Kent ISD — A canceled high-school trip to Europe set Nicole Goulet on the path to a career in special education.
Every three years, the orchestra at Goulet’s high school would tour Germany and Italy. During her freshman year, the program decided to split the orchestra into two groups, freshmen and upperclassmen, with only the upperclassmen allowed to attend the trip.
“So I lost out on that, but OK, not a big deal. I’ll go in a couple more years,” she recalled. “So my senior year, we were supposed to go to Germany and Italy. I did all the fundraising things that my mom required me to do to save for that trip, and then (the 2001 terrorist attacks of) 9/11 happened, and they canceled the trip for my senior year.”
After that, Goulet dropped out of orchestra and decided to join a teacher internship program in a special education classroom working with students who had more significant needs.
Through that experience, Goulet said she developed a connection to the field of special education and chose to make it her career path.
“That’s what led me to special education,” said Goulet, the new principal at KEC’s Beltline campus — and visiting Italy is still on her bucket list.
Raechelle Huston is passionate about helping students develop their social and emotional learning skills.
With more than 20 years of experience in special education, Huston now leads as principal at KEC Oakleigh, a K–8 program serving students in the Kent ISD area who face significant social-emotional challenges that can sometimes manifest as behavioral or mental health issues, she explained.
“I think this disability is unique, because it’s not one that you see and sometimes it gets labeled differently, like bad behavior or something. But that’s not really what it is,” Huston said. “I just have a draw to help those students become successful and be able to be in that least restrictive environment.”
SNN gets to know both Goulet and Huston in this edition of Meet Your Administrators.
Name: Nicole Goulet
School: Principal, Kent Education Center Beltline
About KEC Beltline: “We support kids who are in ninth grade through age 26, and we focus primarily on those social-emotional behavioral needs, but we also support students on a diploma track, and students on track to employment and secondary transition opportunities.”
Other positions you have held in education: Goulet said she started her career in Colorado working in a classroom for students with significant disabilities. For the past 12 years, she worked for Char-Em ISD (Charlevoix and Emmet counties) in a variety of positions serving middle- and high-school students and adults.
What about jobs outside education? “Before I became an educator, I worked for the Ingham County Parks for (about) a decade, at multiple jobs there. I was a lifeguard and worked there in the winters, and it was kind of my non-school employment. So when I wasn’t in school, I was … spending some time outside in all the fresh air.”
Education:
- Bachelor’s in special education and physical education, Central Michigan University
- Master’s in special education administration, Grand Valley State University
Why special education? “I really enjoyed working with students and helping them learn new things; the lightbulb moment was exciting for me. As I continue in this work, students are what motivate me to show up and work hard.”
What drew you to KEC Beltline? Having met Kent ISD Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Kirsten Myers, “I knew I wanted to work for somebody who was very like minded (and) forward thinking, advocating for kids and using current research, law and data to really support great things for kids. So that’s kind of what brought me to the ISD. I love this niche of students with more significant disabilities.”
Why did you want to become an administrator? “I’ve always had managerial and leadership positions. When I worked for Ingham County Parks, I was a head lifeguard and I was a manager. So I always had that leadership experience and tried to drive things, drive whatever organization or group that I worked with to do great things. I think that’s kind of what drove me to wanting to be a principal. I wanted to do great things for schools and for kids. So my work is really about kids, and I wanted to make sure that we were doing the best we can for students in our schools.”
How will you encourage student voice in your building? “We provide students tons of opportunities for helping us better help them. Student voice and empowering students is a core part of how we support kids as a whole here at KEC Beltline. Students — especially students with some behavioral and emotional challenges — they’re looking for control and they’re looking to be empowered in their world. So one of the ways we can help them manage their behavior is by helping them understand how their voice, used appropriately, can really lead to great outcomes for them. I think a big piece of what we try and do here every day is empowering students to be safe, responsible and respectful by using their voice.”
First concert: New Kids On the Block, when Goulet was in kindergarten
Dogs or cats and why? She’s both. Along with two 14-year-old cats, Goulet has a German short-hair pointer Labrador mix named Weston.
Name: Raechelle Huston
School: Kent Education Center Oakleigh
More about KEC Oakleigh: Currently there are about 40 students in the program, which Huston said is always changing as students move back to their local districts when they are ready and able to demonstrate the skills they need to be successful in those more general education settings.
“The intentionality in my vision is that (Oakleigh) would be this really intensive instruction, and then you’re ready to transition back to your local district, so that we have students in that least restrictive environment.”
Other positions you have held in education: Huston served Grand Rapids Public Schools for a majority of her career so far, first as a teacher, then as a teacher consultant and special education supervisor. Before coming to Oakleigh, she was the special education supervisor for Kentwood Public Schools. She also is an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University.
What about jobs outside of education? Huston said she worked the typical jobs, such as a server and in retail. In college, she worked nights in the claims department of an insurance company.
Education:
- Bachelor’s in elementary education, Western Michigan University
- Master’s in education with emotional impairment and learning disability endorsements, Grand Valley State University
- Cognitive impairment endorsement, GVSU
- Administration certificate, GVSU
Why did you want to become an administrator? “It’s that draw to help others, help students and help people be the best teacher, the best support staff that they can be. I have had some great role models from administrators who were really supportive of me, and so that has really just fostered that desire to help others and to be able to impact students at a greater level.
“I also think I missed being connected to a building. Being a teacher consultant and being a special ed supervisor, I supported lots of buildings, and that was a great experience and I learned so, so much. But I think I was missing that kids connection that has really been wonderful this year.
“I do joke of the day for the kids, and (they) now submit their jokes. I have a stack of jokes that they’re like, ‘Miss Huston, will you read my joke?’ They love it, and I love that. The connection is great, and that’s what I was missing.”
What would you like to share about your family? Huston said her family hit several milestones this year: Her daughter Rylee turned 21, another daughter, Addie, turned 18, and her youngest, Piper, turned 16. Huston and her husband, Todd, also marked their 25th wedding anniversary.
How will you encourage student voice in your building? Huston said they have been surveying students, such as about what they would like to see in the school store. The school hosted spirit days and other monthly celebrations, and will have a popcorn Friday where the students help make and deliver popcorn.
What book, movie, TV show or podcast have you loved lately? “I’m a ‘Law & Order’ junkie. That is my go-to when there is nothing on or when I am doing something and I need background noise, because I have seen all of them so many times.”
What’s one thing on your bucket list? “I would love to take a trip to Hawaii. We love to travel.”
Read more from Kent ISD:
• 27 years later, he’s still at Lincoln Developmental Center
• New center programs director say return ‘feels like coming home’
