May 2023
As some of you already know, I will not be returning next year as the superintendent/principal of the Burt Township School District. Timing is everything and it is time for me to realize the next steps in my professional journey. We will be moving closer to family and I will continue working on my doctorate while pursuing a teacher leader facilitator position within Michigan’s Grow Your Own program. I am sad to leave but excited for the future.
Enough can’t be said for the faculty and staff I worked alongside at the school. I’d like to take this opportunity to look back on just a few of our major accomplishments over the last two years here in Grand Marais. Any success I had can be attributed to their dedication and commitment to our students and the community.
The first and most obvious improvement was the capital project that was completed last summer. The school is in great shape right now with many modern updates. Anyone who has ever gone to or worked in the school knows it is always in need of updates but we took a huge step in the right direction with last year’s construction and furniture purchases. Not only that, we’ve worked incredibly hard to improve the safety and security of the facilities at the same time.
One of the biggest challenges for rural schools is teacher recruitment and retention. We are in the midst of one of the largest teacher shortages in this country’s history. The classic teacher education pipeline just cannot keep up with demand. In thinking outside the box, Michigan developed an alternative certification program in which local people with degrees could apply for grant funding and become teachers. We supported four of our own candidates and have been awarded over $150,000 in grant money to get these individuals in the classroom.
Last, but not least, the students. When it comes to the kids, the reason we’re here in the first place, we worked incredibly hard to make sure our students had access to as many opportunities as we could provide. Athletics came roaring back in a big way, field trips and hands-on learning opportunities seemed to happen weekly, and the class trips were a thing of wonder and awe. The school is positioned perfectly to continue to offer not only a high level of academics but also enriching experiences for years to come.
This community is truly special. I will never forget my time here in Grand Marais. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your support. I look forward to checking back in on Burt to see where things go from here. As always, let’s go Polar Bears!!!
