Northview — Jerry Klekotka, Northview’s new deputy superintendent, is well known as a “lifelong Wildcat.” Not only did he attend school in the district — from preschool at West Oakview all the way to Northview High School’s class of 1989 — but he’s also spent his entire career with Northview. Over the years, he’s been a teacher, dean of students, principal, high school athletic director and facilities director.
Cumulatively, this experience gives him a unique perspective on the district that few other school administrators have.
Yet his ties to the district go deeper than that. Beneath Klekotka’s student football games and professional job titles, there are stories of loss, relationships, support and serendipitous moments in Northview that have proven why he wants to be a lifelong Wildcat, he said.
“I recognize that my pathway isn’t the traditional pathway — it’s pretty unique, and I’m pretty proud of that,” he said. “And I’m proud of the fact that I might have had an impact on people in my time here. They have had just as much of an impact on me, too, and on my family.”
Klekotka was literally born in the district, in a house his father found while commuting from his job as a facilities worker at the Grand Rapids veterans’ home. He was the youngest of four boys; Klekotka’s oldest brother, Johnny, drowned in the Grand River after first grade at West Oakview. A year later, their father died of rheumatic fever at age 27.
West Oakview immediately stepped in to help, Klekotka said; the principal gave his mom a job in the school lunch program and staff members offered time and resources as the boys grew up.
“The school was so empathetic to our situation — they completely took care of us,” Klekotka said. “They saw this woman who needs a job to support her family … and I remember the custodian, Mr. Ben, would take my brothers after school with him and they’d build birdhouses together or work on cleaning. Literally, this was our support network.”
Northview has given Klekotka lifelong friendships who also became colleagues. Two of his closest friends to this day are fellow class of ’89 grads Brent Dickerson, now the principal of Northview High School, and Tim Christian, now director of transportation and safety. Dickerson was even the best man in Klekotka’s wedding.
‘I want to make people feel welcome in this place that I call home.’
— Deputy Superintendent Jerry Klekotka
The district has also given him career nudges at the exact right times, he said. A few years ago, driving back from a conference with Superintendent Christina Hinds, he decided to take a back road to show her the veterans’ home where his late father used to work in facilities. At that same time, he said, Hinds turned to ask him if he’d ever consider becoming Northview’s director of facilities.
“It’s all been part of my journey here,” he said of moments like that. “I feel — still — a debt of gratitude to the district, to this community. Honestly, when I say, ‘I love it here,’ I really do. I truly enjoy this place. It’s not work to me. … I think it’s about finding joy in the work and satisfaction in what you do, and I’ve had that all along my way.”
Read on to learn more about Northview’s new deputy superintendent.
Education/degrees:
- Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Hillsdale College
- Master’s degree in educational leadership, Grand Valley State University
Why did you want to be a district-level administrator? “I wasn’t really sure about it at first, honestly, because I really was enjoying what I was doing (in facilities). But I told Dr. Hinds, I just want to be helpful. I’m at a point in my career where, if I can help young administrators develop a love for this place like I have, or if I can contribute positively to the team in a different role, then I’m open to it. I just want to leave Northview better than when I found it and help in any way. Obviously, I want to continue to support our students and families. I also really want to support our principals and teachers and staff — they want to be great at what they do, and if I can help them do that, then I’m all in.”
What would you like to share about your family? Klekotka’s older brothers, Joe and Jeff, are (of course) Northview graduates, and their mom, Judy, still lives in the district as well.
Klekotka’s wife, Sara, is also a Northview graduate and educator; she teaches math at Crossroads Middle School. The couple had three children who are all district grads; daughter Sydney is a nurse and son Brady is going into construction management. The Klekotkas’ oldest son, Alex, died unexpectedly in 2021. After his death, Klekotka started a small summer lawn-mowing business in honor of a goal Alex had set for himself.
The family has a cottage on a lake and enjoys spending time together, whether it’s out on the lake, traveling to places like Glacier National Park, golfing, fishing or attending a Dave Matthews Band concert.
What is your philosophy or approach to leadership? “I’ve tried to operate under the philosophy of, ‘Gentle pressure, constantly applied.’ That’s from a former superintendent, Michael Paskewicz, who was a big inspiration to me. In leadership, you can take a hammer approach of making things get done right now, or you can come alongside people to tackle problems while making sure that they’re part of the solution. And I just think you get way further doing things the second way. I want to lead by example and work alongside people to find solutions that work for both of us. … I do believe there’s nothing our team can’t handle when we work together.”
How would someone else describe your leadership style? “I hope they would say I’m somebody who is motivated, works hard, trustworthy, confident and very supportive of people. I want to make people feel welcome in this place that I call home.”
What is on your bucket list? “I’d love to go see The Masters and walk the course. I’d want to go on a Wednesday, because that’s the practice day. Also, I don’t know a thing about tennis — I’m terrible at it — but I think it could be fun to go to Wimbledon.
“I also love to travel and I really love U.S. history, and I would love to spend some real, meaningful time traveling to see the history of our country.”
Fun fact: In high school, Klekotka earned all-state honors in football. Later this month at the homecoming football game, he’ll be inducted into Northview’s Athletics Hall of Fame (alongside aforementioned classmate and colleague Christian, who earned honors in hockey).
Anything else? “I’m very, very grateful for the opportunity Dr. Hinds has given me and to be in this seat. I think about the other people who sat in this chair and helped lead the district, even back when I was a student, to get us to where we are. I want to make sure that I think of them as I am here. It’s an honor to be part of that and I’m proud of where I’ve come from.”
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