East Grand Rapids — From a tiny residential alternative school on Beaver Island to Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, and now East Grand Rapids, Justin Noordhoek has always thrived in a small, tight-knit community.
Noordhoek, who recently became the new assistant principal of East Grand Rapids High School, sees East as an ideal landing place — one that offers new challenges, and new opportunities for fulfillment.
In the middle of his second week on the job, he sat down with SNN to talk about education, community, relationships and more.
Other positions you have held in education: Noordhoek started his career as a social studies teacher and live-in cabin counselor at Beaver Island Lighthouse School. The now-defunct alternative high school program was maintained by Traverse Bay Area ISD, Charlevoix Public Schools and the MichiganWorks! Association.
“I really came to get to know those students so well. They were highly at risk, but it captured my heart, and my philosophy on education is rooted in that initial experience,” Noordhoek said. “I know everyone says that relationships are critical, but especially with at-risk students who have not been successful anywhere else, it was imperative that I form those strong relationships. So that has just been the driving force for me.”
From there, Noordhoek took a middle-school teaching position at Eagle Crest Charter Academy in Holland, before moving to Godfrey-Lee, where he was a high-school social studies teacher, and later site coordinator, at East Lee Campus. Prior to joining East, Noordhoek was the assistant principal at Lee High School.
He also taught English at the University of Science and Technology in Beijing, China.
‘There’s so many different things that you get to have your hands in as a school administrator, and I love the freshness of that.’
— East Grand Rapids High School Assistant Principal Justin Noordhoek
How about jobs outside education? Noordhoek has worked with the Byron Center Summer Recreation Program, and he served two terms as a member of the Grandville City Council.
Education ad degrees:
- Bachelor’s in history and political science, Grand Valley State University
- Master’s in teaching, Aquinas College
What drew you to East Grand Rapids? “In general, the district is small and close-knit, which is what my experiences have been at Beaver Island and Godfrey-Lee,” he said. “The fact this is such a small community that offers (so many) opportunities to connect with people was extremely alluring to me.
“In addition, there is, in the entire district and in the high school as well, a tradition of academic excellence. My journey as an educational professional has largely been around at-risk students, working with at-risk populations, which I have loved. … But I kind of wanted a new challenge and a new opportunity.”
Why did you want to become an administrator? “When you’re an administrator, your influence or impact extends far beyond just one classroom. And not just to the students, but to the adults and the staff as well. So it allowed me to grow as a leader and to forge even more relationships.”
What would you like to share about your family? “I have a son, Aiden, who had a physical health crisis a few years back that has left him in a wheelchair. That has really opened the eyes of my family to the challenges that people with disabilities experience. … He works very hard, he’s my hero,” Noordhoek said. “My daughter, Brianna, she’s 13, goes to Grandville West, and loves theater and horseback riding. And she’s just wonderful — a great big sister.”
Noordhoek and his wife, Sara, have been married for 17 years. Sara recently earned her master’s, and is a counselor at Pine Rest.
Name some great things about going into K-12 education: “You get to see the potential of young people unlocked,” he said.
Noordhoek also counted lifelong learning and the variety and diversity of the workday among the perks of working in education.
“Working in K-12 education, you continue to learn,” he said. “You never feel stagnant. And you don’t have a typical school day. You don’t know what each day is going to bring. … There’s so many different things that you get to have your hands in as a school administrator, and I love the freshness of that.”
What song would you pick to define you? “‘Walk the Line.’ It’s one of my favorite songs, and that’s kind of who I am as a person. I’m a systems person, a rules-follower, but I also see things as a journey. So I’m walking the line of life and abiding by those things as I meet people along the way.”
What historical figure would you love to spend the day with? “I’ve always been intrigued by Thomas Jefferson and his writings. Obviously he had some personal and moral flaws. … But just the intellectual contributions he made to our nation’s founding. And particularly, with the way that our country is now, I would love his perspective on, how does this coincide with what you envisioned the United States to be as you were playing a role as one of our founders?”
Anything else? “It takes time to build trust and gain people’s confidence, but that’s my goal — to really be intentional, showing staff and students that they can come to me,” Noordhoek said. “That’s what I’m here for — to help you, whether you’re staff or a student, to grow in your time here at East Grand Rapids High School.”
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