Lori Bodary is a special education teacher at Lincoln Park High. Shea has spent 21 years working for Lincoln Park School District—her entire career. During these years she has taught in self-contained, co-taught, and vocational classrooms. She presently co-teaches English classes in general education. Lori also runs the Ara’s Café at the high school. The café is a coffee and drink shop that is run by special education students. It is open in the early morning and after school. Lori has endeared herself to the staff by opening Ara’s Café every morning at 7:00 am before school to provide everyone with their dosage of wake up caffeine to start the day. It’s provides a lifesaving liquid benefit to her fellow workers.
The menu includes various varieties and types of coffee and lattes, ice cream drinks, smoothies, slurpies and milkshakes. The students have learned to prepare all the drinks, plan and follow budgets, purchase ingredients and supplies, prepare the setups, serve customers, collect money, make deposits, determine profits, and conduct inventories. In other words, learn all aspects of a real business. In her spare time, Lori is co-sponsor for the senior class organizing and implementing class fundraising activities. After working all day teaching, she works at Joe Louis Arena and Southland Mall.
The nominators all agree that Lori has what it takes as a teacher, coworker and friend. One student, Sarah, was there honoring Mrs. Bodary at the awards banquet. In her letter, she describes how well Mrs. Bodary taught her the skills to be successful in operating the café . Not only that, but the approachability, genuine concern and caring, and patience Lori showed when helping her with personal problems after she had made some poor decision. One valuable lesson Lori imparts on students is to appreciate and value their God given talents, to believe in themselves and to expand their horizons and reach toward their dreams and aspiration.
Her students know her and gravitate toward her upbeat, positive attitude. They know she understands them, honors their individuality and uniqueness. No wonder she gets invited to graduations, weddings, baby showers and keeps up with former students and all their endeavors. She helps students study for drivers’ tests, cheers them on at sporting events, buys prom tickets, dresses, and attire, fills out college applications and is one reference on job applications that always comes through. She purchases gifts and presents on the Q T and goes that extra mile. These nominators know what you have been up to behind the scene, doing so without fanfare, on the sly. Yes, you have been found out and exposed here today in front of the whole state of Michigan.
A good teacher teaches information and skills; a great teacher inspires the souls of students. That is the type of person Lori is. Haim Ginott, a psychologist and author states that it’s the teacher’s “personal approach that creates the climate” the power of personal “ daily mood that makes the weather “ for every day. He certainly is correct. The students and staff know and realize that when they are around her the weather is fair, the climate is pleasant and the air is charged with infectious energy. Lori wondered why she was nominated. She now knows why. It is because of who she is, what she believes, how she lives her life daily, her selflessness, how big her heart is, her abilities at peacekeeping, and how she inspires others. Can’t fool students. They are right on when it comes to grading and judging teachers….from the human perspective. You are a winner in their eyes and in the eyes of your fellow colleagues. Congratulations!
Download a PDF of this article