Welcome to Benzie County Central Schools

Benzie County Central Schools is pleased to announce the addition of Morgan Harris to our Lake Ann Elementary Staff.

Morgan will be an Assistant GSRP teacher at Lake Ann Elementary and an excellent addition to our Early Childhood Department.

Morgan has lived in Benzie County her entire life and she graduated from Benzie Central High School in 2025.

Growing up in a large family with lots of younger children, she developed a love for working with kids at an early age. 

Whether she was babysitting, helping care for younger family members, or spending time with children in her community, she always knew that she wanted to work with young learners.

While enrolled here at Benzie Central, Morgan fostered that love of working with younger students. She was enrolled in the CTC Teacher Academy through Northwest Education Services. There she was able to experience all aspects of being a teacher while remaining in her home school. 

As a Teacher Academy student,  she gained experience working with different age groups and subject matter all while under the guidance of a mentor teacher. Morgan was able to at that time, support various teachers and their classrooms and students.  Staff and students alike enjoyed working with Morgan.  She built great relationships with all staff and students she came in contact with. Morgan had the opportunity to support the classrooms of Mrs. Burch, Mrs. Norvel, Mrs. Brayton, and Mrs. Roper at Lake Ann Elementary.   Now, she has earned her own place at Lake Ann Elementary.  Full circle! 

Morgan is passionate about creating a safe, caring, and fun environment where children can learn and grow.  She can't wait to meet all of the students and families at Lake Ann Elementary.  She is looking forward to a wonderful school year together. 

We are fortunate to have her join our team and Husky family.

Please help me in giving a very warm welcome to Ms. Harris.

Mrs. Catina Crossman

_________________________________________

Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Board of Education Administrative Assistant

Director of Communications| Social Media | Talent Mngt. Asst.

Pupil Accounting Specialist

Schools of Choice Coordinator

Benzie County Central Schools is pleased to announce the addition of Mica Jahss to our Betsie Valley Elementary Staff.

Mica will be teaching 3rd Grade at Betsie Valley Elementary.

Mica is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Temple University in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. After graduation, she taught second grade at a charter school in Philadelphia for two years.  

In 2023, she moved to Michigan to continue her work at Interlochen Center for the Arts, where she served as a Residence Life Supervisor. Her time at Interlochen strengthened her passion for building supportive, inclusive communities and helping children grow both academically and personally.

When working with students, her main goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment that builds community and fosters growth. She enjoy working with students in small groups, which allows her to get to know each individually and better understand their unique learning needs.  With parents, She communicates openly, frequently, and respectfully so families feel informed, supported, and invested in their student’s academic journey.

When working with teachers and administrators, she maintains clear and professional communication, provides timely updates, and enjoys collaborating to support school-wide goals and strengthen the overall school community. 

Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time in nature, crafting, exploring science, and learning about animals. She looks forward to incorporating these interests into engaging, hands-on learning experiences for my students.

She is thrilled to be joining the Betsie Valley team as a third-grade teacher. She cannot wait to create a warm, welcoming classroom where every student feels valued, supported, and excited to learn!

We are fortunate to have her join our team and Husky family.

Please help me in giving a very warm welcome to Ms. Jahss.

Mrs. Catina Crossman_________________________________________

Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Board of Education Administrative Assistant

Director of Communications| Social Media | Talent Mngt. Asst.

Pupil Accounting Specialist

Schools of Choice Coordinator

Benzie County Central Schools is pleased to announce the addition of Kaitlyn Pluimer to our Betsie Valley Elementary Staff.

Kaitlyn (Katy) will be teaching Special Education at Betsie Valley Elementary.

She graduated from Central Michigan University in 20121 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Special Education and Early Childhood Education.

Working as a Special Education teacher, she prioritizes building trusting relationships so her students feel supported and heard.  She sets clear expectations and goals all while meeting their needs and allowing them to express themselves.  Katy believes in celebrating all achievements, both big and small, to build confidence and motivation. Her goal is to ultimately support each student's academic and behavioral growth by adapting to their needs, knowing that each day can look different.

Over the course of the next five years, she plans to complete her master's degree with an endorsement in either Autism Spectrum Disorder or Learning Disabilities, selecting the pathway that most closely meets the evolving needs of the students she serves.

Katy is excited to join the Benzie Central Husky family.  She looks forward to building meaningful relationships with students, collaborating with colleagues, and creating a positive, engaging learning environment where every student can thrive. 

We are fortunate to have her join our team and Husky family.

Please help me in giving a very warm welcome to Ms. Pluimer.

Mrs. Catina Crossman

_________________________________________

Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Board of Education Administrative Assistant

Director of Communications| Social Media | Talent Mngt. Asst.

Pupil Accounting Specialist

Schools of Choice Coordinator

Benzie County Central Schools is pleased to announce the addition of Josephine Johnston to our Benzie Central High School Staff.

Josephine will be teaching High School Physical Education.

She graduated from Harbor Springs High School.  While at Harbor Springs, her was main sport was track and field where she achieved all state, all region, and all conference honors.  She also played girls travel hockey for the Kalkaska K Stars and helped to win a State Championship in 2020.

Josephine graduated from Northern Michigan University in Marquette with a degree in K-12 Health and Physical Education.

She has been a certified personal trainer the past 4 years as well as an Assistant CrossFit Coach.  

Fitness and Wellness has always been a passion of hers and she is so grateful to be able to positively influence our youth to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Ms. Johnston works well with students by make sure they are learning the information presented as well as trying to provide an enjoyable time in class. She is willing to talk with parents about academic and athletic reasons, and does not mind phone calls, emails, or face-to-face conversations. 

She hopes to someday work towards her masters degree in either sports administration, school administration, or another branch of Physical Education such as Adaptive Physical Education. 

She is thankful to continue to live and work in Northern Michigan.  She cannot wait to get to work in the beautiful gym and weight room that Benzie Central has to offer their students.

We are fortunate to have her join our team and Husky family.Please help me in giving a very warm welcome to Ms. Johnston.

Mrs. Catina Crossman

_________________________________________

Executive Assistant to the SuperintendentBoard of Education

 Administrative AssistantDirector of Communications| Social Media | Talent Mngt. Asst.

Pupil Accounting Specialist

Schools of Choice Coordinator

Benzie County Central Schools is pleased to announce the addition of Rachel Tanielian to our Homestead Hills Elementary Staff.

Rachel will be teaching 2nd Grade.She recently graduated from Spring Arbor University, where she played soccer for four years.

She is passionate about outdoor adventures, spending time with friends and family, and helping others.Rachel brings strong communication, collaboration, and a genuine passion for supporting students.

 She is dedicated to building positive relationships with students, families, and staff while supportive of an inclusive environment for learning. 

 She is organized, dependable, and committed to helping students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.We are fortunate to have her join our team and Husky family.

Please help me in giving a very warm welcome to Ms. Tanielian.

Mrs. Catina Crossman

_________________________________________

Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Board of Education Administrative Assistant

Director of Communications| Social Media | Talent Mngt. Asst.

Pupil Accounting Specialist

Schools of Choice Coordinator