At Pioneer High School, Abby Hood is the kind of student whose impact is felt as much in quiet moments as in visible achievements.

Chosen as Pioneer’s 2025-26 DAR Good Citizen and the Sarah Caswell Angell Chapter’s overall Good Citizen winner, Abby was nominated by her teacher, Lisabeth Mikolajczyk, for the qualities she shows every day: leadership, service, and strong character.

The Ann Arbor PTO Council (PTOC) is launching an online fundraiser to boost PTO funding at Title I elementary schools. 

PTOs typically supplement gaps in school funding, but because of wealth and resource inequities among public schools in our own community, not all PTOs are able to raise equal amounts of money.

One of the most rewarding parts of my work is watching students grow and become the best versions of themselves. Middle school can be such a pivotal and challenging transition period. I remember it being one of the hardest stages during my own childhood. Because of that, it is incredibly meaningful to support my students as they navigate academic, social, and emotional challenges. Seeing them build confidence, develop maturity, and experience success makes this work truly fulfilling.

Pioneer High School alumni Olivia Gregory and Melody Hassani return to AAPS to lead inclusive classrooms at Skyline. The pair first connected as students at Pioneer, where they had enrolled in Peer Connections, an elective designed to build meaningful relationships between students with and without disabilities.

Throughout my career, I have seen how early, intentional support and strong relationships can make a lasting difference for students with diverse learning needs. I was inspired to move into the resource room setting because it allows me to work closely with students while also collaborating with teachers and families to remove barriers to learning and promote meaningful inclusion.