Les Cheneaux Starts Year With New Teacher, Student Council
By Amy Polk

Les Cheneaux Elementary School Student Council Advisor Mary Lindberg (behind group) stands with this year's newly elected council (back row, from left) third grade representative Annie Eberts, fourth grade representative Joey Duncan, fifth grade representative Holly Lysinger, fourth grade representative Paige Kanitz, fifth grade representative Jack Zyble; (front row) first grade representatives Courtney Cain and Trevor Kohlmann, second grade representatives Jonah Miller and Leila Schlosser, and third grade representative Jacob Goodell. The students made speeches and were elected by their classmates last Thursday, September 21.

Zack Sedgwick was officially hired to replace Valerie Masuga as the Cedarville High School mathematics teacher Monday, September 18, at the Les Cheneaux Community Schools Board of Education meeting. He moved to Cedarville with his wife, Angela, the week before school started.

He had been informally hired before the school year started, so he could be in the classroom and teaching when school began. Mrs. Masuga resigned in August to take a job as a mathematics curriculum coordinator at the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District.

At right: Zack Sedgwick is the new high school mathematics teacher at Cedarville High School.

During the Monday night meeting, High School Principal Randy Schaedig said the district was lucky to have snagged Mr. Sedgwick on such short notice, and have him in place so quickly.

"I think we were very fortunate. We were left sort of at the last hour searching for a math teacher, and he comes very highly recommended," Mr. Schaedig said. "We're very fortunate, and we welcome him."

Mr. Sedgwick, 26, comes to the district with more than two years of teaching experience.

He was graduated from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, and he taught in Charlotte, North Carolina, for 1.5 years. He taught in Marquette at Marquette Senior High School last year.

Mr. Sedgwick is originally from Alpena, and was graduated from Alcona High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in education with a major in mathematics and minor in psychology.

He said he has always wanted to be a mathematics teacher, and he enjoys the subject "because it continually challenges me and the students to explore, and it's a great way to explore abstract and complex ideas."

He enjoys interacting with young people, and said he loves to see students learn.

"I love having an impact on students at such a young age," he said.

The most difficult thing about his teaching mathematics is when students earn poor grades, he said.

"I don't enjoy being the figure of failure, and being the one who has to give a poor grade, even if they are the ones to get the grade," he said.

Mr. Sedgwick said he also enjoys being part of the communities in which he lives and teaches.

Both Mr. Sedgwick and his wife, Angela, said they appreciate the beauty of the area and the small size and location of the district, which is about halfway between his hometown and family in Alpena and his wife's hometown and family in Marquette.

The Sedgwicks both enjoy spending time outside, and participate in outdoor recreation like kayaking, bicycling, and fishing.

Mrs. Sedgwick is a dog groomer, and she is studying to be a Christian counselor.