Northview — Any conversation with Ben Garlets is bound to take a detour or three, and sometimes it’ll disappear down a rabbit hole so deep you forget what you were talking about in the first place.
But one thing Garlets never forgets is the fact that every person is a human first, regardless of their age. As the new assistant principal at Crossroads Middle School, he says he seeks to see humanity in every interaction and every relationship he builds.
“Trying to help every human be the best version of themselves is kind of like my life’s mission,” he said. “I talk to kids about the power they have in their relationships — the power to choose good or choose evil. And we have this universal bond in that we are all humans. So my goal is to hopefully leave people feeling better, or being better humans.”
Get to know the assistant principal better in this edition of Meet Your Administrator:
Other positions you’ve held in education: A West Michigan native, Garlets started his career teaching online classes but quickly realized that he craved in-person relationships. So he and his wife, Jeanne, uprooted to the small indigenous village of New Stuyahok, Alaska, population 500. There, they both taught at the 120-student, K-12 school, with Ben teaching math and science for grades 6-12.
“I loved this experience. It was amazing. You have to take a tiny plane from Anchorage just to get there,” he said. “We signed up for one year and stayed for two. We got to a place where we were falling so deeply in love with the people of the village that it was like, we either have to cut ties now or we’re here forever. And we had young kids and wanted them to know their grandparents, so we couldn’t (stay).”
Back in Grand Rapids, Garlets held several positions within Grand Rapids Public Schools. He taught at C.A. Frost and then Museum High School, coming on board with the first cohort of students and working with them all the way to graduation. He then took a role as a school renewal specialist under the Promise Neighborhood grant, coaching and supporting schools on the southeast side of Grand Rapids, before eventually assuming the role of principal at Brookside Elementary for two years.
What drew you to Northview? “My wife teaches at (West Oakview) Field School, and she had told me all these wonderful things. And I really wasn’t looking to leave Brookside or make any changes, but I did realize in my time there that I needed to get back to middle or secondary education. Applying (to Crossroads) was really like a shot in the dark, but I’m so grateful to be here. I’m excited for the home that Northview has offered me.”
Education/degrees: Garlets’ educational journey is also a winding path; he started college intending to go into the medical field, but after job-shadowing decided that wasn’t for him. When a mentor suggested he consider education due to his strong interpersonal skills, he did a hard pivot and just kept going. The end result looks like this:
- Bachelor’s degree, biomedical science, Grand Valley State University
- Bachelor’s degree, mathematics, GVSU
- Teaching certificate, Michigan State University
- Master’s degree, teaching and curriculum, MSU
- Occupational endorsement in sustainable energy, University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Administrator certificate, Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals
- (In progress) Ph.D, educational leadership, Western Michigan University
Why did you want to become an administrator? After “accidentally” becoming principal at Brookside, “I fell in love with administration and the work that you get to do — like, it’s terrible, but it’s great and amazing,” he said.
“You could say that I like to drive. As far as schools are concerned, I like being behind the initiatives that are happening and supporting the people that are in the building. I really value the way that I could interact with those adults in whatever capacity — mentoring, collaborative work, leadership, but also supporting and serving.”
‘Trying to help every human be the best version of themselves is kind of like my life’s mission.’
— Assistant Principal Ben Garlets
What would you like to share about your family? Garlets and wife, Jeanne, have been married since 2010 and have four children: Wolfgang, 14; Ruby, 12; Dagny, 9; and Monroe, 5.
Fun fact: Monroe was born during the first week of the COVID-19 lockdown, and Garlets delivered her in the family bathtub.
How have your experiences in Alaska and GRPS shaped how you approach being a principal now? “Whether it was southwest Alaska or southeast Grand Rapids, I experienced equal culture shock in both, so exposure to other people-groups has been the biggest thing. I grew up in a very not-diverse community, and so experiencing other cultures and things that were not my normal … made me realize how much beauty there is in all of that — all of us. There are so many wonderful contributions to humanity that all of that offers. … The most beautiful and challenging part about this job is that schools get to be a safe haven for all people.”
Is there a book, movie or podcast you’ve enjoyed recently? “I don’t have all the time in the world since I’ve started my doctorate — I mostly read research articles. But my kids are so cool, so I like to spend the time watching something with them. … My son and I have been watching ‘Breaking Bad,’ as like a little brain-break time. And my daughters and my wife do ‘spa days’ on Saturdays, where they do face masks and wear robes while watching ‘Gilmore Girls.’ So I’m not, like, directly watching ‘Gilmore Girls,’ but I know what’s going on with Dean and Jess and Luke. Luke is my guy.”
What is on your bucket list? “I want to go to Patagonia and either mountain bike or hike through the glaciers — I hope they’re still there when I get there. Wolf really wants to go to Japan, so I’d love to go there with him. I’d love to see all of the national parks — I’ve made it to about 13 so far. And I’m not talking about a drive through; I want to experience them and really see why this was made into a national park.”
What was your first concert? In middle school, Garlets got to see REO Speedwagon, Journey and Styx with his dad. (Most recently, he was very excited to snag tickets to see Billy Strings this summer.)
What is the best thing about going into K-12 education? “What we do is create relationships and nurture people, and I get to be a dad to so many people.
“When I became a dad, it was one of the greatest things of my life. But it’s the first time I’ve ever been a dad, and I’m figuring it out as I go. And that’s kind of the definition of the educator relationship, too — just offering grace abounding, and being able to be a dad for hundreds of kids. Sometimes, I have to be the not-fun dad. A lot of times, I get to be super fun. It’s giving a safe, nurturing, realistic preparation into the world, with consequences and encouragement. And I know that’s not what all dads are like. And some kids don’t have a dad. So how lucky am I, that I can make a living in a profession that lets me enter into this space of ‘dad-hood’ for kids? I get to step into the voids that young people have and try and have a positive impact.”
Read more from Northview:
• Doing school as a team: ‘Whatever it takes to make it happen’
• Longtime English teacher discovers ‘the possibilities of something new’
