Thornapple Kellogg — Ben Sleeman moved into his new office at McFall Elementary with an optimistic attitude and his bearded dragon, Luna.
“She’s my emotional support lizard,” he said about the reptile that used to be one of many critters that shared his third-grade classroom.
Sleeman said he’s always liked working with kids, and worked as a camp counselor during the summers. He was inspired by his grandfather to go into education.
“He was an assistant superintendent in my early days of school, and everyone knew everyone in our community,” he recalled.
SNN gets to know him better in this edition of Meet Your Administrator.
Other positions held in education: After graduating from college, Sleeman thought about teaching special education, while he worked as a long-term substitute teacher. He pivoted and ended up teaching sixth grade in one of TK’s rival districts, Wayland Public Schools, for nine years and coached boys and girls soccer. Prior to assuming his leadership role at McFall, he taught third grade at Lee Elementary for eight years.
Education/degrees:
- Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Spring Arbor University
- Master’s degree in education leadership, Grand Valley State University
Why did you want to become an administrator? Sleeman said he thought it would be a good transition to move from the classroom to a leadership role in the district. He earned his master’s degree early in his teaching career in case the opportunity ever presented itself.
“When the former principal took on a new position in the district, I started thinking about throwing my hat in the ring. This building fits my personality really well. I like being present, and kids seeing me in the hallways. They give hugs and share every little story they can think of.”
How would you describe your leadership style? Sleeman said coaching and being a servant leader are the most important traits to him.
“My leadership style is very outgoing, very warm. This is (my students’) first school, so I try to be present, ask what I can do to help and help make parents feel welcome. I’m not too big to step in and help anyone out.”
What would you like to share about your family? Sleeman and his wife, Nicole, have four daughters together, all named after flowers. Their ages range from second grade to young fives, and all four girls attend TK Schools.
Nicole is a TK alum, and their girls are fifth-generation students in the district. She taught young fives at McFall until this year, when she swapped buildings with Sleeman and now teaches second grade at Lee.
“We both coach our two oldests’ soccer teams, so that is how we spend a lot of our time. I also enjoy mountain biking, and we have little seats for the girls to also go with us. We like to go to Gun Lake in the summer time, being outside and working with the girls in our flower garden.”
What ideas or strategies will you bring from teaching third-grade to being a principal? “One of the things I enjoy doing is getting to know the little things about staff and students. I can remember something about them and work it into conversations. I think it’s important to be a positive adult in their lives and build relationships. Testing is obviously important, but with this age of kids, if they like being at school, they’re going to learn more.”
What book, movie, TV show or podcast have you loved lately? “I love to read. I like fantasy books, but I’ve been a bit busy and tired the last couple months. I also follow and watch the Detroit Lions and the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, and my daughters have started getting into it.”
What famous figure would you love to spend the day with? “I would love to sit down with Dan Campbell. He’s the epitome of a leader; he’s open with his players and I’d like to pick his brain about leadership styles.”
What is one thing on your bucket list? My wife and I have always wanted to go to Alaska. We keep brainstorming trips out to Yellowstone or other locations out west, but we want to wait until the girls are all the right ages to do a big road trip.”
Read more from Thornapple Kellogg:
• Servant leader wants to further ‘that family feel’
• Bringing a ‘mentor mentality’ to the district’s top job
