Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Awards

 

VFW Post 6464

2025-2026

Teacher of the Year Grade (K-5)

Webberville Elementary School

Rebecca Goodman

 

 

 

Rebecca Goodman nomination for Aaron Mayes:

 

It is my great privilege to nominate Mrs. Rebecca Goodman for the VFW Citizenship Teacher of the Year Award. Mrs. Goodman serves as our Elementary Self-Contained Special Education teacher at Webberville Community Schools. Her dedication, compassion, and creativity embody what it means to be an educator who promotes inclusion, independence, and citizenship in every sense of the word.

 

What stands out most about Mrs. Goodman is her remarkable ability to include her students in the world around them. She works tirelessly to ensure that her students are active participants in the school community. Her class regularly attends school assemblies, fire safety week demonstrations, and other building-wide events. She makes sure her students are part of every experience—from climbing into emergency vehicles during Fire Safety Week to cheering on classmates during assemblies—so they feel valued and included in every aspect of school life.

 

When her students cannot go out into the world, Mrs. Goodman brings the world to them. She has coordinated with the local district library to bring books directly into her classroom, allowing her students to check out materials and experience the joy of reading. These moments help foster a love of learning while also strengthening connections with the broader community.

 

Mrs. Goodman also takes her students out into real-world settings to develop essential life and communication skills. She plans thoughtful and engaging field trips, such as visiting a pumpkin patch, going bowling, or eating at a local restaurant where students practice ordering their own meals while staying within a budget. Each experience teaches independence, confidence, and social responsibility in an authentic, meaningful way. One of the most memorable traditions she leads is taking her students trick-or-treating through the high school, where they interact with older students and practice communication in a supportive environment.

 

Mrs. Rebecca Goodman’s compassion, innovation, and commitment to inclusion make her a shining example of what it means to teach citizenship. She shows her students—and all of us—that every individual deserves to be seen, valued, and included. 

 

VFW Post 6464 K-5 Elementary School Winners

2025-2026     Rebecca Goodman             Webberville Elementary           Webberville, Michigan

2024-2025     Nicole Elliott                      Webberville Elementary           Webberville, Michigan*

2022-2023     Jennifer Johnson                 Natalie Kreeger Elementary     Fowlerville, Michigan

2021-2022     Christine J Schoendorff      Voyager Elementary                 Howell, Michigan **

2019-2020     Jason Kubiak                      Webberville Elementary           Webberville, Michigan

2018-2019     Jennifer Paruszkiewicz       Natalie Kreeger Elementary      Fowlerville, Michigan 

2018-2019     Andrea Hart                        H. T. Smith Elementary             Fowlerville, Michigan

2010-2011     Tammy Steffee's                 Natalie Kreeger Elementary      Fowlerville, Michigan ***

 

District Winner *

Department of Michigan Winner **

VFW National Winner ***

 

VFW Post 6464

2025-2026

Teacher of the Year Grade (6 - 8)

Webberville Middle School

Aaron Mayes

 

 

Aaron Mayes nomination letter for Rebecca Goodman:

 

It is with great pride and admiration that I nominate Mrs. Aaron Mayes, an exceptional middle school English teacher at Webberville Schools, for the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year Award. For more than twenty years, Mrs. Mayes has exemplified dedication, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to her students and community.

 

In the classroom, Mrs. Mayes consistently goes beyond her duties to foster citizenship, responsibility, and service. As an English teacher, she not only builds strong foundations in reading and writing but also inspires students to use their voices for positive change. Each year, she ensures her students participate in essay competitions such as The Patriot’s Pen and The Voice of Democracy, encouraging thoughtful reflection on patriotism, democracy, and civic responsibility.

 

Mrs. Mayes’s leadership extends far beyond teaching. She mentors new educators, serves on the Teacher Leaders Committee, and actively contributes to the MICIP Committee, promoting inclusion and school spirit. She also dedicates countless after-school hours to tutoring students, ensuring every learner has the support needed to succeed.

