To The Point

Why Kristen Covelle?

• While on the FHPS Board of Education:

  • Worked with three experienced superintendents

  • Served as Secretary for one year and Vice President for two years

  • Maintained fiscal responsibility with a balanced district budget

  • Supported the district through the pandemic

  • Approved a Return to Learn plan that had more students in the classroom than any other Kent County district

  • Worked through community division

  • Supported the positions of a Communication Director and a Director of Educational Equity and Inclusion

  • Interviewed and selected a school board trustee to fill a surprise vacancy

  • Approved policy to ensure parental choice in media center access

  • Experienced a disciplinary hearing and a reinstatement hearing

  • Passed a successful bond

  • Interviewed and selected a search firm

  • Recognized the need for and hired an interim superintendent

  • Interviewed and hired a superintendent 

  • Evaluated a superintendent

  • Represented Forest Hills at the MASB annual fall conference for multiple years

• Currently teaches for Davenport University here in Kent County

• Taught high school English for 21 years, 19 of them in Kent County

• Worked as an instructional coach 

• Substitute taught in all of the FHPS secondary level schools

• Lived in the Forest Hills Public Schools district for 20 years

• Currently has 2 children attending Northern Hills Middle and Northern High, both in the Spanish Immersion program

• Experienced Goodwillie Environmental School with one child and STEM Academy with the other

• Priorities: Advocacy for all learners, 21st Century learning and innovative programming, fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging, communication with district residents, and student and staff safety 

• Trained in: Marzano Teacher and Administrator Evaluation Models, MASB Superintendent Evaluation Tool, Capturing Kids Hearts, Multi-tiered Systems of Support, Professional Learning Communities, Project Based Learning, Design Thinking, Integrated Literacy, AI in the Classroom, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Mental Health First Aid, and, of course, equipping children of diverse needs and backgrounds for success in the classroom and life

Forest Hills Involvement

• Board of Education, 2018-Current

  • Curriculum Committee, 2020-Current

  • Finance Committee, 2018-2020

• Girl Scout Troop 4895 Leader, Ada Vista Ambassador, 2016-Current

• Odyssey of the Mind Coach, 2014-Current

• Northern Trails PTO Board, 2019-2020

• Ada Vista Elementary PTO Board, 2014-2017 

  • Secretary, 2016-2017

  • Communications Chair, 2014-2016

  • Committee Lead, volunteer 2014-2017

• Ada Vista Elementary Play Director, 2015

• Rapids Football Club Team Manager 2023

Relevant Education Experiences

• Middle College Instructor at Wellspring Preparatory Academy

• Jostens Yearbook Workshop Presenter

• Caledonia High School Yearbook and Newspaper Advisor (National Program of Excellence for 3 years)

• Caledonia High School Fall Play Director 

• Caledonia High School Policy and Legislative Debate Teams Coach 

• Caledonia High School Equal Alliance 

• Kraft Meadows 7th and 8th Grade Competitive Cheerleading Coach 

• Almont High School Almont Players Founder, Play & Musical Director 

• Almont High School Junior Varsity Cheerleading Coach 

• Whitmore Lake High School Cheerleading Coach 

• Whitmore Lake Junior High School Cheerleading Coach