South Haven Public Schools is pleased to announce the 2024 Teacher of the Year sponsored by the South Haven Education Association. Each year, South Haven Teachers have the opportunity to nominate one of their peers to receive this prestigious award. The teaching staff then votes on the nominees, naming one staff member as the Teacher of the Year.
Very deserving is this year’s winner, Margaret Smith. Margaret is in her 17th year of teaching music education. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from Olivet College, Margaret moved to Phoenix, Arizona to teach middle school music in the Madison School District. While there, she directed many musicals and choirs as well as contributed to community service. Upon leaving Madison to move back to Michigan, her school renamed their community service award after her. She has now been teaching in South Haven for 10 years in the classroom that she once attended third grade in. Margaret hopes that her passion for music is evident to her students and that her positivity, compassion, and kindness are contagious to those around her. She is always striving to connect with her students and takes pleasure in exploring new ways to make her lessons engaging and exciting. She loves to see her students’ joy while participating in music class. She enjoys doing her part on the Sunshine Committee at Maple Grove, was honored to receive the South Haven Pride Award last year, and is currently working toward her Master’s Degree at Western Michigan University in Elementary Education. In her free time, Margaret likes being around people, especially her adorable nieces and nephew. She loves time spent playing board games, reading, attending theater events, and enjoying her Basset Hound, Briscoe, and Bernese Mountain Dog, Birdie.
Superintendent Schooley said, “Mrs. Smith is the kind of teacher that any administrator would want in their building. She is dedicated and knowledgeable. She builds relationships that make kids want to learn more. We are truly fortunate to have Mrs. Smith working with the children in our community.”