Traverse City Regional Center Blog
Permanent link for Experiential Team Building Brings Awareness to Homelessness Within The Community on April 7, 2022
Team building from an experiential learning perspective is the core of MGT 345-Team Building class and how Tina Allen, adjunct professor at GVSU’s Traverse City Regional Center, brings her passion for experiential learning and love for her community together. After retiring from Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness after 8 years, Tina decided to continue making a positive impact within the community through teaching the next generation. She now introduces her GVSU Traverse City Regional Center students to community outreach programs so they can choose their semester-long team building projects, with applied experiential learning practice.
This semester, both student teams chose projects to support homelessness awareness within the community through the Coalition's Welcome Home Basket Program. Welcome home baskets support individuals and families moving from homelessness into new homes. There are over one hundred people on Traverse City’s streets any given day. The Coalition houses about two hundred households per year and welcome home baskets are given if baskets donations are available.
Both student teams chose the Welcome Home Basket initiative, however their approach was uniquely crafted by their separate team members. Students spend part of their semester collaborating in teams to identify what works, what doesn’t work, analyze, then take those things learned and put them into practice.
Tina Said, “This is the fifth time teaching a team building class… homelessness is a complex societal problem that cannot be solved unless people are willing to work as teams and have people from a variety of perspectives help solve the problem.”
Each team’s approach reached different audiences within the community.
Team One reached out to West Middle School faculty for approval to bring Ryan Hannon, Housing and Homeless Services Community Engagement Officer for Goodwill Northern Michigan, to speak at student council about the issue of homelessness in our community and the need for welcome home baskets. West Middle School students were shocked to know some of their own peers were homeless. They created a challenge for most donations within their classes and were able to support the assembly of several welcome home baskets. GVSU Team One students picked up all donations and assembled the baskets.
Team Two chose a more public approach. They reached out to local business owners for permission to set up tables outside of their locations to hand out flyers for awareness and needs along with asking shoppers to consider buying some of the welcome home basket needs and dropping them back at their tables.
Through experiential learning, both teams improved their team building skills individually and as a group, but also found an intrinsic value doing the work. Collectively, they were able to provide over 25 full Welcome Home Baskets along with additional supplies for those moving out of homelessness and into a home. More importantly, team members developed and analyzed the teamwork skills they need to be part of successful teams in the future whether they’re going into health care, construction management, or business.
When people move into a home after homelessness, often they do not have anything. Having a home to feel safe in again, and a welcome home basket of essential items shows their community cares for them. Simple acts of donated kindness bring awareness, hope, and transforms lives. Learn more about opportunities to donate and help end homelessness, https://www.endhomelessnessnmi.org/opportunities-to-help.
If you would like to learn more about GVSU Traverse City Region center programs and classes aligned with our local community, talk to our team here, https://www.gvsu.edu/traverse/lets-get-started-42.htm
Permanent link for For internship project, Traverse City student creates inclusive week at elementary school on December 13, 2021
Grand Valley student Darla Eimers is the office manager at the Old Mission Peninsula School, a kindergarten-fifth grade school in Traverse City.
Eimers can now add "diversity and inclusion coordinator" to her title after planning a week's worth of activities for students focused on global cultures, differences and a sense of belonging.
She is enrolled in the LEADS program, an accelerated degree completion program for adult learners, and will earn a bachelor's degree in integrative studies, with an emphasis on cultural diversity and globalization, in April.
This project will fulfill an internship requirement. But more than checking a box for degree progress, Eimers said she planned Diversity and Inclusion Week to expose the elementary students to cultures other than their own and "bring them outside their comfort zone a bit." Old Mission Peninsula School is a charter school authorized by Grand Valley.
"I would like our students to learn about populations other than their own and understand that being kind and inclusive is free, and it's so easy to do," Eimers said.
Activities and events included a pen-pal program with an area nursing home; presentations by Disability Network, Native American and Latino groups; and global foods in the lunchroom. Eimers said feedback from parents and students was very positive and plans are underway to host a month's worth of diversity and inclusion activities next year.
Eimers earned an associate degree in applied science from Northwestern Michigan College. The LEADS program, she said, fits her schedule and the online, six-week classes move her toward a degree faster.
"This program seems like it was made for me. I took what I learned from my classes and applied it to pull together this project," she said. "I want to get my bachelor's degree for my son, so he will understand the importance of learning."
