MACAE would like to congratulate its 2009 Award Recipients on their career accomplishments which reflect years of passion, hard work and resourcefulness in serving their communities and advocating for lifelong learning for all ages.

Robin Soergel, 2009 Administrator of the Year
Robin is the principal of the Kellwood School Building, East Detroit Public Schools, where she oversees the daytime and evening operations of the East Detroit adult education, alternative education and leisure and enrichment (which includes preschool and parenting classes) programs. She heads a staff of 50 education professionals who serve 700-800 adults a semester, over 1,000 elementary students in the curriculum enrichment program, and over 2,000 people a year in the leisure and enrichment program.  She is known “to be firm, but fair when disciplining students, and treats everyone with courtesy and respect, handling all her responsibilities with outstanding professionalism.” In addition to being an outstanding program principal, Robin is also very active in the MACAE organization, serving on the board Professional Development Committee, helping organize events and lending  a hand wherever needed. She always comes to MACAE monthly focus group meetings clutching great resources or ideas in her hands for sharing with others and to help MACAE better serve its members. She was nominated by Geniene Kreger of East Detroit Public Schools.

Bedford Public Schools, 2009 District of the Year
For the past 39 years, Bedford Public Schools has embraced the concept of community education and community schools, bringing together over 40 active partners to offer a wide array of programs and support services to children and families. Headed by Sharon Throm, a long-time MACAE member, Bedford’s community education team is comprised of over 80 full-time and part-time staff and 1,500 volunteers who provide services and supports to the entire community, from senior citizens to preschool children. The school district was one of only three in the country to receive designation as a National Community School of Excellence by the Coalition of Community Schools in June of 2006. Although it is part of Bedford Public Schools, the community education department is seen as financially self-supporting. It relies on numerous funding sources to operate programs which have kept community education alive in these challenging economic times. Bedford’s community education extends well beyond the definition it holds. If a homebound senior is in need of a hot meal every day, community education is there. Adults can complete their education and go to work knowing their children are in great care and have every opportunity to get involved in a rich array of safe, healthy, outside school activities.

Dr. Marlana Krolicki , 2009 President's Award
Marlana is a new MACAE board member, a veteran alternative education focus group chair and consultant extraordinaire for Oakland Schools. Always there when you need a hand or guidance, Marlana is a very passionate, hard working public servant. Although always eager to learn about promising new practices, she is a highly energized powerhouse of knowledge and resources in her own right and graciously shares with her colleagues. Perhaps what motivates Marlana most to achieve such high levels of personal and professional excellence is her concern for struggling learners. She has an inexhaustible drive to discover, research and promote best practices for helping the hardest-to-serve learners, whom she always has on her mind. Her leadership in helping plan and facilitate the 2008 Michigan Drop-Out Prevention Summit, chair a committee for the statewide Shared Youth Vision Partnership, in addition to successfully applying for a No Worker Left Behind Adult Basic Education grant for Oakland County reflects what a great asset she is to the community and adult education family.

George Barker, 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award
Having dedicated his career to providing lifelong learning opportunities for the Flint community, George Barker retired after completing the 2008-09 school year. He has over 30 years experience and has long championed community and adult education, most recently as the Director of Mott Adult High School. Mott graduates over 170 students and awards 300 GED certificates a year. Having experienced many changes in community education throughout his career, George has been a tremendous resource for his colleagues, staff, students and MACAE in helping them strive to succeed. An example of George’s creativity when it comes to helping his community, is the Mott Adult High School’s “Little Give” held last year as a staff human relations day competition. Based on Oprah’s “Big Give” challenge, staff raised over $6,500 in cash, goods and services in just 3.5 hours—with no advance notice to plan. The results, including a job interview for one unemployed mother, benefitted struggling members of the community. As a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, we hope George will continue to help our leadership and members navigate these challenging waters for many years to come.