Charyl Stockwell Academy’s Gordy Hyska named top charter school teacher in Michigan

//

An elementary school teacher from Charyl Stockwell Academy in Hartland has been named the top charter school teacher in Michigan.

Gordy Hyska of Howell was named the 2017 Michigan Charter School Teacher of the Year – one of the most prestigious honors a charter school educator can receive. There are more than 10,000 charter school teachers in Michigan, working in 300 charter schools across the state.

The announcement was made today by the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA), the state charter school association, which presented the award to Hyska this afternoon during a surprise ceremony in his classroom. Today is the first day of National Charter Schools Week.

Hyska has taught first and second grade for the past six years at Charyl Stockwell Academy. He brings academic subjects to life for his students by, for example, turning math into an adventure. He becomes an action hero called “Michigan Hyska” (his version of Indiana Jones), and invites his students to solve math problems as they search for the treasure.

“Gordy Hyska perfectly embodies the charter ideal – that when teachers are empowered and allowed to be creative and innovative, they can change lives,” said MAPSA President Dan Quisenberry, who presented the award to Hyska. “Gordy has come up with some of the most innovative ways we’ve ever seen to get first- and second-graders excited about learning math. It’s incredible.”

Charyl Stockwell Academy is managed by CS Partners and authorized by Central Michigan University.

The five finalists for the 2017 Michigan Charter School Teacher of the Year award were honored during a ceremony at the State Capitol last week. In addition to Hyska, the other finalists were:

  • Lindsay Andrade, second-grade teacher, Achieve Charter Academy, Canton
  • Sydney Azzi, English teacher, Grand River Preparatory High School, Grand Rapids
  • Jennifer Melero, kindergarten teacher, Holly Academy
  • George Pavey, Dean of Aviation, West Michigan Aviation Academy, Grand Rapids

DON’T MISS A BEAT

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

We don’t spam!

Sharing is caring!

The Livingston Post is the only locally owned, all-digital information and opinion site in Livingston County, Mich. It was launched by award-winning journalists who were laid off from the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus by Gannett Co. Inc. in 2009.