Outstanding Teacher of the Year

OSEF presents The Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards annually to honor and reward Oakland County teachers who have achieved the highest standards of excellence in their profession. Oakland Schools created these awards out of a conviction that a quality public education system is essential to the health and vitality of our community. Encouraging excellence in education is the shared responsibility of all who reap its benefits.

The Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year award program began in 1987, sponsored by Newsweek and WDIV. This sponsorship continued until 2002. Since then various organizations have sponsored the event including The Detroit Free Press, The Detroit Newspapers, Comerica, the Oakland County Credit Union and the Oakland Schools Education Foundation.

Congratulations to our 2025 winners!

Early Childhood

Leah Lynday
Lamphere Early Childhood Center
Lamphere Schools

Elementary

Sarah Vrabel
Edmonson Elementary
Lamphere Schools

Middle School

Samantha Samuels
Oak Valley Middle School
Huron Valley Schools

High School

Erik Meerschaert
Lake Orion High School
Lake Orion Community Schools

 

Thank you to our program sponsors!

Marla Feldman

Gary Gabel

The Paul Foundation

Brian O’Keefe

Marina Schloff

Kevin Sendi

Volkswagen

Anne Young