A Niles High School graduate will be honored by the Niles Education Foundation at their fifth annual “Legendary Evening” fundraiser on Friday, August 10 at the newly renovated Fifty5.
The NEF Board of Trustees made its selection of the honorees with input from faculty and administrators, and suggestions from the public, based on a criteria of “making a difference” in the Niles community and around the world.
This year’s legendary Niles High School alumni that will be honored is Michelle Asmus. Michelle is a graduate of Niles High School, she attended Michigan State University and Bowling Green State University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and her Masters in Educational Leadership from IUSB.
Michelle began her teaching career in the Toledo Public Schools, which is the fourth largest school district in the state of Ohio. Michelle taught 1st, 3rd and 6th grades at Walbridge and Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary Schools. In 2000 Michelle was contacted by her old 2nd grade teacher Barb Garrard, which was now serving as the Principal of Howard-Ellis, about a teaching position at Howard-Ellis Elementary. As a student in Niles Michelle had attended Northside and Ballard but had never roamed the halls of Howard-Ellis. Michelle took advantage of this great opportunity to teach at Howard-Ellis so she could be closer to family and to raise her children in the school district she loved. Michelle quickly rose through the ranks of elementary education at Howard-Ellis School and served as the Assistant Principal from 2004-2009 before becoming the Principal. Michelle is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association.
Michelle and her husband Jason have 2 boys. Her two sons attend Howard-Ellis. Michelle and her husband Jason take an active role in their sons’ activities. On any given day of the week you will find Michelle at Howard Township Baseball Park cheering on a student, painting a bathroom or organizing concession volunteers. On Sunday’s you will find Michelle at Summit Church volunteering as a greeter or working with the JOY Group and Michelle participates in many other non-profit activities.
The Niles Education Foundation raises money each year to acquire and grant resources exclusively in support of the Niles Community Schools for programs and projects suggested by teachers and administrators aimed at enhancing, enriching and supplementing learning opportunities for students, staff and community. Since its establishment in 2009, the Niles Education Foundation has impacted over 6,000 Niles Community students and invested more than $175,000 for the enhancement of public education at Niles Community Schools.
Please join the Niles Education Foundation on Friday, August 10th at Fifty5 venue. The Fifty5 is a brand new venue located on the lower level of the former Elks Temple on the corner of Third and Cedar Streets to recognize this Exemplary Viking. Tickets to the “Legendary Evening” are $35 per person.
For more information please contact NilesCommunity Schools (269) 683-6662 or www.nileseducationfoundation.org.
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