School: Congress School
What are your first priorities as principal?
Creating the opportunity for academic and social success for each individual student, and to make good on the promise of public education for all students.
What are you most looking forward to as principal here?
Inspiring and being inspired by teachers, staff, students and the community.
What and where was your previous job?
Seventh- and eighth-grade bilingual math teacher at Southwest Community Campus of GRPS.
What other positions have you held?
Teacher, International School of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Central America
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
Fishing, exploring the outdoors with my family, DIY home improvement
What and/or who inspires you?
The struggle for equality and social justice. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar E. Chavez, John F. Kennedy, Oscar Romero
What college degrees did you earn?
Bachelor of social work degree from Calvin College, master’s in education from Aquinas College.
Spouse and children?
Wife Kate Kooyman, children Jacob and Sam
What makes you laugh?
Things kids say. Mostly when a kid, like one of my own children, makes an observation or questions something that has a common answer or isa common problem, but through the question the child points out a new way of thinking about it. As the saying goes: “Kids say the darnedest things.”
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I am an avid fly fisherman.
CONNECT
Congress Elementary School