BY MICHELE
COFFILL
TOP PHOTO BY AMANDA PITTS
Permanent link for The Renew Crew on December 7, 2021
(Source: Great Lakes Children's Museum Volunteer Spotlight December Newsletter)
GVSU Renew Crew
The ‘Renew Crew’ – a team of aspiring PAs from Physician Assistant Studies program. Every year, a crew from GVSU visits the Museum several times per year. This was the last visit from the 2021 crew and we closed the museum down for an afternoon of much-needed painting.
The Renew Crew helped revitalize the Freighter, Garden, Chicken Coop, Helicopter, Puppet Theater, Water Cycle, and several other odds and ends around the museum. Where once we had chipped corners and mismatched patches, now we have clean lines and bright colors. This crew is amazing!
Volunteers are critical to the mission of the Great Lakes Children’s Museum. We depend on volunteer help to go above and beyond offering a ‘decent’ facility and experience to our Museum guests. The work volunteers put into our building and exhibits doesn’t just make the place look nice – it adds care, ownership, and a sense of place. A professional painter can apply beautiful textures and clean lines, but only a volunteer can add love to a place with every paint stroke. So if you’re ever in the Museum and you see a paint drip, a mismatched color, or a brush mistake I hope it makes you smile and remember the love and care behind it. Thank you to ALL of our volunteers – we couldn’t do it without you, and we wouldn’t want to anyway.
Posted by Jacquelyn Abeyta on Permanent link for The Renew Crew on December 7, 2021.
Permanent link for Servant Leader and Devoted GVSU Laker Making an Impactful Difference on December 1, 2021
Learn more about GVSU in Traverse City
Since 1999, Lisa Migazzi has been a devoted GVSU Laker. Her educational, career, and life journey for the last 22 years have steered her towards a life of service and making a difference in the educational system for upcoming generations.
Lisa first received her Bachelor of Science in Health Communications in 2003 from Grand Valley University, main campus. After graduating, Lisa worked in medical staffing sales for 6 months as a rehabilitation recruiter for a comprehensive medical staffing company. However, her strong desire to serve brought her to change course and enlist in the United States Coast Guard (U.S.C.G.) shortly thereafter.
Lisa’s enlistment in the U.S.C.G. was 8 years of service, but it was in her 5th week of basic training that she had her educational epiphany. She had received a package of letters from a 3rd grade classroom in her hometown of St. Johns, MI. Reading these letters of encouragement and positivity, brought tears to her eyes and when her Company Commander noticed and demanded to know if she was a teacher, she quickly responded with, “No sir. Not yet, sir.”
During her time in the Coast Guard, Lisa received specialized training as an engineer on the CGC Mackinaw, a boarding team member at CG Station Curtis Bay, a health service technician, EMT, and pharmacy technician at USCG Air Station Traverse City. She loved serving her country but her favorite part of her job was always educating and helping others; especially during training schools. Lisa graduated the top of her class during her A-School and C-School training, but it was the tutoring groups she led on the Coast Guard and Air Force bases that solidified her true calling.
After completing her 4 years on active duty, Lisa returned to her alma mater and completed the Graduate Teacher Certification Program in the spring of 2010. Her educational career officially began at Glen Lake Community Schools in young fives as a long-term guest teacher. Afterwards, Grand Traverse Academy hired Lisa as a kindergarten teacher. In 2012, Lisa returned to Glen Lake and served the next 9 years teaching third, fourth, and sixth grade.
During the last three years, from 2018-2021, Lisa simultaneously worked as an elementary teacher while she worked towards her Educational Leadership degree from GVSU Traverse City Regional Center.
When researching university options for an Educational Leadership Program, Lisa came across many, but decided to go back to GVSU through the Regional Center in Traverse City. Lisa shared, “I chose GVSU Traverse City Regional Center because it was more than a program- it was an experience with a wealth of expertise and knowledge. The professors I had were some of my biggest cheerleaders and those professional relationships were genuine and extended way beyond the classroom. One of my professors called not long ago to check-in to see how things were going in my new role at Greenspire High School. It’s the relationships made that really make the educational experience at GVSU Traverse City.”
Grand Valley State University Traverse City Programs
Permanent link for Smaller Interactive Classes Made The Difference For My Health Care Education on August 23, 2021
Taylor Bills recently completed her Bachelors of Allied Health Science at GVSU Traverse City Regional Center and is now pursuing her Masters of Physician’s Assistant Studies through GVSU Traverse City Regional Center.
From the beginning, Taylor had always been the nurturing type and drawn to medicine. She stated, “even in high school I knew I wanted to go into the medical field- I enjoyed taking care of people so much. I have a passion for children and there are so many options in the medical field to work with them.” This propelled the direction for her academic career.
While in high school at Traverse City Central, she took the opportunity to dual enroll her senior year at Northwestern Michigan College to gain college credits and graduated high school in 2016.
She was accepted to Michigan State University but decided to defer and stay in Traverse City for another year so she could use her dual enrollment credits to complete her associate degree at NMC by the Spring of 2017.
In the Fall of 2017, Taylor went to MSU for pre-med with a focus on becoming a physician. Taylor stated, “the teaching environment was very different from what I was used to at NMC. The class sizes were much larger, and I wasn’t able to form relationships with the students or professors. NMC provided me with a more personal, hands-on, and interactive approach that I missed and wanted.”
With much thought, Taylor realized that if this is what her undergraduate and graduate schooling was going to be like moving forward, she would rather shift her medical focus in hopes to fast track her education. Instead of pursuing a doctorate degree, she thought about nursing or other medical field options that required less school time.
While studying at MSU, a pop-up for Grand Valley’s Traverse City Regional Center appeared on her laptop screen. As if it was fate, she explored the site and found the Allied Health Science Bachelor's Degree which directly prepared students for the Masters of Physicians Assistant program offered at GVSU; all located in her hometown of Traverse City.
During Taylor’s winter break of 2017 she met with Advisor, Jackie Abeyta, and was walked through all the current credits she had obtained and how she could remain on course for pre-med through GVSU’s programs.
After one semester at MSU, Taylor moved back to Traverse City to begin the GVSU Allied Health Sciences program offered through the NMC University Center. Taylor said, “I am still amazed at how well the Allied Health Science courses prepared me for PA school”.
Taylor was a graduate of the 2020 class. Although she wasn’t able to have an in-person ceremony to celebrate the earning of her bachelor’s degree, it didn’t stop her from moving towards her end goal of being accepted in the Master of Physicians Assistant program.
Knowing that there was a large possibility of not being accepted in her first cycle of applications, Taylor applied for the GVSU PA program as well as programs at Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, and Detroit Mercy in an attempt to increase her chances of getting into a PA program right away.
Although Taylor applied to other PA programs across the state, her first choice was GVSU’s Physician Assistant Studies Program at the Traverse City Regional Center. Since she had already experienced what higher education at major universities was like, she knew that the small, 12-person design of the TC extension was the optimal for her. She applied in September of 2019 and was invited for an interview in November of 2019.
Delighted, Taylor described the process, “During my application season, 99 or so people applied with only 24 spots available for interviews and then only 12 people were given the opportunity to be accepted into the program”. After being placed on the waitlist, she was accepted to the GVSU PAS Program in January of 2020. Taylor was overjoyed to be selected in her first round and at her dream school.
As Taylor thought back to her journey she recalled, “the length of time required to become an independently partitioning physician, seven to eleven years, made me feel like I couldn’t plan for the family, travel, and personal life that I yearned for. The two- and half-year PA program felt like a perfect balance of education, work, and personal life. As a Physician Assistant I can still provide complete care to my own patients, but also have extra perks such as decreased liability, increased opportunities for interprofessional collaboration, and complete lateral mobility in the medical field. As my knowledge and interests in medicine grow and change, I am able to change specialties at any time without having to go back to school.”
Taylors advice to anyone pursuing the Physician Assistant program at GVSU’s Traverse City Regional Center; network with people in Traverse City! Network for letters of recommendation, shadowing medical careers, and simply talk with fellow locals about your dreams- You never know where a connection may be. It was the difference that got me accepted in my first round when I applied for the PA program. They are looking for people that want to stay in touch with this community and give back.”
Taylor would like to thank her parents, fiancé, and fellow classmates for supporting her along her journey.
Get connected with GVSU’s advisors to walk through your options and learn how you can have a balanced life while making an impact in your community.
Permanent link for ALICE Can't Afford Wonderland Anymore on June 28, 2021
Stephine Deeren is an Integrative Studies Senior at GVSU Traverse City Regional Center. Her senior project concentrated on the ALICE population in the Grand Traverse County region. Her focus became an opportunity for Stephine to further explore a population of people that she has worked with and related to on a personal level.
What’s the ALICE population? ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed. ALICE is defined as, “[a] category of working people whose household income is above the federal poverty limit, but below what is needed to provide the basic necessities of living,” (Burgess, 2021).
Stephine is a 31-year-old native of Traverse City living in the same designated tourist town for all but one year of her life, until this year, when she had to move due to continued difficulty finding affordable living. It became an ironic realization as Stephine completed her ALICE senior project focused on the difficulties people like her faced with holding full-time jobs but not being able to afford living in the wonderland that Traverse City is.
Stephine looked back at her adult life and shared her journey as well as steps to help the community of people like herself. When graduating high school in 2007, she started college at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) right away with an earned 2-year scholarship to receive her associates degree.
Everything changed for Stephine when she became pregnant with her beautiful daughter during her first semester at NMC. She became a single mom at eighteen with a fast transition into the adult world and what it meant to provide for herself and now her daughter.
Stephine said, “I grew up with this assumption that if I worked hard and did well, I could provide for myself and my family- when in actuality life got harder and the ability to afford living got more difficult as a single parent. I had to rely on my family, and I would not be here today without them.”
As a young single mom, Stephine has had to endure a low-income household her entire adult life. She has always held a full-time Job working in social work along with other occupations. During that time, she witnessed other families also struggling to provide for their household and saw the stress that she too felt. When working temporarily at a homeless shelter Stephine was surprised to find many did have jobs but did not make enough to afford a place of their own.
Stephine recalled, “Although I have never been homeless, I can empathize with the struggle many individuals and families face in my community. I often find myself asking aloud, “Where are all of the affordable rentals?””
Throughout her adult life Stephine has experienced concerning patterns of displacement regarding low-income households, increased amount of new development, increased tourism, and increased cost of living. More notably, an increase in rental prices, housing market prices, and a decrease in availability.
Stephine explained, “As a low-income household, I’ve experienced firsthand the struggle of increasing rent prices in Traverse City, Michigan. The same apartment I rented in a complex close to downtown in 2013 was $200 more a month in 2015.”
Stephine shared eye-opening research she identified while completing her senior project;
- “In Grand Traverse County, 24% of households are considered ALICE. 9% fall below the federal poverty limit (Burgess, 2021). In total, 33% of households are struggling to survive in Grand Traverse County.”
- “In 2017, the median new home price in the Traverse City area was $437,000, according to data from the Home Builders Association of Michigan shared by Housing North. To afford it, a household would need to earn $116,000 per year. By comparison, the median household income in the rest of Grand Traverse County was $58,229 that year, according to Census estimates. Fewer than a quarter of county households earned more than $100,000 in 2017,” (VanHulle, 2019).
- “Housing wage is the required hourly rate an individual must make to afford a two-bedroom rental home. For Michigan, this rate is $17.42 an hour. Minimum wage in Michigan is $9.65 an hour. There is a $7.77 difference between the minimum hourly rate it takes to afford a two-bedroom rental and what someone makes working minimum wage.”
- “To be able to afford a two-bedroom rental working minimum wage, a worker would need to work 72 hours a week. For a one-bedroom rental home a minimum wage worker would need to work 57 hours a week (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2020). So, minimum wage workers either need a second person with an income, work two or more jobs, and/or work one full time job that allows for overtime.”
Stephine is not stopping at her Senior Project. She identified three starting point steps that she will be presenting to the Grand Traverse Board of Commissioners. While they are not the full answer to affordable living, they are a great starting point to help make a change.
FIRST STEPS
CHANGE POINT OF VIEW
Assess the income needs of the population and include that in economic policymaking. Low unemployment cannot be the standard at which economic success is valued, our society must now turn to ALICE rates instead (Michigan, 2019).
RENTAL CAP POLICIES
Start a discussion of community beneficial legislation with all stakeholders in the community. Everyone must come together to discuss county wide rental cap policies.
ASSESS WHAT BARRIERS EXIST FOR THE ALICE POPULATION
Barriers to receiving assistance could provide as a reason ALICE households have increased within the last few years in the area. In order to get the maximum benefit from our local non-profits, barriers need to be researched further and be dismantled.
While Stephine did have to move away to find a place where she can work and afford living, she remains enthusiastic about her wonderland hometown of Traverse City and will continue to help be the change in the community.
"THE GREATNESS OF A COMMUNITY IS MOST ACCURATELY MEASURED BY THE COMPASSIONATE ACTIONS OF ITS MEMBERS."- Coretta Scott King
Learn more about how you can further your education and make an impact in your community through GVSU’s Traverse City Regional Center.
Posted on Permanent link for ALICE Can't Afford Wonderland Anymore on June 28, 2021.
Permanent link for My Music Became The Fuel For Higher Education on June 15, 2021
Meg Gunia is a newly acclaimed Integrative Studies student at GVSU Traverse City Regional Center with a deeply rooted passion for music that has propelled her through her educational journey from a learning and financial perspective.
For Meg, the love for music, song writing, and performing began at the early age of 10. Her older brother wanted to take guitar lessons so Meg thought she would join. She has not put her guitar down since.
Meg learned four cords at the age of 11 and wrote her first song to her mom about her grandma passing away. Her heartfelt song moved her friends and family so much that she was encouraged to continue writing. At 17 years old Meg started recording and by the time she was 19 she went with her family to Nashville for her first professional recording session.
The sound quality was not what they were looking for, so they sought out another recording studio and came across Pete Mathews in Memphis. After driving 10 hours they came up to what looked like a rundown garage but nonetheless the address was right. With disappointment on their mind, they walked in and to their surprise the studio was exactly what Meg was looking for. High quality equipment and Pete had a real knack as a producer. Meg recorded 9 songs and eventually 2 music videos but was still too shy to perform in person.
After a recording session Meg and her brother were out to eat at a pizza joint and struck up a conversation with what was then a kind stranger, Mark Hansen. As Meg described him, “another stumbled upon angel to push me in the right direction and now he’s like family.” Mark was a musician himself and invited her to join him as a guest appearance at a winery he was playing at. He was that push she needed to move past performance fears to get out there and start performing and booking gigs.
This summer she is booked almost every weekend, and this helps fuel and pay her way through her educational journey. Meg was recording her music up until high school graduation. While many students were preparing for college, Meg was not thrilled about the idea of leaving home. Her mom encouraged her to continue music but also attend West Shore Community College to get her associates. Meg is grateful for that push. Meg stated, “I am happy that she did push me because it advanced me as a person in general.” She completed her Associates of Science in 2017.
Meg was still undecided on next steps after her associates. She tried out online courses at Ferris then, through her brother, found out that GVSU had a Traverse City location with several bachelor’s degree options. Meg shared, “it was closer to home and more in line with what I wanted, which was to stay at home with family.” She drove to Traverse City, did a self-tour of campus, and walked into the Regional Center.
After talking to a couple universities Meg walked into the GVSU office and was greeted by a friendly, helpful staff. She was able to meet with Jackie Abeyta right away to talk about the PA Program GVSU offered and the steps needed to get there. Meg knew this was the university for her. Meg stated, “Jackie was an angel and made everything so easy to transition. She is amazing to work with.”
Meg started the Allied Health Science Bachelor’s Degree with a goal of the PA Master's program at GVSU. After about a year of courses Meg had a self-discovering meeting with her advisor, Jackie Abeyta to realize that she was not enjoying the science side of things and truly was more art and music inclined. Jackie was a great sounding board and understood that Meg did not want to lose all her credit hours. She helped outline a degree as an integrative studies student with the option to still explore other career interests such as journalism, counseling, and law without losing credit hours she worked so hard for.
Meg is starting her first classes as an Integrative Studies student this summer while still allowing her music to pay for and pave her way through her higher education. Check out some of Meg’s music videos: Purple Clouds and Look into Your Eyes or visit her Spotify channel to hear more incredible songs. Follow Meg and see where she is playing next on her Official Facebook Page.
Looking to discover your next move? Get in touch with our GVSU team to talk through what your options can be
Posted on Permanent link for My Music Became The Fuel For Higher Education on June 15, 2021.
Permanent link for Full-Time Student & Full-Time Front Lines on June 14, 2021
David Alekseyenko is currently a full-time Allied Health Student at GVSU’s Traverse City Regional Center and a full-time Phlebotomy Technician 3 at Munson Hospital. He is a Traverse City native that graduated from high school in 2018 and chose to start at NMC the Fall of 2018.
After graduation David wanted to go to college but also wanted to stay in the area to save money by living with his family and working full time. Starting at NMC was the right fit for David. It allowed him to get his Associates Degree in Science and the Arts through NMC while further exploring his fascination with medicine and contemplating what next steps to further his education in the medical field.
He wanted to stay in the Traverse City area and remain at his current Phlebotomy Technician 3 position at Munson. David said, “The Traverse City Regional Center was an awesome choice for financial reasons along with the ability to stay in town and keep my job.”
David has always had a fascination with medicine and contemplated several careers in the medical field. He appreciated the responsibilities of a PA along with the option for a more consistent schedule.
He furthered his understanding of the PA career by joining the Pre-PA Society through NMC and continuing with the group while at GVSU’s Regional Center. He has participated as a board member for a year and will be the president this coming year. This society allows prospective PA students and Pre-PA students to come together to share information, knowledge, job shadow opportunities, along with conducting mock interviews. For those interested, reach out to [email protected].
GVSU’s Regional Center was an easy choice as it had the educational pathway to the PA program David was looking for. He started at GVSU the Fall of 2020 and appreciates the smaller class sizes, online learning and flexible schedule that allows him to work full-time as a Phlebotomy Technician 3 at Munson. He plans to apply for the PA program in the Fall of 2021. He chose to take on a full-time school schedule so he could move through the program at the fast pace he desired while maintaining a full-time job.
While in his current career role, David has learned so much and reinforced his passion and interests for the medical field. He has been on the front lines before and during the pandemic. David shared, “At first things were slow as we were more isolated in Traverse City at the beginning. Even the ER was slower than normal. Then as Covid-19 came North things got more intense and we all got very busy.”
At times David has direct contact with Covid-19 patients. He experienced a rapid change in procedures as it took more time to get ready to go into a room along with increased sanitation and containment requirements. Being in a mask for 12 hours a day was a major adjustment to adapt to as well. David reflected saying, “You had to get used to more stress, but you didn’t realize how much it added up until later.” He is willing to help in all the capacities he can and appreciates being part of the team. David was excited to share that he had just received a promotion to Phlebotomist Team Lead as well. He added, “in our allied health science classes it's always reiterated that it’s not just the physicians that make the team, you are still a big part of the team as the phlebotomist.''
When asked if he would do anything different as a current student, David simply stated, “probably take more classes at the beginning. Front loading your schedule to take more classes up initially allows less classes your senior year. My next couple semesters will be heavy workloads.”
After David finishes the Allied Health Science program through GVSU’s Regional Center he hopes to pursue the PA program here in Traverse City to stay in town. In the end he really enjoys working at Munson and would love to work there as a PA to give back to his community. .
If you’d like to better understand how you can further your education while balancing your career life, reach out to GVSU’s regional staff at https://www.gvsu.edu/traverse/lets-get-started-42.htm or email us at [email protected]
Posted on Permanent link for Full-Time Student & Full-Time Front Lines on June 14, 2021.
Permanent link for Grace, Not Grit. Starting an Elementary Principal Job During A Pandemic on June 2, 2021
Starting the 2020-2021 school year as the new elementary principal at Glen Lake Community Schools during the pandemic was a challenge that required all of Ryan Schrock’s previous experience and positive go-getter attitude. See how his past experiences and Grand Valley’s Educational Leadership Program prepared him for today’s in-person and virtual learning environment.
Schrock’s educational journey and the desire to further his own education has continually opened opportunities over the years’ time and time again. After finishing his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Schrock taught kindergarten and middle school students in Illinois before he and his wife decided to move their young children back to Michigan. He continued teaching middle school Math and Science at a charter school for a few years when a leadership position presented itself.
Schrock embarked on one of the most difficult but rewarding positions he had been given the opportunity for, starting as the school principal and superintendent for the opening year at a new charter school. The first year served nearly 150 kids and when he left 3 years later in 2013 there were 4 different schools with over 740 students. This set the foundation and desire to continuously challenge himself and fill shoes that many would not or could not fill.
After 3 years at the charter school, Schrock desired to get back to his roots as a math interventionist and instructional coach in Northern Michigan. However, the encouragement and push towards administrative roles followed him. Staff members clearly saw that he was a natural leader with a creative edge putting him above the rest.
After many discussions with his GVSU mentors and professors encouraging him to apply for leadership roles, Schrock found himself as a new elementary principal in Traverse City in the Fall of 2014 where he remained for 3 years. During this time, he led district wide initiatives for healthy school communities. This work included partnering with the VASA ski club, nutrition and wellness policies and education, additional PE classes and recess, reading labs and more.
The staff was ready to try new and exciting things. Schrock states, “I always told my staff - we know we have mandated checklists. Our goal is to always be creatively compliant.”
Schrock could have stayed and retired at his Traverse City elementary school, but once again he came across a challenge that spoke to his heart in the spring of 2017. He walked through another Traverse City school where the principal had left mid-year and the teachers and staff were exhausted. The school had a high staff turnover rate as well as a high free and reduced lunch count. The more Schrock learned and thought about the students and teachers in this building, the more he felt compelled to be part of that school community.
Schrock shared, “This job is never easy, and it’s harder when there isn’t consistency, mission, or vision. I knew we would be diving deep into all of this work given the needs of this elementary school.”
Nonetheless, Schrock knew he wanted to be a part of this school community and offer his passions and whatever skill set that would be useful to students and teachers. Students needed change.
In the Fall of 2017, Schrock started with over 60% brand new staff from turnover and a new challenge of understanding the needs and dynamics of an at-risk (Title I) school with more than 65% of students eligible for free or reduced meals.
During his years with this elementary school, Schrock decided to go back to school to further his education with a concentration in school leadership and administration. GVSU’s Education Specialist Degree allowed for a flexible schedule and provided the tools he needed during this tough transition. Schrock shared that it was a huge time commitment on top of an already stacked schedule, and keeping balanced as an educator kept his focus and lens clear. “Stay sharp by sharpening the saw,” he stated.
Having the GVSU education and community to lean on allowed Schrock to make better and more impactful decisions as a school principal. Within three years, the school did a complete 180 towards success. The school went from averaging over 26 discipline referrals per day to less than 7 per day. There was more celebration on the small victories to boost morale. They figured out a better way to build staff consistency and put systems in place to reduce the turnover rate to an acceptable number. The staff became a staff that was excited to come in early and stay late. The district supported new early release days and additional stipends were given for teachers willing to commit to the student and school. Above all, it was always about putting students first to make sure their needs were met through collaborative teacher routines focusing on supporting students and each other.
When the pandemic hit, Schrock’s staff was in full force and willing to do what it took to make the unprecedented transition as best as possible. Food delivery and pick up was immediately put into place to those that relied on their children receiving them. At home packets were made, virtual protocol was set in motion, and even a 5th grade no contact car parade was put together to honor their graduation to middle school.
Not only did GVSU’s courses prepare Schrock to be a better leader and decision maker; It also prepared him for his transition to an opportunity in Glen Lake as the new Elementary Principal during this pandemic.
The people at GVSU became friends, mentors, and problem solvers. “Relationships are so key,” Schrock replied. The GVSU professors had a major influence on his decision to apply for the Glen Lake position and Glen Lake was going to need him as much as he needed them as Fall of the 2020-2021 school year was approaching quickly with a lot of unknowns.
To prepare for his unprecedented first school year at Glen lake, Schrock worked throughout July and August to plan, learn and figure out as much as possible.
Schrock exclaimed, “the one thing I kept telling teachers - this school year will be all about grace and not grit. What is going to move the needle is allowing teachers to build relationships and be creative.
The first few weeks were challenging for all of us, but with the mindset of receiving the grace to make flexible changes, the entire team began the hard work of planning from both a virtual and in-person learning standpoint.”
Schrock concluded with a profound statement, “This pandemic presents the biggest opportunity for reform in education. Innovation before complacency… it’s go time!”
He also wanted to give thanks to those that have impacted him and supported him all along the way.
“As I look at my career, I wouldn’t be in this without the unwavering support from my wife, Melissa and children, Alek and Oliver. My family comes first every single time.”
Schrock also shared, “There is not one teacher that I don’t appreciate. Every teacher I’ve met along my journey has brought a unique perspective and personality to the classroom. I have learned from every one of them and they deserve the real credit. The professors at GVSU…. they are absolutely dedicated to find the best in us and bring that forward. I could not imagine being successful in my career without the quality of GVSU’s program and people.”
If you’d like to learn more about opportunities to further your education at GVSU’s Traverse City Regional Center, simply give us a call and we will help you understand the next steps.
Permanent link for PA Students Opportunity to Be Part of History on April 7, 2021
Each GVSU Physician Assistant student received an email from their professor, Dr. Theresa Bacon-Baguley GVSU’s Associate Dean of Research, for an opportunity to administer Covid-19 vaccinations at the Coopersville COVID-19 clinic on February 26, 2021.
Marisa Rogers, Rhiannon Cullip, and Morgan Scollard, PA students at the GVSU’s Traverse City Center, all jumped at the opportunity to be part of history and aid in administering Covid-19 vaccinations.
All expressed their level of excitement and nerves as they started preparing for their time in the clinic. They had completed an injections lab earlier in the semester and this was a major opportunity to put into practice a skill they had just learned. Each recalls their thoughts when signing up.
Morgan explained, “When I heard about the vaccinations I was really interested and excited to be involved to help bring light at the end of the tunnel.”
Rhiannon added, “It was the perfect opportunity and experience to be part of history and something I never envisioned doing. It’s been so hard for everyone and this was our time to get out in the community to help and get hands on experience.”
Marisa felt the same. She shared, “I felt similar, as soon as the email went out, I was really excited! It has been hard because all our classes have been on Zoom and we don’t have a lot of face-to-face contact. I was excited to get out into the community and help.”
As they reached their destination in Coopersville, MI they entered the middle school and did not waste any time getting to work. Dr. Theresa Bacon-Baguley was there to greet them, and they were eager to get started. She took them all to the back and introduced them to the pharmacists and they began reconstituting the vaccine.
They learned right there how to reconstitute the 2 step Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. Rhiannon explained, “The vaccines came in a small vile. You take the saline solution, inject the vaccine vile and invert it. You are expected to get 6 vaccines into syringes. The process of mixing them together and preparing them felt a little stressful at first but the pharmacists were there and helped us through the process. It was very surreal to be learning on the fly.”
Marisa added, “It was really special to reconstitute the vaccines. Not many people get the opportunity to be behind the scenes, especially students…” Marisa continued, “The National Guard was also there and one of their members walked in and asked who could administer? I just went for it and raised my hand.”
Marisa was the first to administer a vaccine but all three eventually were able to as the day went on. Each of them experienced all 3 stations; reconstitute, administer, and observe patients to make sure all subjects were ok before leaving.
Rhiannon recalled, “it was a surreal experience and a learning curve. Our professor was there the entire time and every time I administered a vaccine I just got better. It was nice to have conversations with the community, everyone was grateful. It was just so surreal to talk to all these different people and give them a new shield of their own to fight this battle we are fighting.”
Marisa explained, “Halfway through they ran out of the needles that were needed and the new needles to use were too long requiring us to adjust the administration method. Big learning curve.”
Morgan shared, “It was an amazing experience to rotate between the three stations throughout the day. One of my favorite things was to see how comfortable we got after doing all three stations.
To add to the entire experience, they were able to administer a vaccine to each other. If there are leftover vaccines at the end of a clinic, they offer them to volunteers to limit wasted vaccines.
Morgan, Marissa, and Rhiannon wanted to give a special thanks to Dr. Theresa Bacon-Baguley. Each expressed how thankful they were to be given this opportunity and to have her go out of her way to guide them and allow them to fully take on this experience firsthand.
Dr. Theresa Bacon-Baguley commented, “They are very willing to step up to the plate and help out. I am not sure if everyone realizes that volunteering in this capacity is new to our students in the program. I am very proud of their willingness to get out of their comfort zone and participate in an opportunity to address this public health crisis. They will play a part in getting people back together and this is a great achievement.”
If you have any questions about the Physician Assistant program at GVSU’s Traverse City Regional Center, reach out to our staff at [email protected] and we are happy to answer any questions.
Posted on Permanent link for PA Students Opportunity to Be Part of History on April 7, 2021.