Staff Spotlight

A kid at heart, Michael Gurecki blends action and learning to keep his second graders engaged

by Mary Jo David

“I’ve always been a kid at heart,” said Michael Gurecki, with a smile I could sense across the wireless phone waves. “When I’m at school, I get to turn play into learning for 6-, 7-, and 8- year-olds, and when I’m home, I get to do the same with my own kids.” Gurecki and his wife Elizabeth, a physician assistant, have a preschooler, Leo, and a first grader, Rowan, who attend Stockbridge Community Schools.

Both of Gurecki’s parents have been a positive influence, but his mom was a big reason he decided to go into education, and specifically lower elementary grades. His mom retired after 30 years as a kindergarten teacher. When he was young, he especially enjoyed mentoring younger kids, and he looked up to his teachers as leaders.

Math, social studies, and of course, recess, were Gurecki’s favorite subjects when he was a kid in Stanton, Michigan. He excelled at sports as a youngster, and especially loved playing varsity baseball, basketball, and football at Central Montcalm High School. But he enjoyed Chess Club and Ski Club as well.

“Admittedly, I’ve slowed down a bit since high school,” Gurecki said. “But when I’m playing with students during recess, it’s fun to watch their expressions when I tell them I was a high school quarterback 20 years ago. They just think of me as an old guy who can throw a football!” He thinks the kids would really be surprised to find out he’s in the Sports Hall of Fame at his old high school.

Gurecki attended college at Ferris State University and then taught first grade for one year in the Upper Peninsula before starting with the Stockbridge School District 16 years ago.

Each day he exhibits leadership skills for his second graders in Stockbridge. His kids love the fun team-building lessons they are learning in the classroom, whether through carpetball, shuffleball, or any other creative methods Gurecki has in his teaching arsenal.

“The Hubcap Challenge is a big, fun memory that sticks out in students’ minds after they’ve left second grade—sometimes even after they’ve graduated,” he said. But to Gurecki, the best part of his job is watching his students notably develop their reading skills by the end of second grade.

Gurecki has the ability and energy to keep up with classrooms full of second graders, but he remembers with fondness developing more one-on-one time with a student in his class a few years ago. At a time when all his other students had inadvertently been exposed to COVID and had to temporarily switch to home-based learning, mornings-only, one student had been out and not exposed to COVID. That student was allowed to join Gurecki in his classroom each day throughout that time. Teacher and student made the most of their learning time after the class’s online instruction was over each day by walking the trails and taking advantage of learning opportunities teachers can’t do typically with a classroom full of students.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, throughout the school year Gurecki also participates on the Building Leadership Team, is a building representative for the teachers’ union, and, as a member of the DSIT, helps to plan staff meetings and content for staff planning days.

As an experienced teacher, if he was to offer advice to young teachers just entering the field, it would be to make sure they focus on their classroom management skills.

“Curriculum is constantly changing, tech is constantly changing, so if frustration creeps in, keep reminding yourself why you went into teaching to begin with. For me, it’s to help the kids; they are foremost to me,” Gurecki said.

Frequent, continuous technology changes are one of Gurecki’s own biggest challenges in the classroom, as he feels teachers are constantly competing with tech for students’ attention. He says that gaining and holding the kids’ attention and keeping them engaged gets harder and harder.

As a parent himself, he knows it’s a challenge to be present for his own two children, but he tries to make it a priority at home, and he recommends this for other parents. “Be engaged and aware when you’re with your kids. Try to limit your phone and screen time if possible.”

For his students, he hopes that as they get older, they remember their core values—these are stressed often throughout the Stockbridge School District—and that they put these values to work as adults.

Says Gurecki, “I hope my students continue to be kind, put others first, and become good people. But mostly, I hope they give their best every day.”

Except where indicated, all photos are by Michael Gurecki.

Second grade teacher Michael Gurecki began teaching at Smith Elementary 16 years ago. Photo provided by Stockbridge Community Schools

Michael Gurecki works hard to stay engaged when he spends time with his family, including his son, Leo; his wife, Elizabeth; and his daughter, Rowan.

Michael Gurecki, left, is joined by a group of his past students from the Class of 2024 after their graduation walk-through.

Michael Gurecki and his wife, Elizabeth, enjoying quality time away from his classroom and her practice.