The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce honors some of the community’s greatest contributors at the Sunrise Pinnacle Award Ceremony. This massive event is held each year at the Royal Park Hotel in Downtown Rochester. As a photography sponsor, I was excited to help the individual winners celebrate with a new headshot. A few had time for a quick interview.
Congratulations to Kara Sears, Rochester Regional Chamber's Educator of the Year!
Scott Lawrence: Tell us about your career.
Kara Sears: I have been a Social Studies teacher with Rochester Community Schools for 13 years. I’ve had the privilege of working at Adams High School, ACE High School and currently at Rochester High School.
I was born and raised in Rochester Hills and is a product of Rochester Community Schools. I live with my husband and two sons in Rochester Hills. My education started at Brewster Elementary and went right through to Adams High School. I then attended Oakland University where I earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with a Secondary Teaching Certification with a major in Social Studies and minor in Political Science and then went on to earn a Masters in Educational Studies from Oakland University as well.
I was fortunate to have grown up in a family that valued education and lifelong learning. EVERY family vacation was like a field trip during which we always learned something new. It’s a tradition I maintain with my family today.
SL: What does winning a Pinnacle Award mean to you?
Kara: I’m happy to accept this award on behalf of all the incredible teachers and mentors I’ve known over the years. Being nominated as Educator of the Year is an honor in its own right, but to be chosen to represent our community, one so filled with talent, is a true privilege.
I truly could not have been nominated for this honor without the support and assistance of my family, husband Brad, sons Jacob and Mark, my mom, my sister Laura and family, the students and staff at ACE and Rochester High Schools and the Rochester, Rochester Hills Community members. It truly takes a village!
SL: What’s unique about how you do what you do?
Kara: I tell students they need to bring their DTPL (Discipline, Patience, Tradition and Love an acronym for success) which was taught to me by a former Adams teacher, Dr. Tim Lentz. I hope that my students will develop a love of learning, gain leadership skills, grow personally and academically and give back to the community.
As ACE Student Council Interact Club Advisor, my students were involved in the following Community events:
ACE Community Welcome Breakfast for students and staff
ACE Community Career Fair
Rochester Rotary Bake Sales
Rochester Prayer Breakfast
Raise and donate money to EndPolio with Rochester Rotary Club
ACE Interact Club along with Rochester High School Interact club collaborated to raise and donate $1000 to buy a Shelter box for Refugees.
Rochester Community House Food Pantry Annual ACE Can Drive
Rochester Community House Dinner Servers
Rochester Hills Paint a Plow
Rochester Christmas Parade
Volunteered at the Paint Creek Center for the Arts.
Participated in #Rochester200Project.