 

Her service-minded spirit reaches deep into the community. Mrs. Mayes volunteers with the Greater Lansing Food Bank’s Weekend Survival Kit Program, helping provide food to local families in need. She has also established a cherished tradition of weekly student walks to the Webberville Public Library, nurturing both a love of reading and community engagement.

 

Through her tireless commitment, Mrs. Mayes embodies the values honored by the Smart/Maher Award—leadership, citizenship, and devotion to youth. She not only teaches academic skills but also cultivates character, empathy, and civic pride in every student she meets.

 

For these reasons and many more, I am honored to nominate Mrs. Aaron Mayes for the VFW Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year Award. Her two decades of selfless service and unwavering dedication to education and community make her truly deserving of this recognition.

 

 VFW Post 6464 Junior High School Winners

 

2025-2026     Aaron Mayes          Webberville Middle School           Webberville, Michigan

2024-2025    Tammy Hosford      Williamston Middle School           Williamston, Michigan

2022-2023    Michelle L Spisz     Fowlerville Junior High School     Fowlerville, Michigan **

2020-2021    Michelle L Spisz     Fowlerville Junior High School     Fowlerville, Michigan **

2019-2020    Michelle L Spisz     Fowlerville Junior High School     Fowlerville, Michigan *

 

District Winner *

Department of Michigan Winner **

VFW National Winner ***

 

 VFW Post 6464

2025-2026

Teacher of the Year Grade (9 - 12)

Webberville High School

Alexander Katona

 

 

 

Aaron Mayes nomination letter for Alexander Katona:

 

It is my privilege to nominate Mr. Alexander Katonafor the VFW Citizenship Teacherof the Year Award. Mr. Katona teaches grades 9–12 social studies, current events, economics, and government at Webberville Secondary School. His ability to make civicsengaging, relevant, and meaningful to today’s youth is what sets him apart as an outstanding educator and role model.

 

Mr. Katona consistently creates innovative lessons that bring government and civic responsibility to life. His students participate in mock trials that teach them about the justice system throughhands-on experience, encouraging critical thinking and collaboration. He often transforms traditional lessonsinto interactive activities such as campus-wide scavenger hunts, connecting abstract concepts to the real world in memorable ways.

 

Beyond the classroom, Mr. Katona goes above and beyond to extend learningopportunities into the community. He has taken students to Lansing to participate in Teen Court, giving them firsthand exposure to the legal process and the importance of civic involvement. He frequently integrates local and national current events into his instruction, ensuring students understand how government and economics directly impact theirlives. By bringingoutside resources, guest speakers, and authentic learning experiences to his students, Mr. Katona ensures that civics education remains dynamic and relevant.

 

Mr. Katona leads by examplein both his professionalism and his commitment to citizenship. He models respect, responsibility, and civic duty daily, inspiring his students to do the same. His classroom is a place where discussion, debate, and curiosity thrive—qualities essential to nurturing thoughtful, engaged citizens.

 

Through his dedication, creativity, and leadership, Alexander Katona exemplifies what it means toteach citizenship. He not only educates studentsabout their government but also empowers them to play an active role in it. His work truly embodies the spirit of the VFW Citizenship Teacher of the Year Award.

 

 

  VFW Post 6464 High School Winners

 

2025-2026      Alexander Katona            Webberville, High School       Webberville, Michigan*

2024-2025     Jill Thomas                        Fowlerville High School          Fowlerville, Michigan 

2023-2024     Jill Thomas                        Fowlerville High School          Fowlerville, Michigan 

2022-2023     Jill Thomas                        Fowlerville High School          Fowlerville, Michigan 

2021-2022     Steve Kersten                    Williamston High School         Williamston, Michigan*

2019-2020     Jill Thomas                        Fowlerville High School          Fowlerville, Michigan *

2018-2019     Jill Thomas                        Fowlerville High School          Fowlerville, Michigan *

 

District Winner *

Department of Michigan Winner **

 

VFW National Winner ***