Lapeer Education Association

06/02/2026

Meet our 2026 Shannon Nichols LEA Scholarship recipient, Addison Fidler!

Addie is the daughter of member Nichole Fidler.

Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me. Not only in the aspect of financial aid, but also because Shannon Nichols was my fourth and fifth grade teacher. Mrs. Nichols had an incredible impact on my life. She was an amazing woman who was kind and thoughtful, and taught me so much academically as well as how to be a good human. She taught me to always be kind, and treat others the way I would want to be treated. It is because of her that I am the person I am today. I am extremely grateful for this scholarship, as well as Mrs. Nichols influence on my life.

05/04/2026

LEA,
During this teacher appreciation week, we appreciate you!
No one knows the ins and outs of our classrooms like your fellow members and classroom neighbors do.
Have a few laughs, know you’re valuable, and thank you for all you do. 🌹

04/09/2026

Lapeer County is now live with the RAVE emergency alert system.

This system allows us to send important alerts directly to you by phone call, text message, email, and more.

If you’re not already signed up, now is the time.

Register here:
https://www.smart911.com/smart911/login.action?lpse=1

Or text lapeer to 226787 to sign up.

Stay informed. Stay safe.

02/02/2026

01/16/2026

🧐

A report from Michigan State University says Michigan teachers are leaving the field at an unsustainable rate. The report released Thursday highlights a reliance on temporary or interim credentials. Despite

01/14/2026

12/23/2025

Our members report absenteeism as a huge obstacle in learning. We see many students with chronic absences. We are talking anywhere from 20-40 days absent just this school year.
What do you think?

By Erik Edoff, Senior Executive Director, Michigan Education Association Too many students across Michigan are missing too much time at school and falling further behind their peers. We must come together as a state to address this problem head-on so we can fulfill our promise to provide every stude...

12/05/2025

We’re catching up with Mrs. Kaitlyn Buscemi again this year, and we’re excited to share what she’s been up to at Turrill!

Kaitlyn is in her 6th year with Lapeer Schools, all at Turrill Elementary. She currently teaches 2nd grade and previously taught Kindergarten at Turrill, as well as Kindergarten and 3rd grade in other districts before joining us in Lapeer.

Her favorite part of teaching is getting students genuinely excited about learning. One of the ways she brings this to life is through her classroom economy and store, where students earn and spend classroom currency—building responsibility, ownership, and enthusiasm along the way. Kaitlyn also deeply values building strong, positive connections with her students’ families.

Kaitlyn grew up in Romeo, completed her undergraduate degree at Wayne State University, and earned her master’s through Western Governors University.

Outside the classroom, she loves spending time with her husband, their two dogs, and their two young children (ages 4 and 1). Their family is often found camping or working on renovations in their new home.

Thank you for all you do for our students!

11/21/2025

Read this!

As educators, we have an ethical responsibility to prepare kids for the real world.

11/19/2025

Meet Mrs. Jennifer Olko!

Mrs. Olko is in her 4th year with Lapeer Community Schools and her 20th year in education. She currently teaches Early Childhood Special Education at Kids & Company, where hands-on learning is at the heart of her classroom. Her students especially loved creating baking-soda volcanoes and watching them “erupt,” as well as pounding golf tees into pumpkins—an activity that brought both joy and great fine-motor practice.

Before joining LCS, Mrs. Olko spent 12 years teaching at St. Paul Lutheran School in Lapeer. Her roots in the community run deep: both of her daughters attended St. Paul, Rolland Warner, and Lapeer High School, and she is an active member of Lapeer Assembly of God.

Mrs. Olko graduated from Oakland University in 2006 with a BS in Elementary Education. She went on to earn her ZA endorsement in 2012 and her ZS endorsement in 2018.

Outside the classroom, Mrs. Olko and her husband enjoy riding motorcycles and exploring Michigan during the summer and fall. This past year, they rode to the Upper Peninsula to visit Tahquamenon Falls. The true highlight of their summer, though, was becoming grandparents in June!

We’re grateful to have Mrs. Olko as part of LCS—her energy, compassion, and hands-on approach make a lasting impact on her students every day.