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Ryan Smith, a physical education teacher at Orchard Hills and and K-6 Electives Content Area Leader for the Novi Community School District, was named to the Oakland County Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2022.

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter announced members of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2022 on Feb. 28, 2022. 

These individuals exemplify Oakland Together, Coulter's vision for a community working together to leverage its strengths, address its challenges, and find value in working with regional partners.

 "This diverse group of exceptional individuals are leaders and entrepreneurs, activists and teachers," Coulter said. "But overall, they are all passionate about their communities, successful in their careers and bound for great things in the future. They embody the Oakland Together message that blends talent, skill and excellence with a commitment to public service."

To learn more about the entire Class of 2022 visit www.oakgov.com.

"I am incredibly honored and humbled to be selected as a member of the Oakland County Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2022," Smith said. "I take great pride in being a leader within my community and helping grow Oakland County towards the Oakland Together Vision. Being a Novi graduate who still lives in Oakland County and has spent the majority of my educational career working within the Novi Community School District, I have worked tirelessly to help grow and develop deep relationships with the community and its stakeholders.

"My only hope is that I will have the opportunity to continue to serve the people of Novi and Oakland County as we grow together to develop the best future for all.”

NOVI — JoEllen Steinhebel of Orchard Hills Elementary School, was honored with a certificate of recognition on Wednesday as the 2019 Betty Campion Support Staff winner by the Oakland County Education Foundation.

The Betty Campion Distinguished Support Service Award was established in 1990 “to recognize the many contributions support persons make to the learning community in Oakland County. The award is named in honor of former Oakland Schools Board Member Betty Campion.”

Nominees of the Betty Campion Award are members of a local school district’s support staff, which includes transportation, maintenance, custodial, clerical, food service or classroom support and paraeducators.

“As I para, I work with students on their writing and their reading,” Steinhebel said. “I love the kids and love working with the staff. I have a wonderful staff and they are like a second family to me.”

Teachers and staff at Orchard Hills held a recognition luncheon for Steinhebel on Wednesday afternoon.

Orchard Hills staff combined to write a letter in support of Steinhebel, who was nominated by Orchard Hills Principal Pam Quitiquit.

According to the nomination letter: “JoEllen is an ideal choice for this award because she has the ability to reach her students in ways that ignite their success. Students who have ‘Ms. S’ to support them always want to please and impress her. She is consistently kind with all of her students and sets high expectations for their success. She believe in their abilities and goes above and beyond to help them see themselves in the same light…. She follows a challenging schedule to meet the needs of the very young students that she supports.”

Steinhebel helped to decorate the entrance to the school and library in March during National Reading Month. During lunch recess, she goes outside to help students with problem solving. She has also helped provide transportation to staff members who need a ride to and from school.

She has worked at Orchard Hills for the last five years. Prior to that she also worked at Village Oaks Elementary, Parkview Elementary and Novi Woods Elementary.

The Novi Community School District is pleased to announce that Adva Ringle will become the next principal of Orchard Hills Elementary, effective July 1.

“Adva Ringle will be a strong leader for Orchard Hills,” said Dr. Steve Matthews, Superintendent of NCSD. “She believes in our students and understands the importance of a strong and capable staff. She will work with the parents at Orchard Hills to carry on the strong tradition of student success and continue to build a great place for our students.”

Principal Pam Quitiquit previously announced plans to retire at the end of 2020-2021 school year, after 20 years in the Novi Community School District and over 40 years in public education. 

The Orchard Hills staff provided insight into four key areas of skill and knowledge for the next principal: instructional leadership, relationship building, equity ad knowledge of how to support students.

Mrs. Ringle has served as supervisor of the NCSD’s English Language Development Program since 2019. She developed and implemented, in collaboration with the ELD team, a K-12 English Language development tiered intervention (T2/3) for English Learners who are struggling to develop English language skills. 

She also designed and implemented the creation of a Parent Engagement Committee team that led multiple family events that foster partnership that is relational and linked to learning between the Novi Community School District and the families of English Learners.

“I’m excited to join the Orchard Hills team and looks forward to building relationships with the OH students, staff, and families,” Ringle said. “I’m fortunate to become part of the OH family, to have the opportunity to learn together, and to continue to build on the advocacy work led by Ms. Quitiquit”

Ringle earned a Master in K-12 Educational Administration and a Secondary Teaching Certification in English Language Arts from Michigan State University. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Prior to joining NCSD, she was the K-12 English Language Teacher and Program Coordinator for Holt Public Schools from 2016-2019. She taught eighth grade English Language Arts at Lowell Area Schools from 2014-2016.

She is married to Ryan Ringle, a senior staff physicist at Michigan State University.