Michele McKay Honored as Troy Schools' Outstanding Support Staff

'Commitment, initiative, strong work ethic, enthusiasm, willingness to assist others, and winning attitude,' earned McKay, a senior accounting clerk at the Administration Building, the annual award.

Michele McKay, a 34-year employee with the Troy School District, was honored with the 2012-2013 Outstanding Support Staff Award at Monday's Board of Education meeting. McKay started as a junior bookkeeper in 1979 and became a senior bookkeeper in 1993. She works as a senior accounting clerk in the Administration Building. "Michele's commitment, initiative, strong work ethic, enthusiasm, willingness to assist others, and winning attitude makes her an asset to the District and earned her this award," reads the resolution. "Michele continuously exhibits these personal qualities which have endeared her to the staff at the Administration Building and her coworkers of the Troy School District." McKay was selected from a pool of candidates …

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November Bond Issue on the Troy School Board's Agenda

Here is the plan for the board meeting tonight at 7 p.m.

If you're seeking knowledge on happenings in the Troy School District, you won't want to miss Tuesday's meeting at 7 p.m. If you're interested in participating, visit the board room at the Services Building and be sure to read the guidelines for the public that are on the agenda (PDF). Televised meetings can be found online at TS-TV. Here's a look at what's on the agenda: Recognition Business The Services Building is located at 4420 Livernois Rd., Troy. For more information, visit their website or give them a call at (248) 823-4000.

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Troy Schools Will Seek Millage to Upgrade Security

A seven-year, 4.4 millage levy proposal will go before voters in November.

Principal 'Finishes' Boston Marathon in Troy

Bombings cut short Pam Mathers' 26.2 mile race, but she crossed the line days later with the support of students and staff at Hamilton Elementary School.

Dr. Pam Mathers' dream of finishing the Boston Marathon was cut short Monday when she was stopped a half mile from the end of the race because of deadly bomb blasts near the finish line. Like many other Metro Detroit runners, she was left without the celebration of crossing the tape and receiving the coveted medal. However, Wednesday morning at Troy Hamilton Elementary School, students, faculty, and administration recreated the spectacle to cheer their principal to the finish. They lined the library and clapped and hooted as she crossed through the makeshift 2013 Boston Marathon tape. She was then handed a bouquet of pink roses and a finisher's medal as she beamed. "My hope was to come back and have it be a teachable moment, saying that if…

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Autism Expert to Speak at Troy Parent Meeting Next Week

Dr. Mark Bowers, a pediatric psychologist in Ann Arbor, will present at the April 15 meeting of the Troy Special Education Parent Advisory Committee.

The Troy Special Education Parent Advisory Committee will host autism expert Dr. Mark Bowers at its next meeting April 15 in recognition of Autism Awareness Month. The committee, which aims to empower families of special needs students with the process of obtaining programs and services for their children in the district, will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, April 15 at the Troy School District Services Building at 4420 Livernois. Ann Arbor pediatric psychologist Mark Bowers, Ph.D., will present "Understanding and Supporting Students on the Autism Spectrum: Autism, Asperger's and Everything in Between." Bowers recently developed a mobile application to help children practice and improve their social skills and he has written a book on improving …

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Troy High Schoolers Meet 'Cinderella' - a Burmese Python Snake

Presentation made by Troy-based small business to teach leadership.

Students in the Troy School District's Adult Ed/High School Completion program on Thursday received a visit from a small business owner in Troy and his not-so-small friend. Michael Brophy of R.E.P.T.I.L.E. Inc. visited as part of an ongoing series of presentations focused on creating leaders in schools by using examples from around the community. He brought with him a Burmese python, named Cinderella. "His presentation was very worthwhile, and the bonus of his reptile friend was very exciting!" said teacher Michelle Haight. These photos provided by Troy School District. Do you have a photo you want to show off? Upload them to our Pics & Clips Gallery!

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Troy Superintendent Fowler Among Top Paid in Michigan

A new Mackinac Center for Public Policy database shows her total compensation, including salary, benefits and deferred payments, totals more than $273,000.

While her salary ranks a bit higher, Troy School District Superintendent Dr. Barbara Fowler's total compensation package from the district makes her the seventh-highest paid top administrator in Michigan.  According to a searchable database compiled by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Fowler is paid a salary of $204,793, the state's fourth-highest. Fowler's $273,615 compensation package includes more than $57,000 in deferred compensation, split between pension and annuity, according to the database. According to budget transparency figures provided on the district's website, her salary in calendar year 2011 was $215,093 and her total compensation was $291,632. Troy schools has the state's 16th highest enrollment, with more than 12,…

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Troy's 4-Year Graduation Rate Looks Positive

Schools deal with more-rigorous standards to graduate while 'interventions' help lower dropout rate.

The four-year graduation rates for students at Troy schools outpace the state by more than 14 percent, according to data released last week by the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI). Troy schools graduated 874 students last year in its four-year cohort, a rate of 90.29 percent. The dropout rate was an even 3 percent. Students are divided into "cohorts"—a combination of students who began ninth grade in the district four years prior, and including students who transferred in or our within the four year period. So for 2012 graduates, the cohort includes students who began high school at Troy schools in 2008, or transferred into the district before 2012 graduation. The state also tracks students who were off …

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8 Troy Students Named 2013 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates

'They are wonderful representative of the Troy School District,' writes Superintendent Barbara A. Fowler.

Eight students in the Troy School District have been named U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. These students were selected based on their exceptional scholarship, leadership, service to the community and/or talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. “We are very proud to have so many students named as U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates,” said Troy School District Superintendent Barbara A. Fowler. “This level of achievement is outstanding and these students should be commended for their dedication and commitment to their educational goals. They are wonderful representative of the Troy School District.” Many of the students were selected based on their scores on the …

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