Tag: Howe Spotlight

Meet the Howe Team! – Phillips

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Each month we are highlighting professionals around the building and sharing what they do and a little about who they are. Read the post to learn more about Rosie Phillips! We are grateful to have resources in our school to support our little ones needs socially and emotionally. If you see Rosie, introduce yourself, say thank you and help make Howe a warm and inviting place to be.

Rosie Phillips

Rosie's school picture from 2022
School picture of Rosie Phillips, 2022.

Job Title: School Social Worker

Description of what you do for Dearborn Schools in 3 sentences or less: 

I work with the staff and students to help support them socially and emotionally. I service both the Montessori and the Special Education students in the building.

How long have you been at Howe and how many years of professional work experience do you have? 

This is my very first year at Howe and in the Dearborn Public Schools. Previously I worked as a school social worker for two years in a charter school. Prior to that I worked as a caseworker at an adoption agency for three years. 

Share with us a few of your favorite things… 

I enjoy reading (especially in the summer when I can do it in my hammock), spending time with my husband and cats, and traveling, baking, and being outdoors (usually in my garden or on a trail walk.)

What is your classroom like? 

My room is known as a calming and relaxing space, at least that is what those who stop by say. I keep string lights up and am not a fan of the overhead lighting and have plenty of games and activities to use with students!

Philips Family with their Cats, Cosmo and Marigold

Name something you look forward to each day you walk into Howe? Name something you look forward to the second you step into your home?  

Each day I look forward to seeing the students in the morning. It truly is my favorite way to start the day. I enjoy seeing them and getting them excited for their day ahead! At the end of each day I always look forward to my two cats greeting me at the front door the second I get home.

Phillips Family with cats Cosmo and Marigold

What’s the day-to-day of your role like? 

My day to day is always different– that is the life of a social worker! I always like to start my day greeting the students when they arrive, letting them in the building, then I make my rounds to different classrooms to do morning check-ins with students. The rest of the day varies with meetings, seeing students, finding new things to do with students, etc. I always enjoy that no day is the same and I love the outlook that every day is a new day!

This is me on my honeymoon when my husband and I hiked at Acadia National Park.
Rosie on her honeymoon with husband during hiked at Acadia National Park.

Meet the Howe Team! – Adams, Gail and Sisoy

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This round we are featuring a special group of ladies who all work in the same classroom. They refer to themselves as the Adams & Company. What an amazing group of ladies dedicated to our students for such a long time! Show them kindness with a thoughtful word of encouragement or pop your head into their classroom to wave hello! Read more about them here…

Full Name: 

Kathleen Adams   Gail Sosnitza   Leslie Sisoy

Job Title:  The Education Team for Room 107

Description of what you do for Dearborn Schools in 3 sentences or less: 

Mrs Adams is the teacher and Ms. Gail and Ms. Sisoy are the para educators 

What Elementary School did you attend? 

Mrs. Adams went to Perrinville in Livonia. 

Ms. Gail went to Madison in Dearborn Heights.  

Ms. Sisoy went to elementary school in Detroit.

How long have you been at Howe and how many years of professional work experience do you have? 

Mrs. Adams has worked for DPS for 35 years.

Ms. Gail for 25 years.  

Ms. Sisoy for 25 years.  

We have worked together as Adams & Company for over 22 years.  Most of our time was spent at Snow School until we moved here. We absolutely love our new school.

What is your greatest achievement? 

We all agree that our greatest achievement is our families.  

What is your classroom like? Our classroom is warm and nurturing.  Everyone is welcome in our classroom.  

We expect great things from our children and they never disappoint!  They work so hard in school to be the very best they can be.

What’s the day-to-day of your role like? 

Room 107 is a busy place.  We work on independent living skills, like eating, dressing, using the bathroom, walking, and communicating.  These skills are practiced throughout the day while working on academics.  We have language arts and math everyday and alternate monthly between science and social studies.  

Meet the Howe Team!

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Each month, we will be spotlighting different staff members around the builidng to encourage appreciation and awareness. Show kindness this month to Mrs. Angela with a warm smile or a heartfelt note of appreciation! A little kindness goes a long way and we sure are grateful for the work Mrs. Angela does for our kinders and school. 🙂

Angela Carman

Job Title: Kindergarten Teacher- Howe Montessori

Description of what you do for Dearborn Schools in 3 sentences or less:

– Full time chaos manager.

– Teach the babies how to do school. 

– Teach them how to read! 

How long have you been at Howe and how many years of professional work experience do you have?
14 years teaching & 6 at Howe!

Mrs. Angela with coworkers on school field trip. 2023
Mrs. Angela with family on beach.

What did you want to be when you grew up?  
Vet to work with cute animals!

What was your first job?
Hostess at Eagle Tavern/Greenfield Village

What parts of our school Mission/Beliefs/Vision do you connect with?
Montessori! I have only taught Montessori during my teaching career. 

What is your classroom like?
Routine based, structured, and busy bees working constantly. Kindergarten students soak up SO MUCH information!

What’s the day-to-day of your role like?
Each day is a new day! Some days are calm, some are crazy, some super productive, and some lazy days! You never know the mood until the day starts. 

Meet the Howe Team!

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Each month, we will be spotlighting different staff members to encourage appreciation and awareness. Get to know them, greet them, and say thank you for their hard work! Expressing gratitude boosts morale and creates a positive school community. Be specific about what you appreciate and consider thoughtful gestures like thank-you notes or a highfive in the hallway. Let’s start by showing gratitude to this month’s featured staff member and create a culture of gratitude!

Joshua Edmund Bodary

Job Title: Paraprofessional gym

Describe what you do for Dearborn Schools in 3 sentences or less:
I find motivators for students to help reach their highest physical potential. I also help students re center themselves so that they can continue their day and learn the life skills they need.

What Elementary School did you attend? 
I went to Mt. Carmel Catholic School in Wyandotte, MI.

What did you want to be when you grew up? 
I wanted to be a firefighter, then a truck driver.

What was your first job? 
Fast food worker at Hardees

How long have you been at Howe and how many years of professional work experience do you have?
I have been at Howe for 8 years and in Dearborn 23 years. 

Name something you look forward to each day you walk into Howe? Name something you look forward to the second you step into your home? 
I look forward to finding that one motivator that inspires that student to be as independent as possible and to learn the love for knowledge. Coming home each day I look forward to having my pets greet me at the door.

Share with us a few of your favorites…
I love the outdoors and I love history when it has an active aspect to it. (Hiking to ruins, snorkeling shipwrecks)

What is your favorite genre of books to read? 
Science fiction/fantasy

Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies?  
My family owned a dance studio for 20 years growing up and my wife and I owned a dance studio for a few years.

What parts of our school Mission/Beliefs/Vision do you connect with? 
That everybody can learn.

How would you describe our school culture? 
Family

What is your classroom like? 
Half of a gym lots of equipment something new each day.

I don’t focus on how others see me, I just focus on what I believe is right.

Mr. Bodary