Educators honored at Grand Valley's College of Education Convocation

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Valley State University's College of Education will honor area educators during its convocation ceremony scheduled for Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m. at DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave., Grand Rapids.

More than 300 graduates are expected to participate. The ceremony is a precursor to Grand Valley’s Commencement Ceremonies scheduled for April 25 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.

ANGELA LOHMAN, Glenn A. Niemeyer Award
Lohman is the 2009 recipient of the graduate student Glenn A. Niemeyer Award. The Niemeyer Awards are the most pestigious academic awards presented by Grand Valley. Lohman graduated from Grand Valley in December 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in English Language Arts and with an elementary teaching certificate. She currently works as a long-term substitute teacher at Douglas Elementary School for Saugutuck-Douglas Public Schools. While at Grand Valley, Lohman received a Book Award from the English Department and Outstanding Student Award-Elementary Education. She was also a member of Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society.

JUNE SCHAIBLE, Outstanding Educator
Schaible is in her 10th year teaching in a Learning Disabilities Categorical classroom at Central Middle School in Forest Hills Public Schools. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology/special education from Grand Valley in 1993. She also has a bachelor’s degree in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She earned a master’s degree in 2003 with a learning disabilites endorsement. Schaible began teaching in 1993 as an LD Categorical teacher at Forest Hills Central Middle School, after being a school bus driver in the district for six years.

MARGARITA COTTO HERNANDEZ, Outstanding Alumni Leader
Hernandez has been the principal of Burton Elementary in Grand Rapids Public Schools since 1990. She started her career in 1978 as a paraprofessional at Burton Middle School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from Grand Valley in 1986 and a master’s degree in education from Grand Valley in 1992. Hernandez is actively involved with the Institute For Learning, an initiative focusing on improving student achievement and teaching learning. She also supports the Parent Involvement Committee and directs the Instructional Leadership Team at her school.