The 2007-08 school year, marks the beginning of my 38th year as an educator in Michigan.  Since moving to Pellston, many people have asked me where I came from, where I was educated and how I made a decision to become a school administrator. Education is the most rewarding profession. Schools across the United States annually enroll new students in school and then have 13 years to create and mold them into the young adults that eventually will become the future workers and leaders of our great country.  Our job as educators is to find ways to develop and implement curriculum and ways to teach the curriculum so that our students are well prepared for future education or employment.  I feel blessed to be a part of the teaching and learning profession and would not have it any other way. 

I was born to missionary parents in Bangor, Maine.  I started school at Woodstock School in Missourrie, northern India, then transferred to Murree Christian School, Pakistan, in 1st grade.  Murree Christian School is a K-12 boarding school that serves missionaries and national students from many countries.  My school days were filled with academic classes taught by a combination of certified and “fill-in” teachers when others could not be present.

Because of the school’s location in the foothills of the Himalayas, we attended school from March through December. The school was closed during the winter due to heavy snow.  During holiday and vacation periods, we had plenty of time to hike and camp in the mountains.  Vacations were fun, too, as often we traveled into the northernmost parts of Pakistan in the Kaghan and Swat valleys.

I graduated from Murree in 1966 and then enrolled in Tarkio College, Tarkio, Missouri.  I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969.  With the help of a teacher placement bureau in Minneapolis, MN, I applied for and was hired to work for a Class C school district, Union City Community Schools, in Union City, MI, located along M-60 in Branch County, MI.  I taught English and French at Union City High School for four years. 

Students who attend Union City High School come from families who work in the surrounding communities like Battle Creek and Coldwater.  Many students were farm kids.  Academic and athletic programs were very strong in Union City.  Students attended school at Union City or at the Vocational Center in Battle Creek.  Other students attended Kellogg Community College.

In 1973 the Union City Board asked me to assume the administrative position as the Community Education Director.  In that position I was responsible for administering programs for Pre-School, Adult Education, Alternative Education and Community Enrichment.  I also became very involved in working with Senior Citizen groups and other community agencies to coordinate services between the school and community. During this time I was also enrolled at Western Michigan University in pursuit of my Masters Degree in Educational Leadership.

In 1980 the Union City Board employed me as Superintendent of Schools.  My accomplishments at Union City included the development and implementation of core curriculum in Math, Science, English and Social Studies using the Quality Schools program, distance learning, computer education and Project First Step.

In 1994 I applied for and became employed by Pellston Public Schools as Superintendent of Schools.  I have continued my career in this position for thirteen years.  While at Pellston we have set and accomplished many goals including approximately ten million dollars of improvements to facilities, fully integrated computer systems, improvement of core curriculum and instruction including low class sizes, all day Kindergarten and single-gender instruction at the Middle School level.

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