Age
49
Occupation / Current Position
Customer Advocate III
Education
Bachelor's Degree, Associate's Degree
Experience & Qualifications
Current Trustee, 10+ years in Human Resources, Employment, policy development.
I’m running to continue serving the community and support the families of the district, hopefully making it easier for teachers to teach and students to learn. I’ve lived in Portage for roughly 12 years and as a current trustee and as a parent to both former and current Portage students, I’ve seen how the district has grown and changed. As a former Human Resources professional, I’m comfortable interacting with differing viewpoints to ultimately reach a solution that is best for the whole, not just one side or my own opinion. I’m willing to listen, learn, ask questions and make tough decisions, keeping what’s best for the students in mind.
There are a wide variety of academic, athletic, music, and extracurricular opportunities available, supported by amazing staff. IB, AP & the Career Connect Center are strong programs. Not all students are aware of the educational pathways, options, & opportunities that exist at PPS. We could do better to communicate these pathways earlier in the student’s academic career as well as ensure all students have access to the same extracurricular & academic opportunities. If “Every Student, Every Future” is what we claim, we must ensure all students have awareness of the future that could be, depending on the path they choose.
First and foremost, listen. I remember attending board meetings and wondering if my speaking up would matter. I strive to make sure each speaker that addresses the board knows they are heard and their words and presence matter as well as every email I receive. I consider each topic and comment brought to the board carefully, even if it differs from my own. Different viewpoints are essential! We don’t know what we don’t know. I will also continue to engage in thoughtful and respectful discussions with my fellow board members. We may not agree on all things; however, our decisions are all focused on what is best for our students.
It can be a scary thing to go to school. Our students and staff must have a school where they feel safe – physically, emotionally and environmentally. This starts with a culture where it is safe to speak up. For the board, this starts with ensuring we have policies in place that support this culture as well as regular monitoring to ensure these policies are effective. I am also concerned about electronic safety, ensuring our students are safe from bullying both in person and online. The board must regularly review policies, working with the administration to ensure they provide a safe learning and working environment.
Age
52
Occupation / Current Position
Special Education Teacher - Autism Spectrum Disorders
Education
Master ofArts, Education, 2010, Cornerstone University; Master of Arts, Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education, 2023, Grand Canyon University;
Experience & Qualifications
Incumbent since 2022, Experienced Teacher, Parent of PPS students and graduates.
I’m running to continue serving the community that educated me and now educates my children. As a Portage graduate, parent, educator, and current board member, I bring multiple perspectives to the role. I have taught students from preschool through advanced high school classes, including special education. This broad experience helps me understand and balance both parent and educator perspectives while making thoughtful decisions focused on making it easier for teachers to teach and students to learn.
“Every Student, Every Future” is reflected in the many opportunities PPS offers. IB, AP, and KAMSC provide rigorous academic options, while Early Middle College, EFE, EFA, and the Career Connect Center provide hands-on and career-focused pathways. These programs recognize that success after graduation looks different for every student and allow students to individualize their education around their strengths and future goals. Our opportunity for growth is communicating these options earlier and more clearly so families understand the choices available and students are encouraged to take advantage of them.
Meaningful involvement begins with making sure people know their voices matter. I read the emails I receive, listen carefully to comments and concerns, ask questions, and consider different viewpoints when making decisions. While we may not always agree on the outcome, each perspective can provide a more complete understanding of an issue. I will continue encouraging clear communication and opportunities for parents and community members to ask questions, share concerns, and offer solutions.
Students and staff deserve schools that are physically and emotionally safe. That requires a culture where staff, students, parents, and community members feel comfortable raising concerns, offering solutions, and taking the often difficult step of speaking up. Through policy governance, the board must write and regularly review policies that give administration the tools and direction to build that culture. We must provide appropriate resources, ask thoughtful questions, expect accountability, and monitor whether our policies are achieving the intended results.
Age
49
Occupation / Current Position
Business consultant
Education
MBA Portsmouth university
Experience & Qualifications
20 years experience in consulting and 5 years experience as a teacher in China and England.
Campaign Mailing Address
420 Gabardine ave
Honesty, integrity, transparency and objectivity is essential as an oversight board. My background as a business consultant, experience as an educator both domestically and abroad, and education (BA and MBA) has me ideally suited to uphold the standards required and face the challenges that the district has.
A reputation has been circling around of corruption and privilege and as an outsider, I will act in the best interest of the community as a whole and work to ensure that secrets are not kept from the constituents and sound, objective decisions are made. That the construction of the infrastructure is sustainable and lead to lower taxes.
The district has excellent facilities, staff, and standing in the community. One area in particular are the exchange student programs and this should be further utilized to bring in diversity, depth of thought and broaden perspectives.
The food served to our young people should be locally sourced with the emphasis being on nutrition and a product that is desired and not cost cutting and profits for a large corporation. I living wage and benefits should be available to all staff so that they can deliver excellent provisions to the student body and we can retain professionals and uphold a standard of excellence.
Tremendous skills and resources are abound in our community with all the diversity of companies and corporations that make up our local economy. The district should work closely with the parents to promote the trades as well as higher education and seek opportunities to develop the workforce through clubs, work placements, and other opportunities to expose young people to industries and areas that may suit them. Hands on skills can be developed in extra curricular activities with the tutelage of parents. I will work to develop a bank of volunteers who wish to support the school and students in this endeavor.
We must ensure that there is zero tolerance for harassment and bullying. The schools must remain a safe place for healthy discussion about the world, a creative place for personal discovery and expression. There must be safe pathways for students to commute to school who aren’t bussed. And busses must remain safe places. The workforce should not be so overworked that they cannot keep an open eye and identify the risks that surround students in the corridors and must be allowed the time to show compassion and understanding when identifying issues. I believe that out of uniform police officers can patrol and use discretion to assist in this.
