Leelanau County native Anne K. Guenther was recently named Teacher of the Year at the East Ridge High School in Clermont, Fla.

Anne Guenther

Guenther’s parents, Francis and Retta Kalena, have resided in the Maple City area for more than 80 years. Her brothers, David, Zeke and Mark Kalena, all live near Maple City.

East Ridge High School has a student population of 3,200, and employs approximately 300 teachers and professional staff members. Guenther received the honor following a vote by her colleagues. She teaches students in grades 9-12 who are considered “educable mentally handicapped.”

Guenther worked for the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District for 18 years in the special education department. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Ferris State University and her master’s degree at the University of North Carolina. She has been teaching in Florida since January 2001, and previously taught emotionally disturbed students at the same high school.

Her husband, Chuck, was principal of Traverse City’s New Campus school for 13 years. He retired from Traverse Bay Intermediate School District in 1999.