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Profiles of Students, Staff, Teachers

From class clown to head of the school

Kentwood Erin Albanese

Andrew Kolzow is the new East Kentwood Freshman Campus principal. SNN gets to know him in this edition of Meet Your Principal...

New superintendent aims to be “positive influence” throughout district

Cedar Springs Janice Holst

Smith has been in education for 25 years — as a teacher, a principal or in other administration roles. “That collection of experience prepared me for this opportunity in Cedar Springs” he said...

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...

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...

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...

‘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...

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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.

Now cancer-free, this senior is hoping to help others

‘I get to be a dad to so many people’

Incoming Michigan FFA president plans career in agriculture

Sixth-grader auditions for ‘America’s Got Talent’

Sixth-grader draws attention with art skills

The classroom calls out to these teaching cadets

Future songwriters, audio engineers learning to create in production lab

STEAM night shows ‘we never stop learning’

First-generation college students ‘bring level of grit, perseverance’

Sixth-grader draws attention with art skills

Tessa Bunting grows alongside the kids she teaches

Is there a place for AI in the arts? Student news crew explores

Profiles of Students, Staff, Teachers

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