School News Network

09/08/2026

Brett VanDeRoer first walked through the doors of West Middle School in 2004, as a seventh-grader in the building’s first year. Two decades later, he’s assistant principal.
Get to know this new Byron Center Public Schools administrator here:

Byron Center born and raised, Brett VanDeRoer returned to the district this year as West Middle School’s new assistant principal.

09/04/2026

For 23 years, Cassie Bryant has been a familiar face in the halls of Comstock Park High School. This fall, however, she moved about two miles south to become the new principal of Mill Creek Middle School. Learn more about Bryant and her journey to become Mill Creek's newest principal. Comstock Park Public Schools

This fall, Cassie Bryant started the school year at Mill Creek Middle School as the building’s new principal.

09/04/2026

Students in any high school anywhere can spot these teachers on their class lists:

There’s the ‘easy A’ teacher; there’s the teacher who makes squeaking by with a C difficult. Then there are the middle-of-the-road graders, who might let students chase higher marks through extra-credit opportunities.

In Kentwood Public Schools, however, the district has worked to take the variability out of grading with a new secondary grading policy.

The goal: provide consistency from teacher to teacher, subject to subject, and school to school, and ensure grades reflect what they are supposed to — how much a student has demonstrated they know about a learning standard.

What does a grade really mean? Kentwood Public Schools is making sure the answer is clear.

09/03/2026

This summer, Southwest Elementary teacher Joline Andrews participated in the LiftOff Summer Institute offered by the University of Texas Center for Space Research and NASA.
The weeklong institute was held at NASA's Johnson Space Center, where Andrews learned how to get students interested in STEM, even if they don't consider themselves particularly science-minded.

Grand Rapids Public Schools UT CSR Liftoff Summer Institute Southwest Elementary - Academia Bilingüe NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Michigan Space Grant Consortium

A professional development opportunity at NASA equipped this teacher with the tools to get her students invested in STEM.

09/03/2026

Once a coach, always a coach. That’s how Charlie Hess got into education, and it’s how he views school leadership today. He’s ready to coach Grandville Public Schools' fifth- and sixth-graders through all the highs and lows that come with the intermediate years.

Get to know Oakestown Intermediate School's new assistant principal at the link below!

Oakestown Intermediate School’s new assistant principal is ready to coach Grandville’s fifth- and sixth-graders through all the highs and lows that come with the intermediate years.

09/02/2026

When disaster struck Venezuela this summer, one Forest Hills senior answered the call. ❤️

Brady Ashcroft put his 3D-printing orders on hold and got to work making splints for people injured in the earthquake.

And this wasn’t his first time stepping up to help. We’re learning more about this Central High senior whose talent, generosity and willingness to lend a hand are making a real difference. Forest Hills Public Schools Forest Hills Central High School

Brady Ashcroft puts his 3D-printing skills to work, creating products for customers while using his business to support causes in his community and beyond.

09/02/2026

Jamiese Edmonson, the new director of Woodcliff Early Childhood Center at East Grand Rapids Public Schools, considers herself a "lifelong learner in every context." Read more about her in this edition of SNN's Meet Your Administrators series.

Honorary “big sister” Jamiese Edmonson is the new Woodcliff Early Childhood Center director.

09/01/2026

What a fun and educational way to kick off a new school year at Caledonia Community Schools!

08/31/2026

For many students, back-to-school shopping isn’t complete without picking out a new backpack to represent their favorite color or style for the year. This year, high school seniors are harkening back to their preschool and kindergarten days and grabbing for the same backpacks — and other accessories — as their younger counterparts.

Byron Center Public Schools seniors wore backpacks, adorned with characters they loved in their childhood, with child-like pride on their first day of school. Read more from SNN:

https://www.schoolnewsnetwork.org/2026/08/28/seniors-remember-little-kid-selves-through-backpacks

Sonic? Spider-Man? Strawberry Shortcake? Byron Center seniors are holding on to their childhood favorites in the form of backpacks.