MARION — Just ask the students in Betsy Fisher’s class and they’ll tell you simply and directly: “Ms. Fisher” does a good job teaching them how to read.
“Mostly everything she does (is good),” said 6-year-old Brantley Ahrens. “Like letters, sounds and how to put everything together.”
Fisher works with 40 to 50 students every school year at Marion Elementary School, where she is the Title 1 instructor. She works with kids on improving skills and proficiency, particularly with reading.
But that’s not all she does ... not even close.
“Betsy Fisher is an extraordinary educator whose dedication and commitment to our school community are truly commendable,” wrote elementary school principal and Marion Public Schools Superintendent Danyel Prielipp, “... she has consistently gone above and beyond in her various roles, leaving a lasting impact on students, colleagues and the entire school community.”
In May, Fisher was honored by the state of Michigan as this year’s Teacher of the Year.
Fisher said she was quite surprised the day that 100th District State Rep. Tom Kunse showed up in her classroom with a framed certificate in recognition of her achievement. The certificate was signed by Kunse, 34th District Sen. Roger Hauck, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The certificate reads in part, “In receiving the Teacher of the Year 2024, Betsy Fisher ... demonstrates unwavering dedication to her school community ... May she long enjoy the health and happiness she has earned.”
In her nominating petition, Prielipp said Fisher’s insights and leadership have been influential in shaping the district’s educational plans and enhancing the learning environment for all students.
“Her role as the Title I coordinator and testing coordinator demonstrates her deep understanding of the importance of equity and assessment in education, ensuring that every student has access to the resources and support they need to succeed,” Prielipp wrote.
In addition, Fisher organizes family learning nights and summer school programs that help students stay on track academically and prevent summer learning loss.
“Her dedication to building strong partnerships between home and school fosters a supportive environment where students can thrive academically and socially,” Prielipp wrote.
Fisher being named Teacher of the Year might not come as a surprise to people in the Marion community, where she’s taught for 38 years, including 31 years as a kindergarten teacher.
Fisher has been involved in the teaching profession since she was child, when she would help her mother — who also was a kindergarten teacher — set up her classroom and get games ready for students.
“I guess it’s just in the blood,” Fisher said about her decision to follow her mother’s example and become a teacher..
After graduating from high school, Fisher attended Michigan State University, where she majored in early childhood development. Fisher was hired at Marion Elementary School right after she graduated from college in 1986. The superintendent at that time was Jerome Schwartz.
In 2017, Fisher agreed to switch roles and become the school’s physical education teacher and Title 1 instructor. Eventually, Fisher’s duties were adjusted so she could focus solely on Title 1 work.
Title 1 is a little bit different than teaching kindergarten, Fisher said, in that there’s a lot more paperwork involved because the program is tied to state funding.
Other than that, however, Fisher said the work is similar, as is the satisfaction she feels in seeing firsthand how much students are able to improve over the course of the year.
“It’s good to see that growth,” Fisher said. “It’s a lot of one-on-one work ... they take an assessment at the beginning of the year and you try to fill in the gaps. I get to look at them at the end of the year and say, ‘look what you’ve done.’ It’s very rewarding.”
Fisher said she also loves her job because of who she gets to work with every day.
“I just enjoy that contact with children,” Fisher said. “They get from me and I get from them. It’s kind of a symbiotic relationship. And I love all the laughs and hugs.”
It’s a good thing Fisher enjoys her job, too, because she’s not planning on retiring, at least not right away.
“If I didn’t have this to do, I don’t know what I’d do,” Fisher laughed.
The Cadillac area this year has produced multiple statewide award-winning teachers: Cadillac High School graduate Matt Hamilton in March received the 2024 Michigan Education Association’s Educational Excellence Award.
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