Celebrating 175 Years of Growing Learners

GLPS Families,

The first week of the 2026-2027 school year is in the books! As I made my way around the district this week, it was wonderful to see all of the students and staff back in classrooms, lunchrooms, hallways, and on playgrounds and athletic fields. I saw a lot of smiling faces, and thanks to everyone involved, a smooth transition into the school year. As a reminder, please utilize the  Grand Ledge Public Schools Effective Communication and Problem Solving Model  if you have questions, concerns, or need support now or as the year goes on.

For my message this week, I want to share some fun information with you that I shared with our staff last week on their first day back. The first school that was built within the boundaries of what would become Grand Ledge Public Schools was built in 1851. That makes 2026 a special year, as we have been helping students learn and grow for 175 years in our community. To celebrate, you will see staff around the district wearing sweatshirts this year with this logo, tying together our mission statement of Growing Learners, Preparing Students, the logo of our script GL, and the fact that we have been successfully serving the students and families of our community for 175 years. 

In addition, we also shared with staff the history of school buildings in our district. Take a look at this timeline, which was included in our all district kickoff on August 18th. For those of you that have been around a while, like me, you will recognize some building names that you may not have seen in a while, and for those of you who are new to the community, it is fun to see the path that our district has taken to arrive where we are today.

While it is important to celebrate our history, it is also important to acknowledge the present state of the district. Last week, I shared our strategic plan with you, as well as the notion that we continue to strive to live up to those ideals on a daily basis. In July,  I presented information to the Board of Education on feedback that we collected from students and families last year.  This data shows that while we have areas in which we need to continue to grow, overall we are successfully serving students and families, as well as regularly creating amazing learning opportunities. I encourage you to take a look, and read through the data set.

I also want to celebrate another successful year in the Lansing State Journal’s Community Choice Awards. These awards are voted on by the community, and we are proud to be the recipient awards in three different categories.

For the third year in a row, Grand Ledge Public Schools was named the best school district in the region!

Finally, new this year, we were named the region’s best employer! We always knew we had the best employees, but it was quite an honor to be recognized for not only creating a great place to learn, but also a great place to work.

Again, these awards are voted on by the greater Lansing community, and we know that there are many great districts, childcare providers, and places to work, so it is a tremendous honor to receive this recognition year after year.

As I wrap up this week, and in keeping with this theme of past and present, I want to preview the messages I will be sending throughout the fall. I will be sharing some additional information about the future of Grand Ledge Public Schools, including opportunities for engagement, plans for continued academic growth, and the facilities needs we are continuing to work hard to address. So, stay tuned! Finally, I want to end with a heartfelt thank you for allowing Grand Ledge Public Schools to serve your children, you, our families, and all of Comet Country every day. I truly value the opportunity to live, learn, and lead in such an incredible community. Have a wonderful weekend, and as always, I am #proudtobeacomet!