Every day, members of the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District team go above and beyond to make a difference for our students, families and one another. Heart of a Warrior is our opportunity to recognize those staff members who exemplify what it means to be a Warrior.

Beginning this school year, one (or more) staff member(s) will be honored each month for their dedication, kindness, leadership, compassion, teamwork or the many ways they make WBSD a better place and they will receive an Amazon gift card as a small token of appreciation.

There are Warriors throughout WBSD who show up every day, support others, lend a helping hand and make a difference in ways both big and small.

Kelsey Smith is being honored for:

Kelsey put on an awesome 9/11 remembrance activity just this morning on the 25th anniversary. It was open to the whole district and community. She always goes above and beyond and actively encourages people to be healthy and to move our bodies. She leads by example. She runs multiple cross-fit classes too!

Kelsey goes above and beyond on a regularly to help students and staff be a better version of themselves! Always offering assistance.

On her own time, Kelsey regularly trains students and staff in crossfit. The training is beyond physical; she trains you to keep going when things get hard and to accomplish what you thought you could not do. She builds confidence and self-esteem. Her work is especially meaningful with our most at risk students. WBSD is so very lucky to have a selfless champion that invests in all its stakeholders. 

Melanie Shockley is being honored for:

Mel has consistently been an invaluable source of support through so many challenging moments. She provides exceptional assistance with all things attendance and, during Open House, patiently helped look up countless student schedules to ensure families had the information they needed.

Most recently, Mel played a critical role in helping ensure students were assigned to the correct transportation routes when we were unable to pull the necessary reports for the first day of school. Her willingness to step in and help solve problems, especially during stressful situations, makes such a difference.

Mel never complains. She always greets students in the counseling office with a warm smile, creating a welcoming and supportive environment. She is also the person who quietly takes care of the countless little things that keep our school running smoothly—from helping a dysregulated student to making sure the staff lounge is organized and ready after a long day of Open House.

Mel gives so much of herself without ever seeking recognition. Her reliability, patience, kindness, and genuine commitment to our students and staff make her an incredibly valued member of our WUE team. We are truly grateful for everything she does, both the things we see and the many things she quietly handles behind the scenes.