Our Alumni in Today’s Classrooms
Educators Strengthening Michigan Classrooms
Every day, educators across Michigan are making a profound difference in the lives of students — building belonging, inspiring curiosity, and preparing the next generation. At Talent Together, we are proud to support and celebrate the teachers doing this important work.
Talent Together has supported the preparation of 350 new teacher certifications and endorsements. These educators are strengthening the instructional capacity of districts across the state, helping grow and sustain Michigan’s educator workforce at a time when students and communities need it most.
As Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency Deputy Superintendent Beth Gonzalez shared, “Right now, it could not be more important to remove barriers to the teaching profession. This initiative is an example of our great state coming together to prepare future teachers in innovative ways.”
That innovation is showing up in classrooms every day through the work of Talent Together alumni.
Nicole Blake: Building Confidence and Collaboration in her Fifth-Grade Classroom
After discovering a passion for teaching through substitute work in public schools and a semester teaching at a homeschool co-op, Talent Together alum Nicole Blake took the next step into the profession by applying to Talent Together. Encouraged by colleagues and school leaders, she joined the program and is now thriving in her own fifth-grade classroom at The Dearborn Academy, where she teaches all subjects to approximately 25 students.
Nicole also works with upper-elementary students during What I Need (WIN) time, helping them build reading and word-study skills. Through collaborative strategies like think-pair-share, turn-and-talks, partner work, and interactive math discussions, she creates opportunities for students to share their thinking and solve problems together. One of her favorite daily routines is reading aloud to students after lunch, using chapter books to spark discussion and cultivate a love of reading.
Nicole shares, “Talent Together provided a way for me to go back to school to get my Master’s in
Teaching, leading me into my own classroom this year, and I am very grateful to have this
opportunity to teach here. I am constantly learning new things, and I am looking forward to continuing to learn and grow.”
Eric Hanby: Expanding Impact Across the Classroom and School Community
Since completing Talent Together, alum Eric Hanby’s role in education has continued to evolve far beyond traditional classroom teaching. Certified in Secondary Social Studies, Speech, and Earth & Space Science, Eric brings a broad academic background and multiple areas of expertise to his work supporting students in a combined junior-senior high setting at Cass City Public Schools.
This year, he teaches U.S. History, Sociology, Communications, Peer Mentors, Technology, and supports online students, while also having experience teaching Earth and Space Science. In addition to his instructional role, Eric has taken on coaching, extracurricular leadership, grant writing, and even helps produce his school’s podcast. He has also expanded his impact beyond the classroom by earning his Class B CDL through his district’s in-house program, allowing him to support additional school needs as a bus driver.
Eric works with approximately 100 students across grades 7–12, adapting to the evolving needs of his building and students. He credits classroom management routines and expectations as one of the most valuable foundations from his Talent Together experience, along with his coursework in special education, which continues to inform his collaboration with special education staff and support of diverse learners.
In his instruction, Eric emphasizes guided notes and graphic organizers to help students identify key concepts and organize their thinking. He is also expanding his instructional toolbox with engagement strategies such as games, storytelling, movement, and mnemonic devices to help students better retain and connect with content.
Eric’s journey represents new teachers stepping into leadership roles, expanding their impact across school systems, and continuing to adapt to meet the needs of students and communities.
Hoda Karazi: Nurturing Curiosity and Confidence in Early Learners
Since completing Talent Together, alum Hoda Karazi has grown into a confident and reflective kindergarten teacher, strengthening her ability to meet the diverse needs of young learners. Through her experience, she has become more intentional in her planning, more flexible in her instruction, and more attuned to supporting a wide range of students within one classroom.
Now teaching all core subjects in a kindergarten classroom at McDonald Elementary School, Hoda works with 28 students. She creates a structured and supportive classroom environment grounded in clear routines, strong relationships, and differentiated instruction. Through small group learning, hands-on activities, and formative assessment, she ensures each student is supported and engaged.
She shares, “I’ve become more intentional in my planning and more flexible in meeting the needs of all my students.”
Hoda brings learning to life through interactive and student-centered experiences. From literacy and math centers to partner work and reading buddies, her classroom emphasizes collaboration and communication. One of her favorite teaching methods is hands-on science learning, such as observing and documenting the butterfly life cycle, allowing students to explore, question, and connect with the world around them.
Her work reflects the importance of strong foundations in early education—building not only academic skills, but also confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning. Hoda’s story highlights how Talent Together alumni are creating engaging, inclusive classroom environments where every student can grow and thrive.
Strengthening the Workforce Across Michigan
Stories like Nicole, Eric, and Hoda’s represent a broader movement underway across Michigan.
Through our Registered Apprenticeship Program and coursework through our educator preparation partnerships, districts are growing their own talent, removing barriers to certification, and investing in educators who already know and love their communities.
This year, Talent Together has also developed new offboarding processes for Teacher Candidates and has begun expanding structured alumni opportunities. As we continue to learn from our graduates, it has been incredibly meaningful to see former Teacher Candidates step into new roles, thrive in their classrooms, and lead with confidence from day one.
This work is about more than filling vacancies. These teachers are strengthening Michigan’s educator workforce through commitment and preparation while building stable, thriving learning environments for students. Behind every number is an educator making a difference. That is worth celebrating.