Age
38
Occupation / Current Position
Self Employed
Education
Bachelors
Experience & Qualifications
Small Business Owner (16 years), PTO Board Member(7 Years), PTO President (4 Years)
As a parent of two PPS students and a small business owner in the area, I have a vested interest in the success of our schools and community. I've seen firsthand the dedication of my kids' teachers, and I want to help keep PPS on a trajectory of excellence for every family in our district.
I'm also finishing my 7th year as a PTO Board Member, and 4th as President, at Lake Center Elementary. I've enjoyed giving back to our school community and working with staff and other community members for its betterment. Running for the School Board is a natural next step in that service.
PPS's greatest strengths are its dedicated teachers, strong community involvement, and academic programs that support students at every level. Small class sizes and behavior support also help students thrive both academically and personally.
Areas for improvement include continuing to ensure equitable funding for students with additional needs, and keeping communication strong between the district, staff, and families as challenges arise. As a board member, I'd focus on supporting what's working while staying open to evaluating where we can do better.
After 7 years on the PTO Board, 4 as President, I've learned what actually gets parents involved: good communication and volunteer options that work with busy schedules. I want to push for better, more consistent communication between the district and families, and make it easier for working parents to volunteer.
As a trustee, I don't think it's my job to run these programs myself. My job is to make sure our schools have the support they need to keep families involved at the building level.
Key safety issues include building security, mental health support, and emergency preparedness. PPS has invested in secure entry systems and behavior support, and the board's role is to keep evaluating whether those efforts are adequate, not assume the work is done. I don't believe it's the board's job to dictate tactics to safety professionals, however we should ensure the district has the resources, policies, and community input needed to keep students safe, within the confines of the resources provided by the State of Michigan.
Age
18
Occupation / Current Position
Manufacturing Floor Operator
Education
High school education; two years of study toward an Associate of Science in Nursing.
Experience & Qualifications
I have served as lead member of KRESA Early Middle College’s student leadership group for one year and was previously a member of Portage’s Youth Advisory Committee.
Campaign Mailing Address
10135 Dove Hollow Ct.
Campaign Twitter/X Handle
x.com/KoenForBOE
Campaign Video
I'm running for a board seat because of the current leadership, transparency, and financial decision issues facing the district. Besides these issues, no PPS board members have had in-person experience inside the district's schools over the past twenty years. Fortunately, I have recent experience within Portage Public Schools' middle and high schools over the last six years. I have been a real witness inside our schools through the COVID lockdown and recovery, the expansion of chatbot AI and Chromebooks, and phone entertainment. My greatest strength is my endurance, only made possible by my love for every person in our district.
Our schools benefit from diversification through the KAMSC, IB, CTE, AP, ATYP, EFA, and EMC programs. Relying on these programs places students in the strongest position for lifelong success. As a district, we are blessed with teachers who have diverse strengths but share a commitment to taking teaching seriously for our students. In addition to academics, PPS offers outstanding extracurriculars, with 50 clubs at PCHS and 27 at PNHS. Nothing is more important than a healthy community. Within these strengths, I see the need for greater focus on the extension programs, increased appreciation for our staff, and more opportunities at PNHS.
Once elected, I will build on our existing strengths through open houses, conferences, kindergarten nights, PTO events, family nights, ELA nights with the library, and Gallery Walks across our eight elementary schools. I will advocate for better multi-channel communication and flexible options so more working parents can participate; support PTOs with shared best practices and easier volunteering; continue curriculum and student-showcase events; and use regular parent feedback to remove barriers. My goal is to strengthen home-school ties and make it easier for parents to be involved in their student’s educational community.
Student isolation, substance use, and loss of board credibility. It is a shame that roughly once a year our district issues a condolence for a student’s passing. Nicotine and marijuana use are now common in our schools. No board is perfect, but we must strive to be for every student and staff member. Self-harm and substance use show students are hurting and need direction. They need community so they can know what “home” feels like. Once that sense of belonging is built, the pull of self-harm and substances weakens. I strongly advocate maximal expansion of community involvement. Above all, our youth need us to teach them what home feels like.
Age
46
Occupation / Current Position
Hairstylist / Self-Employeed
Education
Portage Central High School Graduate. Cosmetology School Graduate.
Experience & Qualifications
I have a lifelong connection to Portage Public Schools as a student, daughter of retired district employee, and as a parent. I've been an active parent in the district for the last 14 years.
Campaign Mailing Address
3035 French Bay Drive
I am running because I care deeply about Portage Public schools, I am willing to listen, ask thoughtful questions, and want to help put students first while supporting the educators and staff that help them succeed. I understand the district from the persepectives of a student, parent, volunteer and community member. With 12 more years of children in PPS, I have a long-term stake in the success of the decisions being made today.
I believe the district offers a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities for students. The educators and staff are very dedicated to the students academic growth and their success beyond the classroom. I'd like to see the district continue to improve communitcation between leadership, staff, families and the community. Strengthening academic interventions, mental health resources, and support systems for students is an important part of the district's success. Ultimately, I want the students to succeed, the staff to feel supported, and the district to grow stronger in academic success across all buildings.
For the last 14 years, as a PPS parent, I've been involved in many school activities, fundraisers, athletic teams, and PTOs. I think being involved in the schools is important but also understand not everyone has that opportunity. I have always encouraged other parents to get involved and will continue to do so. Even small pieces of parent involvement can make a big impact.
I think the district has made great efforts in upgrading the safety measures in the buildings over the years. I think making sure the technology infrasture is always working is an important part of everyone's safety. Security cameras are helpful when they work and are necessary to keep our students and staff safe while in and out of the buildings. I think the board should continue to stay up to date on the safety measures the district implements.
