Office of the Superintendent

It is hard to believe we are already through three weeks of school. Students are settling into their classes, fall co-curricular activities are underway, and we are reminded daily of the large construction zone by the elementary schools... August was an important month as we successfully opened our buildings and completed numerous summer facility enhancements. Details on the August 2024 Bond Projects can be viewed on the Bond Updates webpage. 

As a District, we spent this past week focusing on the tenets of mental health. While the Be Nice philosophy is a secondary initiative, our middle and high school students model what it looks like to be supportive and caring classmates. The Be Nice theme days showcase student leadership and meaningful peer engagement for even our youngest learners.

This evening (Thursday) is the annual Be Nice Football Game. I encourage community members attending the game to interact with Be Nice Crew members inside the stadium. They will have information on Be Nice as well as resources regarding student mental health and suicide prevention. By staying informed and involved, we can ensure all our students feel confident to Notice, Invite, Challenge, and Empower. 

If you are not able to attend the Be Nice Football Game, there are several ways to learn about student mental health and suicide prevention. The WCS Be Nice website is a great starting point to review the basics and its rationale. Additionally, the WHS Video Production class created a special video for the game, which outlines the Be Nice action plan. It will premiere this evening on the new videoboard at the football/track complex. Students utilized the new videoboard, software, and cameras acquired for the course this past summer. Thank you for your attention to the message and goals of Be Nice.

Wishing our community a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend.
 

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year. The first week has been full of excitement as our students and educators returned to school. This year’s theme is “Rooted in Tradition, Growing Toward the Future.” The first part is to maintain the characteristics and systems that make Williamston a successful district. These include our close relationship with our community, compassion for students, and core educational foundations such as Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Simultaneously, we need to prepare for what the future of education might look like. We are investing in new tools to promote student engagement, enhancing avenues for students to study the humanities, and exploring the thoughtful application of Artificial Intelligence. We strive to maintain our vision of being Relevant, Progressive, and Evidence-Based. In doing so, we will filter those aspirations through the long-standing values and structures that make our schools so special. 

I am proud to introduce new team members. Williamston continues to attract accomplished veteran educators and talented newcomers to the profession. This year is no exception. Our staff includes seven administrators who are either new to the District or new to their positions.

District Administrative Team:

Left to Right: Stephanie Chandel, Middle School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director; Paige Paulsen, Director of Athletics and Enrichment; Michelle Rosa, Director of Student Services; Adam Supianoski, Middle School Principal; Cassie Pfander, Discovery Elementary Principal; Leslie Wertz, Elementary Student Support Services Coordinator; Rebecca Olsen, Director of Preschool and Childcare; Kathryn Kluzak, Explorer Elementary Principal; Chris Armour, High School Principal; Adam Spina, Superintendent; James Doyen, Director of Technology. Not pictured: Tim Standlee, High School Assistant Principal; Brandon Weingartz, Director of Facilities and Operations; Sarah Tynan, Director of Finance.

Additionally, we have an outstanding group of new educators and support staff joining WCS for the 2026-2027 school year.

New Staff, 2026-2027:

Left to Right: Carlos Villegas-Castaneda, Teacher, High School Spanish; Robert Keith, Transportation Supervisor; Hailey Deyo, Teacher, Little Hornets Preschool; Tamara Marshall, Teacher, Middle School English; Jayna McKenzie, Long-Term Substitute, Middle School English; Carley Ostrander, Speech Language Pathologist, Little Hornets Preschool; Alexis Ragnone, Social Worker, Williamston Middle School; Amanda Bakker, Teaching Assistant, Little Hornets Preschool; Karlee Kahres, MTSS Paraprofessional, Explorer Elementary; Shelby Buhl, Teacher, Explorer Elementary; Kayla Robinson, Teacher, Discovery Elementary; Marlee Stansberry, Teacher, Middle School/High School Special Education.

We are grateful for the ongoing support and collaboration with our community. Williamston continues to afford its schools the resources and commitment necessary to ensure students are safe and academically successful. On behalf of our entire team, I look forward to providing each of our students a world-class educational experience. 

Go Hornets!
 

With open houses (see schedule below) just a couple of weeks away, the final push is underway to complete cleaning, facility projects, and technology enhancements. This has been the busiest summer I can recall. The reward will be having students return to improved facilities with access to new instructional tools. We look forward to showcasing the hard work accomplished by our teams when students and families tour our buildings later this month. 

One of the most notable upgrades is the transition to a digital phone system. After a year of cabling and related infrastructure work, this project is nearing completion. Replacing the antiquated analog system was made possible by utilizing a combination of the Sinking Fund (for cabling) and the 2024 Bond (for the phones).

Physical spaces have also been transformed this summer at Williamston Middle School and Williamston High School. This included the completion of a decade-long initiative to create fully modular learning environments in all our middle and high school classrooms. The combination of flexible seating furniture, new flooring, Microsoft Surface Pro devices, Screenbeam projection systems, and new laser projectors has made this vision a reality. Teachers will have unprecedented flexibility to customize their classrooms to promote student engagement. The initiative also removes the traditional “singular point of instruction,” as teachers and students can interface with instructional materials from any location in the classroom. This project was also supported by a combination of Sinking Fund and 2024 Bond dollars.

Example of new modular learning space at WHS:

Another important undertaking was the complete replacement of the HVAC system in the Community Pool. The pool was constructed around the original HVAC system, necessitating its removal through a hole cut in the roof. A hatch was installed on the roof for the next time the system needs to be replaced, which will save the District time and money in the future. The new HVAC system extends the life of the facility well into the future. The $950,000 project was funded by the 2024 Bond. Lockers in the Community Pool are scheduled to be replaced this month (funded by a private donation). 

Two of the three parking lots at Williamston High School were repaved. During the work, our construction partners discovered and corrected unsuitable soils under the east lot. Properly improving the ground below the pavement extends the life of the parking lot. Furthermore, new sidewalks and crosswalks were added for pedestrians. Additional information on Bond-funded projects can be found on the Bond Updates website.

Before and after comparison of the east parking lot at WHS:

Numerous additional smaller projects were also accomplished via the dedication of our maintenance/custodial staff and technology departments. Examples include repainting the track, repairing sidewalks and parking lots, installing new signage, and renovating student restrooms. 

Our instructional team is busy finalizing student placements, scheduling, and school staffing. As WCS leadership has experienced significant change this summer, please ensure you are familiar with who to contact with any questions about the upcoming school year.  

We welcome the return of our students and a great start to 2026-2027. Go Hornets!

New middle school bandroom flooring and instrument storage, completed Summer 2026: