery Elementary school. She has more than 20 years
teaching experience and is enjoying this challenge. She holds
teaching licenses in elementary education and special education with
additional graduate and post graduate work focusing on services to
individuals with disabilities. Dawn has lived in the area for 6
years and enjoys her time on the lakeshore. She spends her free
time with family and loves to travel spending as much time out of
doors as possible.
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Ms. Emily
Ms. Emily grew up in Dorr, Michigan
and went to school at Sycamore Elementary and Hopkins High School. From
one small town to the next Emily then attended Grand Valley State
University where she received her Bachelors
of Arts degree. Emily started here at Discovery Elementary in the
2005-2006 school year so this will be her second year here as a second
third and fourth grade teacher. What she likes best about Discovery is
that the staff and students are so devoted and pleasant. Everyone gets
to know each student on a personal basis since the school is such a
tight knit community.
Emily enjoys camping, spending time outdoors, reading, and spending time
with her family and friends in her spare time. Ms. Emily can be reached
at any time through E-mail at
schwartzemily@hotmail.com
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