NEWS RELEASE: Roseville Community Schools Announces 2021/2022 Teachers of the Year
Roseville Community Schools is proud to announce three exceptional educators as the 2021-2022 Outstanding Teachers of the Year. Becky Vehar (Elementary), Natalie Grupido (Middle School), and Matt Komarowski (High School) were selected as this year’s recipients. Additionally, Grupido was chosen by the Macomb County Outstanding Teacher of the Year Selection Committee as their Outstanding Teacher of the Year at the Middle School level.
Becky Vehar has been teaching for 23 years, the last 18 in Roseville. She taught 1st, 5th, and 6th grades at Arbor Elementary for several years before moving to Steenland Elementary School, where she has since been teaching 5th grade. Steenland Elementary Principal Charles Felker said that Vehar has a strong connection with her students and the school community. “She has served on various committees, is a School Improvement Chairperson, and a leader in strategies for the use of technology. Mrs. Vehar enjoys sharing her skills with students and staff, and she is recognized as a teacher that makes a difference in the lives of her students.”
Natalie Grupido teaches the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing program at Roseville Middle School. She has more than 27 years of experience working in the deaf community, serving as an educator and mentor, an American Sign Language and Deaf Studies Coordinator, an adjunct instructor, and an administrator. RMS Principal Monica Gabriel said that Grupido is not only passionate about teaching the content, but making sure that the students truly learn the material. “She has completely transformed her classroom into a fully immersive experience. She uses a Harry Potter theme to help her students make connections to the community, develop a deeper understanding of language, and to create leadership opportunities for her students to practice being more independent in our building and beyond.”
Matt Komarowski has been teaching in Roseville for 15 years and currently teaches Advanced Machine Trades, Pre-Vocational Machine Trades, and Welding and Metal Fabrication Technology at Roseville High School. Over the years, he has taught a variety of career tech courses, including Prevocational Building Trades, Applied Technology, and Woodworking at both the middle school and high school levels. RHS Principal Jason Bettin said that Komarowski is a constant advocate for career and technical education programs for RHS students. “He built the RHS welding program and guided it to CTE status on his own through the hard work he put into it attending trainings for the program certification. He continually involves his students in competitions where they take what they have learned from him and apply it, often with great, award-winning results.”
RCS Outstanding Teacher of the Year candidates are nominated by peers, administrators, students, family members, or community members. Each candidate must have a minimum of three completed questionnaires to be considered. A review committee, which is made up of principals from all levels and the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, meets to choose two candidates from each level to present to the superintendent for final review, with the superintendent making the final choices. Superintendent Mark Blaszkowski said that each of these individuals are unique in their own way and bring something special to their students. “Becky Vehar has been a leader in school improvement and creates a warm classroom environment. Natalie Grupido has transformed the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing program by bringing her creativity, sharing her own experience of being deaf, and modeling a successful career for her students. Matt Komarowski, a master machinist, helped develop a welding program for our high school students including acquiring grants for equipment. We are very proud of our recipients of the Outstanding Teacher of the Year awards.” All three district Outstanding Teacher of the Year winners, as well as Grupido for her county award, will be honored at the MISD’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet on April 19, 2022.
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