Building Stronger Communities Together

Our teachers should be recognized more often for their hard work and commitment to making a difference in their students' lives. Highline invites you to nominate someone you feel deserves to be recognized as a Teacher of the Month. Winning teachers will receive a gift card.

June 2025 Teacher of Month is Danielle Segerstom from Big Bay De Noc Schools.
Danielle is just finishing up her sixth-year teaching 3rd grade at Big Bay.

Danielle’s 3rd grade phenomenal teacher inspired her to become a teacher. She had a very big life event happen when she was in third grade and her teacher was fantastic that made her feel like she wanted to be that person for other kids. She grew up in Wisconsin, went to college at NMU where she met her husband who grew up in the Cooks/Garden area.

Mrs. Segerstrom loves the kids she teaches. They make it so that it’s fun to learn what they are working on, fun to interact with, fun to see how their brains work as opposed to how her brain works, it just blows her away how some of the kids think, things that she wouldn’t think of the way they do. She loves hatching chicks and ducks during the school year. While several of her students are exposed to chickens and ducks, the kids learn where they come from and how to care for them once they arrive. In the beginning they say that’s so gross but, in the end, they say that’s so cool! By the end of the school year, they are leaving much more responsible than they were at the beginning of the year. She has another favorite unit to teach, the Iditarod unit. Danielle takes her students to a local dog kennel, and they get to go dog sledding. She and her class also follow the Iditarod sled dog races where they pick a musher to follow for the entire race, talk about time management, what to pack, what the
rules are, the history of the Iditarod. It is definitely not something they would get exposure to in most classrooms. The administration side of teaching is the not so fun but necessary part of teaching. Teachers are required to keep up with new state standards and best practices, but it does not stop her from enjoying her students.

Danielle is married, she has three children, a three year old and 2-year-old twins that keep her busy. She has two hunting dogs, one for upland game and the other for waterfowl. Their family enjoys hunting and fishing and hanging out together.
Danielle loves teaching at Big Bay De Noc Schools and is so happy she ended up there. She enjoys the small school atmosphere that allows the staff to connect with the students. She knows the students coming into her classroom for the new year and can always reach out to the students’ previous teacher to ask questions on how to help her new students if needed. The administration is extremely supportive and show a willingness to work with staff members to figure out the best way to help the students succeed. Danielle told us, “I absolutely love Big Bay De Noc!”
Danielle’s nominator told us, “Danielle is a kind, caring and Fun teacher! Not only does she teach the kids the basic courses she goes above and beyond! She teaches them to make bread, hatch chicken and ducks! They follow the Iditarod and then go for a sled dog ride on a field trip! A teacher that’s amazing, that is Danielle Segerstrom!

Mrs. Segerstrom, I wish my third-grade teacher would have been just like you! You make learning interesting and fun, which makes it much more enjoyable for your students.
Please tell a teacher “Thank you”—and please tell Danielle Segerstrom THANK YOU, for all her hard work and dedication to her students.

Our Teacher of the Month is Mr. Marcus Flowers, a 5th grade math & science teacher, at Upson Lee Elementary School! Thank you, Mr. Flowers for your dedication to helping students succeed! 

We want to announce Carsonville Fire Department as our first responder of the month. Every one of these firefighters deserves recognition. Such Brave and kind men AND women. Thank you for all that you do.  

Dr. Adam Ingrao of Bee Wise Farms explains exactly what high-speed internet means to his life, his home, and his work in this short but powerful video.