By Lisa Carolin
The changes students go through from the beginning of sixth grade to the end of eighth grade are numerous. Witnessing those changes is one of the best parts of the job for Dennis Strzyzewski, a counselor at Beach Middle School.
He says that watching students’ interactions and listening to their conversations can be enlightening and hilarious.
“Kids mature so much,” said Strzyzewski. “They come to us as little kids and leave as young teens who are capable of critical thinking and negotiating the difficulties of life and school.”
“Dennis’ greatest attribute is his proactive nature- developing relationships with students, staff and parents,” said Nick Angel, principal at Beach. “He is viewed as a respected friend and mentor.”
This is Strzyzewski’s 17th year in the Chelsea School District. He taught English and social studies to seventh and eighth-graders for most of that time. Then five years ago, he spent a year as a second grade teacher at North Creek Elementary. When he returned to Beach, he worked part-time in the classroom and part-time in the counseling office for four years.
“Dennis is a jack of all trades, wearing many hats for us here at Beach,” said Angel. “He possesses the uncanny ability to balance the needs of students and staff. He totally gets the middle school student, and his quirky personality and sense of humor allow students to instantly be comfortable in his presence.
Strzyzewski is now a full-time counselor for seventh and eighth graders.
“The most difficult thing for me is not being able to fix every problem,” said Strzyzewski. “I think we would all like to wave a magic wand that automatically brought success and happiness to each of our kids, but growing up is a process. Education is a process. Sometimes I feel like I am not able to help students get the most out of themselves, and that can be frustrating.”
Strzyzewski grew up in Manistee, Mich.,and graduated from Manistee High School. He began his college studies in the business school at Michigan State University, but decided that wasn’t the right path for him and transferred to Central Michigan University where he graduated with a teaching degree.
His first full-time teaching job was teaching sixth grade English and social studies at Dryden Community Schools. Three years later, he moved to Chelsea.
He earned his Master’s Degree in school counseling from Oakland University in 2002 and began his job as a part-time counselor five years after that.
Strzyzewski has been coaching football since he came to the Chelsea School District, and for the last 12 seasons has been the freshman football coach. He also coaches seventh grade basketball for boys and girls.
He has been married to wife Andrea for 17 years, and they have two children – Emily, who is an eighth-grader at Beach and Ben, a fifth-grader at South Meadows Elementary.
Most of his free time is spent with his family and going to his kids’ events. They enjoy visiting Manistee. Strzyzewski also has a hobby that he is passionate about.
“I love to play golf,” says Strzyzewski. “I would play every day if it was possible.”
