Jack Staron, special lecturer in Oakland University’s School of Education and Human Services, is the recipient of the College Educator Award of Excellence from the Michigan Association of Middle School Educators. The award recognizes Staron’s leadership in furthering the middle school philosophy and his service to the education community.

At Oakland, Staron serves as professor and mentor to college students training to become teachers. His enthusiasm for the middle school level has inspired him to organize regular site visits, bringing OU students into local schools to provide them with a firsthand experience of the middle school environment.

“Often, college students automatically discount the middle school level as a future teaching interest. But when they visit the schools, they see how eager middle schoolers are to learn and how energizing it can be,” said Staron, who served at all levels, from teacher to principal, at Birmingham Public Schools from 1963 to 2003. Since 2003, Staron has guided 53 OU students through their student teaching assignments at local schools.

“I don’t say I retired, I say I graduated,” says Staron, who retains a deep affinity for his career in secondary education. “Inspiring others to become passionate teachers was a logical next step, and the Oakland University community is simply amazing. I am proud to be a part of it.”

Staron will be honored for this achievement at an awards ceremony on Friday, March 10.