HOLLAND, Mich. — It’s that time of year again and 13 ON YOUR SIDE is revealing our very first Teacher of the Week for the 2024-2025 school year. He’s been with the same school district for nearly a quarter century and says teaching has been his passion from the very beginning.
After an assembly surprise, Andrew Szczerowski, who teaches at Blue Star Elementary School in Holland, said, “It’s humbling, right? It’s a very emotional, very – it’s a job in which you give a lot and it’s fun to know that at least someone along the line was affected positively.”
Principal Dr. Kari Huckaby said, “I was super excited because he is so deserving of this recognition.”
He’s Mr. Szczerowski, but Mr. S. to his students, and originally from Posen.
“Shout out Posen,” he said to the camera while holding up a peace sign.
He says there are a couple of reasons he became a teacher.
“When I was in high school, I was able to go down to the elementary and help in the PE classes,” said Mr. S. “From the age of like 16 I knew I liked working with kids and I pinpointed fourth grade. I’ve always worked with fourth grade. The nine and 10-year-old child is what I was meant to work with. So, that is the why.”
He also says he’s a teacher because of his dad.
Laughing, he said, “He kind of brainwashed me into becoming a teacher early on because in the summer I’d have off and I could go back and work. I know that sounds funny but now we look back and reminisce and laugh about that, but it has been my passion forever.”
The Aquinas College graduate said, “I worked and got three degrees at once. So, I had a teaching degree, a biology degree and also a business degree at the same time. Not quite sure where I would be taken in life but knew I would have options and if I burnt one bridge, there would be plenty more to walk over.”
He joined Hamilton Community Schools as soon as he graduated.
“I was blessed that I met a principal of Hamilton while still in college and when I decided to walk down that path, I reached out to him. 23 years later, here I am,” said Szczerowski.
He said being our first Teacher of the Week is a great start to the school year.
“It’s exhilarating and it’s fun for the kids, as well. Like, they’ll remember this forever and that’s the coolest thing.”
Principal Huckaby said, “When students walk into his classroom, they know they are cared for. He inspires them to love math, and he shares, every day, authentic stories to help guide them to be amazing people.”
“Teaching – the phrase that I use and I think about often – it’ll kill you or fulfill you and it is your choice and I choose to be fulfilled by it,” said Szczerowski.
This recognition hopefully adding to that fulfillment.
He told 13 ON YOUR SIDE, “In a way, it makes me feel validated. The passion and the energy you need to have to be great at this profession is draining but when you hear that it makes a positive effect in these kiddos, it really does make a difference. It just drives you. It’s what life is all about, right?”
“Gratitude is something that we actually spent a whole month focusing on. How can we practice gratitude. Life is hard and yet when you have gratitude in your life, that can help you get through that day,” said Dr. Huckaby.
“Teachers in general – it is amazing how small little comments and words of affirmation and words of appreciation can make a tremendous difference. They are constantly giving of themselves and every once in a while, it’s nice to fill their bucket,” said Szczerowski.
If you have someone you’d like to nominate as our next Teacher of the Week just text the word “teacher” to 616-559-1310.