From left: Teacher of the Year winners Samia Fawaz (3rd-5th grades), Sharifah Ahmed (middle school), and Amanda Lichocki (high school). Honoree Seena Ankouni (pre-kindergarten through 2nd grades) is not pictured.

DEARBORN — Students, parents, colleagues and community leaders honored four outstanding Dearborn Public Schools teachers on May 20 at the 2015 Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony. More than 400 people attended the event hosted by the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center.

The Chamber’s Education Committee, chaired by Philipp Emma, had the tough job of selecting four winners from a field of more than 900 nominations for 239 teachers. Nominations were sorted into four grade level groups: pre-kindergarten through second grade; third-fifth grade; middle school; and high school.

The winning teachers are Lowrey Elementary School first grade teacher Seena Ankouni; Samia Fawaz, a fourth grade language arts teacher at Lowrey Elementary School; Sharifah Ahmed, an eighth grade teacher in the district and Amanda Lichocki, who teaches ninth grade English at Fordson High School.

Students nominated the teachers. Ankouni was nominated by student Seena Abdulla who wrote, “This was my first year at Lowrey. I had no friends because I was new to the school and very shy. My teacher knew I was struggling to make friends, so she asked the class if they can be my friend.”

Student Mona Berry nominated Fawaz for her tremendous efforts as a teacher, stating that Fawaz “makes learning positive and fun. She creates a positive and fun classroom. My classroom feels like home. I always feel comfortable in my classroom and at school.”

The four honorees each received a $1,000 cash prize and a hand-made glass apple award and they are now part of a select group of Dearborn teachers who have been recognized by the community for their ability to make a difference.  In addition, the school where each teacher of the year works received a cash prize.