Laura Balinski
District: Harbor Springs Public Schools – Shay Elementary School
Next Gen Teacher Advisory Committee
Next Gen at the Center owes much of its outreach and curriculum development success to a core group of fantastic educators who comprise Next Gen’s Teacher Advisory Committee (TAC). Representing Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties at all grade levels, and all subjects, these eight educators are integral to programming successes within the Next Gen program.
From assistance with school and district schedules to content and standards alignment, and from school- and district-wide information distribution to programming concept development, TAC members help connect educators and students to impactful opportunities to educate through the arts – at no cost! – through Next Gen.
We like to think of the TAC as a family of education superheroes – hard-working, passionate, kid-focused volunteers who have helped connect more than 29,000 students to the world right here in rural Northern Michigan as the world is brought to our stage.
Next Gen is looking for a new TAC member from Cheboygan. If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact Rachel Sytsma-Reed.
Meet the 2025-26 TAC:
Jason Byma
District: Harbor Springs Public Middle and High School
Lives in: St. Ignace
Years Teaching: 22
Currently teaching audio engineering and video editing, general music, and band.
Passionate about: All things education, the arts, and Lego
Motivation: Pride in the students and programs. Being a positive influence on the students.
Laura Feys
District: Petoskey Public Schools – Middle School
Lives in: Petoskey
Years Teaching: 20
Currently teaching: 8th grade ELA, 6th – 8th grade Science and ELA Enrichment
Passionate about: Traveling, teaching and being a good mom
Motivation: I love to teach because every day is different, and I get to work with and inspire the next generation of young adults to find their passions.
Stephanie Asiala-Gross
District: Petoskey Public Schools
Lives in: Petoskey
Years Teaching: 29
Currently teaching K–5 music, enrichment choir, and theatre.
Passionate about: Music, Cooking, and Pugs
Motivation: Perseverance and the beauty of music.
David Heinz
District: Char-Em Round Lake Education Center
Lives in: Alanson
Years Teaching: 21
Currently teaching all subjects, high school credit recovery, and life skills.
Passionate about: The outdoors, my family, and theatre
Motivation: My students – they inspire me.
Laura Hotelling
District: Gaylord Community Schools
Lives in: Gaylord
Years Teaching: 21
Currently teaching Spanish II–V, debate, theatre, and forensics, including directing theatre productions and coaching debate and forensics teams.
Passionate about: The arts, the environment, and social justice
Motivation: The kids! There are so many more rewarding aspects to this job… from the lightbulb moments to the lifelong relationships.
Catey Kerr
District: East Jordan Elementary School
Lives in: East Jordan
Years Teaching: 9
Currently teaching 4th grade—all subjects.
Passionate about: Sharing my enthusiasm for learning, building lifelong connections with my students and being able to make a difference.
Motivation: The connection I make with my students.
Jodi Thompson
District: Charlevoix Public Schools Elementary
Lives in: Charlevoix
Years Teaching: 28
Currently teaching Elementary Music K-6
Passionate about: Nature (spending time outside, preferably on a lake), musical theatreand the performing arts, and spending time with family.
Motivation: The opportunities to expose my students to music and the arts – to get them excited about the arts and to have it be life-changing for them like it was for me.
Erin Zucker
District: Boyne City Public Schools
Lives in: Petoskey
Years Teaching: 31
Currently teaching: K-5 General Music, High School Drama
Passionate about: Happy children who are excited to try 😉, musical theatre, and teaching children that the arts are for everyone.
Motivation: Smiles on children’s faces! Music education can help spark a child's imagination or ignite a lifetime of learning.
