Cherryland Middle School Staff

I am incredibly excited and proud to begin my 9th year as principal at Cherryland Middle School. This is my 17th year in education. I feel incredibly fortunate to work with an amazing staff and students.  I am especially excited about our continued partnership with the Positivity Project and the opening of our new Math and Science wing last spring. This winter we expect the new "Arts" wing of CMS to open to students and staff!  Personally, I am married to Kelly who is a social worker at Munson. We have two boys who attend ERHS and CMS. Go Elks! 

Hello! I'm Ms. Bissell and I love what I do! I work to create a future world where all students thrive! 

Hello!  My name is Nick Anderson and I am the Band Director at Cherryland Middle School and Elk Rapids High School.  This year will be my 12th year of teaching; my 10th year at Elk Rapids Schools.  I attended Central Michigan University, where I received my Bachelor of Science (Music), Bachelor of Music Education, and Master of Music (Performance) degrees.  I enjoy boating, running, swimming, skiing, reading, and spending time with my awesome family!  I am married to my wonderful wife, Stephanie, and we have two beautiful daughters, Madeline (age 11) and Eleanor (age 7) - plus our dog, Zuko!

Woodrow and Sullivan's mom and 6th grade ELA teacher: looking forward to helping students adjust to middle school expectations during this year of growth and learning!  

Hello! My name is Melissa , and I love being a middle school English Language Arts teacher! I have a passion for reading, writing, and helping students find their own voice through language. In our class, we’ll explore great stories, sharpen our writing skills, and grow as critical thinkers. I’m looking forward to a fun, creative, and successful year together!

This will be my 19th year teaching at Cherryland Middle School and I love it. I graduated from Central Michigan University in 2006 with a major in Physical Education and a minor in History. I then went on to pursue my Masters in Exercise Science. My family and I love to spend our time adventuring in the great outdoors.  If you'd like to visit the CMS PE  webpage, please click here. 

Hi I'm Mrs. Heldreth. I am excited to be working with sixth graders at Cherryland and sharing my love of math with students! My husband and I have twin eleven year old daughters and a Corgi named Waffles.

I started teaching middle school math at Elk Rapids Cherryland Middle School in the fall of 2024. Before that I spent two years teaching in a nearby district. In addition, I also coach cross country and track & field.  I graduated from Kingsley High School and went on to study education at MSU where I was also a member of the cross country and track & field teams. I spent a year student teaching in Chicago but could not resist the call of northern Michigan and had to return home to this area. Go Elks!

This will be my 17th year in education, and 6th year at Cherryland Middle School. I love reading, gardening, and spending time with my family. My husband and I have two beautiful little girls. I look forward to sharing my love of math with your students this year. Classroom Website (lesson plans)

Hello! My name is Jesse Kramer and I am so excited to begin my 14th year here in Elk Rapids at Cherryland Middle School! 

Jessica Lawrence began her career in special education in 2002 at ERHS and has had the opportunity to work with students and educators at CMS, a university where she supported pre-service teachers, and Mill Creek Elementary. She is excited to be back at CMS and continue her passion for supporting students and helping them reach their full potential. Jessica firmly believes that all students can learn and is committed to creating an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and successful. Outside of school, she enjoys music, reading, and spending time with her family.

2026-27 will be my 26th year teaching at Elk Rapids Schools! I will be teaching 7th grade World History and 8th grade US History. In additional to teaching, I am the President of the Elk Rapids Education Association, serve on the District Technology Committee and am a member of the K-12 Curriculum Committee. I also lead the CMS Michigan Youth in Government delegation to Lansing, MI and the 7th grade Camp LOC Trip in May! I enjoy traveling and being outdoors with my wife and two daughters!

Although I grew up in upstate New York, my heart has always been in Northern Michigan. Our family moved here in 2016 and our three girls attended Lakeland Elementary. When we moved in 2019, we knew we would return someday. We are happy to be back in the area with our family and friends! We love hiking, boating and hanging out together. In my free time, I love reading, writing and running.

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.“ — Pablo Picasso

I am super excited to be part of this fantastic team at Cherryland Middle School.  I am entering my 32nd year of teaching.  Twenty-nine of those years were spent teaching downstate.  We moved to Elk Rapids full time in 2024.  I teach 7th and 8th grade science.  I love spending time with my family, traveling, boating, downhill skiing, and ice fishing.  

I am so excited to be at Cherryland for my 8th year! I am teaching 6th grade and 7th grade science. I graduated from U of M and have worked in many aspects of education over the years. I have three children- a senior at ERHS, a sophomore at MSU and a senior at University of Michigan.  I love hiking, biking, boating, camping, traveling, and basically any outdoor activity. My favorite part of teaching is the kids- I love these middle-schoolers! My favorite topic in science is volcanoes and I try to travel to a new one each summer. Go Elks!

This will be my 6th year at CMS and my 5th year as the STEM teacher! I graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Physical Science, Integrated Sciences and Mathematics in 2017. In 2023, I obtained my Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governor's University. I love the beach, hiking, biking and being a dad to my three kiddos!

This will be my 34th year of teaching, and my fifth year at CMS. I graduated from the University of Cincinnati for my undergrad and from Michigan State University for my graduate degree. I'm excited to be the National Junior Honor Society advisor again this year. My family and I enjoy the outdoors and hanging out with our two chocolate labs (Moose and Bear). 

Hello everyone! My name is Tyler Wilson and this will be my tenth year as an educator. I will be teaching 6th and 8th grade Social Studies. Each and every year I look forward to building relationships with my students, sharing my knowledge with them, as well learning from my students. I love sports, exercise, the outdoors, and spending time with my family. I am looking forward to another great year, go elks!! 

Hello fellow Elk families! 2023-2024 will be my 6th year at CMS as a Special Education Paraprofessional. I love working with every student at CMS. I am looking forward to this school year!