2025 HPS Retirees

Amanda Ahearn has been a part of the Holland Public Schools faculty for the past 13 years.  Most recently, she served as the Student Success Teacher at Holland Middle School.  Amanda is looking forward to traveling and spending time with her kids in retirement.

Deb Doyle is completing a full career in Education, having spent the last two years working in Holland Public Schools as a District Behavior Coach.  She has been integral in teaching Restorative Practices, creating behavior teams, and coaching teachers in strategies and interventions.  Deb’s advice to new educators is, “Behavior is language. Be the adult who listens and gets to know the ‘why’.”  Deb is looking forward to spending time with her mother in Chicago.

Jane Glover is retiring after 19 years as a Speech and Language Pathologist in Holland Public Schools.  Before Holland, Jane worked in Mt. Clemens Community Schools.  She has enjoyed building relationships with students, seeing the evolution of iPad apps for kids, and marching in the Tulip Time parades.  Jane advises new educators to be good listeners and looks forward to spending time with family, traveling, and volunteering.

Marcia Hildebrand has been a fixture in Holland Public Schools for 33 years and has been one half of the fifth-grade team at West, affectionately known as the Wittebrand Family.  She has served on numerous committees and held several leadership positions.  These include being a Grade Level Science Leader, Tech Pilot Teacher, School Improvement Chairperson, and an Atlas Schools Teacher Leader.  She has also co-authored two Science Books, served on the High Impact Leadership (HIL) Grant Team, and worked with the VanAndel Education Institute.  Marcia has many fond memories of her time in Holland, including attending International Reading Conferences, a Model Schools Conference, and working with so many supportive parents, colleagues, and principals.  She shares that “The time goes faster than you think!” and is looking forward to not having any plans for now.

Amy Johansen has taught a variety of grades and subjects in Holland Public Schools over the past 29 years.  Most recently, Amy served as the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Teacher at Holland Middle School.  Amy’s classroom has been visited by teachers across West Michigan as a model of co-teaching.  She advises young educators to create positive relationships with students and their families.  After retiring, Amy plans on helping her parents sell their farm, traveling, and volunteering in the community.

Michelle Klomp has been a Special Education Resource Teacher in Holland for 33 years.  She began her career as a 23-year-old student teacher and has taught in every building except for the high school.  Michelle has become an expert in reading intervention and literacy instruction, earning an award from the State of Michigan for the student achievement results in her Fusion program.  Michelle looks forward to traveling, staying active, spending time outdoors, and volunteering.  She knows she’ll be back to visit HPS since it has been part of her life for so long.  She encourages new teachers to embrace the challenge of teaching.  “You will get to a point when you feel like, yeah, I got this! I know what I’m doing!”

Beth Kooiker has been an integral part of Holland Public Schools for the past 25 years.  She is best known as the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, and has handled this position’s many surprises and challenges with grace and a smile.  Beth is thankful for the many friendships she has made in Holland Public Schools and is looking forward to enjoying a beautiful summer, spending time with her grandchildren, and having more time for volunteer opportunities. 

Karen Kramer has been an Interpreter in Holland’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program (DHH) for the past ten years.  She has enjoyed watching her students learn and grow during her time in the District.  Karen considers it a privilege to work with the DHH students and staff and HPS and advises that taking time for effective communication is the key to making a difference in your students’ lives.  In retirement, Karen is looking forward to spending precious time with family.

Michelle Marko has completed 31 years of teaching in Holland Public Schools.  During that time, she has taught first, third, and fourth grade and served as a Literacy Coach.  Her passion for teaching Reading and Writing was recognized throughout West Michigan, and she was often invited to present at professional conferences.  Michelle would tell new teachers the following:  If we are to create a thirst for knowledge and learning in our students and ourselves, we must put the joy back into our lives, savor the small victories, cheer our students on, and be unwavering advocates for them.  Do whatever you need to do to guarantee that each and every student not only can learn, but also savors learning.” (Routman, Reggie, Reading Essentials, p. 221)  In retirement, Michelle looks forward to working part-time, traveling, and spending time with family.

Annie Prins has served the students of Holland Public Schools for 25 years.  She has taught a variety of subjects at the Middle School, including Science, English Language Arts, Reading Intervention, and STEM.  She cherishes the wonderful people at Holland Middle School and is forever thankful for the opportunities and memories she’s made.  She advises young educators that, “Some days will be diamonds; others will be stones.  Just remember that the relationships that you build with the students are the most important thing.”  In retirement, Annie is looking forward to a career shift and a more flexible schedule.

Yvette Sibley has taught in Holland Public Schools for 31 years; in that time, she has taught English as a Second Language, Spanish, and Two-Way Bilingual Immersion and has worked in every K-8 building in the District.  Yvette is grateful for being part of this “amazingly resilient school district” and is looking forward to spending more time with family, enjoying her hobbies, and traveling.  Yvette advises new educators to “Stay positive, be flexible, and take time for yourself.”

Lise Topp is retiring after 30 years of serving the students in Holland Public Schools.  The majority of her career was spent at Holland Heights as a Speech and Language Pathologist, and most recently, Lise’s role has been an Education Evaluator with our School Psychologist Department.  She has enjoyed Holland’s summer reading programs, being a parent in the District, and working with all students, especially those who needed a bit more encouragement.  Lise comes from a family of educators, including her great-grandmother who taught in a one-room schoolhouse and her mother who taught English at the high school and university levels.  Lise looks forward to spending more time with family and traveling, and advises young educators that they “have the power and ability to make a student’s school experience positive”.

Janice Zeivel has worked in Holland Public Schools for over ten years with our youngest learners in the Great Start Readiness Program.  Janice treasures her amazing coworkers and is forever grateful for the nurturing and comfort they gave her.  In retirement, Janice looks forward to beach days, gardening, spending time with her grandchildren, and subbing in Holland Public Schools!  Janice advises young educators to accept guidance from your peers with an open heart and an open mind.  The Children are the reason for the journey, and they are well worth it.