Kentwood — Mulonge Kalumbula remembers when he first arrived in West Michigan in the late 1980s, when he and his family fled civil unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It was April and the trees were bare; the 12-year-old Kalumbula thought they were burned until his new classmates told him they would soon grow new leaves. He saw snow for the first time, marveling at the fluffy white stuff until he touched it.
“I got frostbite and I was like, ‘This is not very fun,’” he said.
Upon settling in Wyoming, Kalumbula and his siblings attended Wyoming Public Schools, which began his trajectory from English-learner to college student, doctorate recipient, educator and administrator.
Kalumbula has endless stories, experiences and words of wisdom to share with students at East Kentwood Freshman Campus, where he is the new assistant principal. He now looks forward to connecting with students in the most diverse district in Michigan, where cultures from all over the globe come together.
‘People don’t care about how much you know. They care about how much you care about them.’
— Mulonge Kalumbula, East Kentwood Freshman Campus assistant principal
Other positions you have held in education: Kalumbula spent 26 years at Grand Rapids Public Schools. He taught biology and social studies and coached boys and girls varsity soccer at the former Creston High School. He then served as district director of curriculum before becoming an assistant principal at Westwood Middle School and, most recently, principal at Shawmut Hills Elementary School.
Kalumbula is also involved in supporting international education. Twenty-five years ago, he helped found International Berean Ministries, which operates two schools in Congo, with his father, brother and others. The organization provides education in a country where only one in 10 children go to school beyond seventh grade, and encourages families to allow their daughters to stay in school.
“I go back every three years to meet the principals and teachers there and to share best practices that I’ve learned over time,” he said.
He also serves on the board for Grace Christian University, which helped his family settle in Wyoming when they first came to the United States, and Grace Christian Ministries.
Do you share your story with students? “I talk to kids about belonging. I tell them my life journey and I bring my drum to classrooms. I have different artifacts and the kids will put on my Congolese clothes and we will have a drumfest.”
He has also written a children’s book based on his father’s life, titled, “A Path for Good: The Story of Mz’ee Kizombo.”
Education/degrees: Kalumbula has a bachelor’s degree in religious education from Grace Christian University and a bachelor of arts degree from Cornerstone University.
In addition, he has a master’s degree in education leadership from Michigan State University and a doctorate from Western Michigan University.
What drew you to this district/building? “I like the district’s mission statement about kids, and families, being equitable and having kids represented by people who teach and support them. I was like, ‘You know what? I know Kentwood is about diversity. I think I can bring some value to this place.’”
Kalumbula isn’t entirely new to KPS, however. One of the first experiences of his career was as a teacher’s assistant in East Kentwood science teacher Carl Warfield’s class.
Why did you want to become an administrator? A big influence was Kalumbula’s father, who was one of the first international students to study at Grace Bible College. He received his education in theology and church planting and returned to Congo to serve. Plus, before they came to Michigan, Kalumbula’s father was dean of students at a mission-run school in Congo.
But Kalumbula didn’t think of becoming a principal himself until “twin day” in high school, for which he dressed up like former Rogers High School Principal Harry Hudson.
“I had a red blazer just like he had, so he and I were twins. I thought, ‘You know what? I think I could be a principal!’ I shadowed him all day, walked through his routine as a principal.
“Harry was also one of my mentors. He showed servant leadership. He had his suit on, but he would pick up trash in the cafeteria.”
What would you like to share about your family? Kalumbula and his wife, Jessica, have three children: daughter Jana, 17, and sons Kalani, 12, and Amani, 10.
“My kids are awesome. I have an awesome wife. We spend a lot of time together and have a lot of fun.”
What are two great things about being in K-12 education?
1. Relationships. “I think about people first. I also think that for me, education was not a luxury; it was a lifeline. I want to give other folks their lifeline. In Kentwood Public Schools I think about the kids we serve and the diversity they bring with them. This is a lifeline. We can change the trajectory of their lives if we do it right.”
2. Empowering adults. Kalumbula quoted an African proverb: “If you want to run fast, you run alone; if you want to run far, run together.”
“It’s empowering to see the synergy of adults who say, ‘We believe what we are doing together. We take care of the kids together. We celebrate their growth and the changes we see in them.’ It gets me up in the morning.”
What ideas or strategies do you bring to KPS that you’ve developed over your career? Kalumbula said he wants to make sure students are treated as more than data or test scores.
“Over time, having served in an urban school setting, I’ve learned how to see the whole person — that’s not just a number; that’s a person there.”
He said he also works to change mindsets and perceptions about what is possible in environments where, oftentimes, students are told “they can’t.”
“Our kids can. They just can’t do that yet.”
Describe your leadership style in seven words or less: Kalumbula said he could answer this in one word: servant.
“You have to be service-oriented. People don’t care about how much you know. They care about how much you care about them. You’ve got to serve; you have to show up and lead by example.”
Dogs or cats, and why? “Dogs for sure. Dogs are so cool. They miss you. Dogs love you no matter what. It’s unconditional love.”
What song would you pick to define you? “Something Inside So Strong,” by Labi Siffre. That song is about empowerment. I teach my kids the song with movement to it. (It means) no matter how many obstacles you face, you are so strong. You are going to make it.”
What book have you loved lately? “(KPS) just finished a book together as a book study called ‘Unreasonable Hospitality’ (by Will Guidara). It’s about doing things above and beyond what you expect.”
Another favorite recent book is “Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter.”
What historical figure would you love to spend the day with? “Jesus. It’s about that servant leadership … Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr. … I have a list of folks that changed the world.”
What is one thing on your bucket list? “I want to get my pilot’s license. It would be awesome to fly a plane.”
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