Staff Spotlight: Elementary teacher Lisa Bolton sees benefits of Stockbridge small-town atmosphere

by Amy Haggerty

Elementary teacher Lisa Bolton loves working with the students and families in her hometown of Stockbridge. Photo credit: Amy Haggerty.

Lisa Bolton has been a fixture for Stockbridge Community School District, teaching elementary schoolchildren for 21 years. This past year she taught third grade at Heritage School.

Bolton grew up in the Stockbridge area, graduating from Stockbridge High School in 1994. Immediately after she graduated, she worked at Sudz and Snacks (now Shell) until she began attending Eastern Michigan University that fall.

In 2000, she married Nick Bolton and together they have raised two children. Hannah is 18 and graduated from Stockbridge Junior/Senior High school last year. You may have run into Hannah who works at McDonalds while pursuing her degree. Bolton’s son, Micah, is 15 and will be a junior this fall at Stockbridge.

Bolton attended Marygrove College for her post-bachelor’s-degree work and received her master’s degree in 2003.

“I really wanted to come back and raise my family here. There was a job opening the year I graduated from college in the Stockbridge School District, and I was blessed to get the job teaching 5th grade at Katz Elementary.”

This year has presented many new challenges for teachers thanks to COVID-19, with quarantines, virtual learning, and school closures. People around the globe have realized the immense amount of work and dedication that teachers put into their jobs every day. Bolton is one of our devoted and enthusiastic Stockbridge teachers who made it through these unprecedented times.

“I had students learning remotely. My colleagues and I created videos to provide our online students with instruction. Another thing that was very difficult was masks. The kids have been really great at wearing masks.”

Outside the classroom, Bolton has been instrumental in organizing the annual backpack and school supplies giveaway for the Highest Praise Worship Center, along with Outreach. This takes place in August on the grounds of the Stockbridge Township Square. School supplies are given out to students and families in need who live in our community.

What does she like best about working for Stockbridge Schools? “I love the kind, caring staff. The students and families are wonderful to work with. The small town feeling is so unique in our fast-paced world.”

Bolton also offers some short and sweet but very helpful advice to all Stockbridge students: “Work hard and kindness will take you far! All of the teachers and staff believe in you.”