HomeProfiles of Students, Staff, Teachers

Profiles of Students, Staff, Teachers

Once he knew the why, ‘Everything fell into place’

Kent ISD James Harger

Jeff Bush, the new principal at Kent Innovation High School, was not a star student when he was in high school...

Former homecoming king knows grades matter… and a little AC/DC helps

Kent ISD James Harger

Former high school jock and homecoming king Ryan Graham is now the team captain at the Tech Center...

Veteran teachers become new principals

Meet Your Administrators Charles Honey

Matthew Zokoe is the new principal at Cannonsburg Elementary and Shannon Ouellette is the new principal at Belmont Elementary. SNN gets to know them in this edition of Meet Your Principal...

From Panther to Red Arrow, he’s on his way

Lowell Morgan Jarema

Steve Gough (pronounced Goff) is the new Lowell High School principal. SNN gets to know him in this edition of Meet Your Principal...

New superintendent looks to ‘significantly impact’ district

Meet Your Administrators Erin Albanese

New Superintendent Craig Hoekstra has the opportunity to lead major investment in the district where he grew up, serving generations of Wolves to come...

Two new leaders for GRPS elementaries

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

Maureen Capillo is the new North Park Montessori School principal and Harvey Crawley is the new Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy principal...

After Taking a Left Turn, He Found His Right Calling

Kentwood Erin Albanese

Justin Mathes began by tutoring youth at various schools, now the new Valleywood Middle School Principal...

District grad, longtime staffer takes helm … but can he moonwalk?

Northview Morgan Jarema

Jerry Klekotka is the new Crossroads Middle School principal. SNN gets to know him in this edition of Meet Your Principal...

Running the good race, from refugee camp to top student-athlete

Grads with Grit Charles Honey

Jama Jafari Jama has been through rough times, but he says nothing will stop him in the long journey now before him, starting with a scholarship at Aquinas College...

MySchool@Kent students overcome obstacles to get to graduation

Grads with Grit Janice Holst

Students choose online high school for a variety of reasons. Here, a few of this year’s graduates reflect...

Her overarching goal: to teach that American ideals are worth striving for

Rockstar Teachers Erin Albanese

Rebecca Debowski witnesses and guides her students as they learn to look at things in a more nuanced way and respect what one another have to say, from every perspective...

‘She will fill your bucket if you are empty’

Godwin Heights Erin Albanese

This art teacher provides a solid skill base, then encourages her students to infuse their work with elements of their own lives. And she shares her own, which she says creates a safe space for them to reflect...

Strong faith, desire to help pushes her to be healing force through song

Grads with Grit Erin Albanese

Despite tremendous loss, and mental and physical ailments, MacKenzie Van Dorp is off to the country music capital to pursue a career in music...

A ‘drive to do good in the world’

Student Leaders Morgan Jarema

Born in Paris, Léa Schmitt and her family moved to Grand Rapids from France in time for the last few weeks of her sixth-grade year at Breton Downs. She barely spoke English...

Family and friends pushed her to excel, grad says

Grads with Grit Janice Holst

To some, using a wheelchair might mean marching band was out, but not for Sarah Abma...

Giving back as others gave to them

Student Leaders Erin Albanese

Three sisters, refugees from Rwanda, devote their Monday evenings to volunteering at the Learning Café, an education center in Grand Rapids that serves refugee children...

1...343536...41 Page 35 of 41

- Sponsorship -

GET OUR HEADLINES IN YOUR EMAIL

SUSTAINING SPONSORS

Join these sponsors

- Sponsorship -

MEDIA PARTNERS

School News NetworkA Window into Your Public Schools

ABOUT US

School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent ISD, which enroll more than 102,000 students. Founded in 2013 as an initiative of Kent ISD, we are supported by local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and multimedia journalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues facing students and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

Young leaders find their place at the table on student council

With striking commitment, he leads percussionists to find ‘genuine joy’

Young bowler’s future is all strikes and spares

Youth of the Year honoree embraces challenges & change

Taking math from the classroom to the court

STEM rocket project launches students into summer

Book Bus keeps reading skills sharp during the summer

Creating music, building relationships with ‘magical’ students

‘Building assets’ helps students steer clear of dangerous options

Art & writing competition winners share work

Sparking success: welding in virtual reality

Destination Lake Michigan: newcomers study local watershed

Profiles of Students, Staff, Teachers

GET OUR HEADLINES IN YOUR EMAIL

SUSTAINING SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ABOUT US

FOLLOW US

OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS