Two dedicated teachers were recognized for their contributions to Catholic education in the Diocese with the Excellence in Teaching Award. Amy Bojo and Susan Sorenson were announced as this year’s recipients for the annual award presented by the Office of Catholic Schools and supported by the Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan (CCFMM).

Mrs. Bojo teaches fifth grade at Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary School in Saginaw and Mrs. Sorenson teaches seventh grade homeroom and middle school math and religion at Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic School in Harbor Beach.

The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes and celebrates the positive difference Catholic school teachers in the Diocese of Saginaw make in the lives of their students, schools and communities. One kindergarten through grade 8 teacher (self-contained classroom or specials teacher) and one subject area specialist from grades 6 through 12 were chosen based on:

• Demonstration of Catholic values personally and professionally
• Classroom instruction and student engagement
• Positive impact in the school community

Representatives from the Office of Catholic Schools, CCFMM and each school surprised Mrs. Bojo and Mrs. Sorenson in their classrooms as their students shared in the excitement.

As Excellence in Teaching Award recipients, they will each receive a one-time stipend of $2,500. The funding for this award was made possible through a CCFMM endowment.

Members of their school communities nominated Mrs. Bojo and Mrs. Sorenson for the award.

Those who nominated Mrs. Bojo shared, in part, the following:

• Mrs. Bojo is an exemplary leader of our Catholic values. She treats everyone with respect, never judging and always accepting. She is patient and kind…[she] always brings out the best in people…nobody leads by example more than [Mrs.] Bojo.
• You can tell she truly loves all the kids and wants them to succeed while keeping [the] faith on the hard days!
• [Classroom instruction and student engagement] is Mrs. Bojo’s superpower! She is forever exploring the ‘out-of-classroom experiences’ and the hands-on experiments.
• [Mrs. Bojo] would do anything for her students and in return, they would do anything for her.

“Based on the nominations submitted on behalf of Mrs. Bojo, it was clear to the selection committee that she continues to provide her students with a great learning environment wrapped in our Catholic faith,” remarked Dr. Cormac Lynn, superintendent of Catholic Schools. “Mrs. Bojo's impact extends beyond the classroom, which has allowed her to build strong and meaningful relationships with her students.”

Mrs. Bojo has been a fifth and sixth grade Catholic school teacher for 19 years, including four years at NCCE.

Nominations for Mrs. Sorenson shared, in part, the following:

• Mrs. Sorenson’s teaching philosophy is an intentional, ongoing, and reflective process that focuses on the growth of her students academically, socially, and spiritually. ... She continues to be a witness to the Faith and has a joyful disposition. She is always seeking to point others to Jesus.
• Mrs. Sorenson sets high standards, has high expectations, and challenges students to meet and exceed the potential they don’t realize they have, which perfectly emulates our mission statement.
• Mrs. Sorenson has been the origin for some of our favorite OLLH traditions, such as a live reenactment of the Stations of the Cross, her yearly assignment to paint one of the classroom wall bricks showing what brings the student joy and co-organizing the yearly Christmas program.

“Mrs. Sorenson has been a staple at OLLH. It is clear by the nominations on her behalf that she embodies the characteristics that this award is intended to recognize and celebrate,” Dr. Lynn said. “She exemplifies what we hope to see in a Catholic school teacher: high standards and expectations for students, with intentional, targeted support and encouragement from the teacher, surrounded by evangelization and ministry rooted in the Catholic faith.”

Mrs. Sorenson has been a Catholic school teacher for more than 40 years, spending her entire career at OLLH, and retired at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

“We are blessed to have Mrs. Bojo and Mrs. Sorenson in our Catholic school system in the Diocese of Saginaw,” he said. “It is a privilege to be able to recognize and celebrate their ministries.”