Below are remarks delivered at the March Board of Education Business Meeting at Mexico Middle School on March 27, 2025 by Board President James Emery.
Some people have been described as having a “midas touch”, some as being the “golden child”, but one of the most meaningful “gold” descriptions is someone who has a “heart of gold.” Based on my interview and the sentiments of a former student and current colleagues, I think you will find tonight’s Proud to be MACS recipient, Michelle Bittner, our Distance Learning Teaching Assistant at the Mexico High School, to be an excellent example of someone with a “heart of gold!”
Michelle was born in Oswego, but grew up in North Pole, Alaska, graduating from North Pole High School in 1989. I asked Michelle how she ended up moving from one end of the United States to the other? It was due to her dad, Don, seeking employment as a construction worker. Apparently, they would move a few more times. This moving created a love of travel that inspired Michelle to pursue a career as a travel agent.
Following graduation, Michelle attended the Pittsburgh Technical Institute. Like the move to Alaska, I wondered why Michelle would move again from one end of the United States to the other. She explained that this was the only trade school to offer a certificate. It should be noted that, in her heart, Michelle was attracted to teaching, but opted for becoming a travel agent because it was a faster and less expensive career path.
Following the receipt of her travel agent certificate, Michelle remained in the east working for seven years as a travel agent in North Syracuse.
She would end up meeting her husband, Mike through a cousin. Because Mike was originally from Florida, they moved to Fort Myers, Florida. Meanwhile their son, Joshua was born.
Being a travel agent, one would think that Florida would be the ideal location for Michelle and her family. However, after Hurricane Andrew struck south Florida and having a young son, the family decided to move north to Palermo. There, they figured that the weather was less destructive, although this winter certainly brought its share of headaches, and there was family support available.
As it turned out, another member would be added to Michelle’s family when she gave birth to daughter, Hannah. This birth was unique in that Hannah was born at home, making it one of the few births to occur in the Town of Palermo.
In 2006 Michelle was hired by Morgan Wisner to be a “lunch lady” at the Palermo Elementary School. Michelle would later transfer to the Mexico Middle School. Michelle admitted that she loved being a lunch lady. She said she was strict but caring, and she tried to model to her students the best parent practices when dealing with them.
In 2017, Michelle moved to the Mexico Elementary School as a Teacher’s Aid. This position resulted in more hours, more money, and presented a different format for her to interact with students.
In 2019, Michelle moved to Student Services at the Mexico High School replacing Lisa Dull. This position still allowed her to have contact with students, but was far less physically demanding than the Teacher Aid position in an elementary school.
Michelle’s career hit a bump in 2020 when cutbacks were made due to COVID, and Michelle’s position was eliminated. Fortunately, at the urging of former Principal Jim Busco, Michelle began working on her credentials to become a Teaching Assistant. She would return to the High School as a monitor, and she would attain her Teaching Assistant certification in 2021. Michelle also acknowledged the efforts of then CSEA President, Bill Lighthall for advocating for keeping Michelle’s service with the District in tact.
Michelle would replace former Proud to be MACS recipient, Karlene Krzyiewski when Karlene retired as the Teaching Assistant in the Distance Learning classroom at the High School.
Noting her various positions at MACS, I asked Michelle which was her personal favorite. She confessed that serving as a lunch lady was her favorite, but believes the Distance Learning position is her dream job. In it, she can guide students, who are at the end of their high school years, toward all of the opportunities that exist following graduation.
In the beginning of my remarks, I mentioned Michelle having a “heart of gold”. Here are some testimonials supporting this characteristic.
Nominator and 2024 graduate Ainsley Bigelow writes, “Mrs. Bittner is exceptionally kind to all and a bright spot in students’ days. Not only is she excellent at her job, she is always willing to lend a listening ear, offer support, and be a person you can rely on. With a job as unpredictable as Mrs. Bittner’s, where every day brings something new, you have to be able to learn and grow with your students. I truly cannot think of someone who does this better than Mrs Bittner. Above all else, she genuinely cares about her students and will do anything in her power to help them succeed. Mrs. Bittner has made a huge difference in my life and the lives of others, and she is beyond deserving of the Proud to be MACS award.”
Colleague Shannon Bigelow writes,”Michelle is one of the kindest and most genuine human beings I have ever worked with. She was my TA for several years before moving into the distance learning coordinator position that was vacated when Karlene Kryziewski retired.
Michelle is a huge support for so many of our students who are taking college courses for the first time. She is kind, organized, positive, and encouraging to these students who are venturing into uncharted territory. She is like a “mama bear’ presence in their lives, and many of them go to her to talk about things that matter to them, even beyond the academic spectrum.
Michelle is someone I trust implicitly. She is a true friend, and everything you could ask for in a colleague. I know she always has my back. She is a tremendous asset to our school, and it was very difficult to lose her as a TA, although I know she’s right where she is supposed to be in her current role.
Michelle is one of those people about whom I really can’t say enough. She truly knows what it means to be both a professional and a staunch advocate for kids. I’m shocked that she hasn’t received this honor before now, because she would be one of the first people I would think would deserve it. She is amazing in every sense of the word.”
Finally, colleague Melissa Bielski shares her memories of working with Michelle by writing, “Michelle Bittner is such a worthy recipient for Proud to be MACS. I was fortunate enough to be able to work closely with Michelle in 2019-2020, when she came to work in the office of Student Services in the High School. During my time working with Michelle, I got to witness her incredible work ethic, her dedication to the staff and students, and her deep compassion that makes her a unique and very special individual. Michelle has the wonderful ability to take each student’s needs individually, and give them the care and attention that they deserve. Each student who walked through our doors was greeted with empathy and with respect. This is also how Michelle treated staff - always willing to to go the extra mile and never making anyone feel as though their needs were too great. Mexico High School is definitely a better place for having her with us. While I feel so fortunate to be able to work with her, I am truly blessed to call her my friend. Mexico is very fortunate that this is where she has decided to plant roots and call her “work home”. She has definitely made a positive impact, and a difference in the lives of many through her work here.”
When asked about her favorite part of her job, Michelle enjoys being recognized by former students when they encounter her outside of school.
As for her favorite memory, it is the thanks that she receives from students that she has hugged or helped emotionally to get through a personal crisis.
Returning to Ainsley’s nomination, she writes, “Mrs. Bittner is always the first person to help students or offer practical advice. Every day when students walk into her room, she greets them with a smile, asks how they’re doing, and really listens. Any time that I have a question about something or simply need another perspective on a situation, I know that I can go to Mrs. Bittner and then walk out of her room feeling better. Through Mrs. Bittner’s kind and caring heart, she inspires her students to be excellent and helps them be successful, responsible citizens.”
And so Michelle, for following your heart to leave a career of being a travel agent for a career in education, for working just about every position with the District except driving a school bus or working in Operations and Maintenance, for being an exemplary “lunch lady”, for staying positive and patient during the turmoil brought on by COVID, for being exceptionally kind to all students, for being a bright spot in our students’ day, for being one of the most kindest and genuine human beings to work with, for being everything you could ask for in a colleague, for helping students deal with personal crises with hugs or emotional support, for providing practical advice and really listening, for identifying each student’s needs and giving the care and attention that they deserve, for making a positive impact and difference in the lives of many through your work here, for making students walking out of your classroom feeling better than when they entered, but, most importantly, for possessing a “heart of gold”, it is long overdue that we, the Board, recognize you as our Proud to be MACS recipient for March 2025.
