I have been teaching here in Munising for many years. Before my job here in Munising I was a teacher at Gaylord High
School in Gaylord, MI and Vogel Jr. High in Garden City, MI. I did my student teaching in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
I have held many jobs throughout my years--many were summer jobs and some were full time jobs. I worked at Kimberly
Clark in Munising for 9 years. There I held a variety of accounting jobs and my best job there was Finishing Planner
where I helped plan sales order fulfillment in the Finishing Department. I also worked for the City of Munising developing
a database for the cemetery records.
I also worked at a steel company in Detroit & Plymouth, MI, Jim Robbins Seat Belt Company, Eastern Michigan University
Placement Office, LMAS Health Department, Mayco Plastics company (boy was that a tough job), and several other jobs including
a bartender & waitress.
My work experience outside of school has enabled me to become Vocational Certified. This brings in extra dollars
to the school system to constantly update my business classes.
I was born in Detroit and graduated from Warren Fitzgerald High School. I got my bachelors degree from Eastern Michigan
University. I have also attended graduate school at Central Michigan University and Northern Michigan University.
In case you don't know this, Mrs. Passinault and I are sisters. I am married to Gerald Schwake. My first husband
(who passed away) was Jesse Cornish. I have two daughters -- Shannan is a math teacher in Appleton, WI and Kati is a
Park Naturalist in Meridian Township (near Lansing). Both are new moms. My new grandchildren are Jessey Madilyn
Adams (born Feb 21, 2005) & Aerwyn Veronica Davis (born May 10, 2005). I spent lots of time with them this summer.
I enjoy teaching business and technology classes. Business changes constantly as well as technology. I find
it keeps my subject matter extremely interesting. It's hard to keep up with everything new--programs and the internet
change constantly. I feel in many ways I'm a mentor (who directs a student's learning)rather than a teacher because
oftentimes students teach me a little as well.
I try to individualize as much as possible so that students can reach the highest potential they are capable of.
So a great deal of my coursework is hands-on.
I enjoy the students in Munising and teaching has always been my first love. When we were children, Mrs. Passinault
& I were always "playing school". My dad would buy us old desks and even brought home a giant blackboard for us
to use in our "pretend" classroom.
I enjoy "country" music the best. Sawyer Brown, Joe Nichols and Randy Travis are my favorites. Although I
don't relate to "rap" too well, I did watch 8-Mile (since it was where I grew up) and find that Eminem has a lot of potential
as as actor. My favorite actor is Nicholas Cage. I'm also a NASCAR fan and you'll find a #29 (Kevin Harvick) on
my car. I also enjoy watching Carl Edwards win.
I like to knit, crochet, fish & camp.