The new Kent City High School and Middle School principal is Jordan Stuhan. He replaces Bill Crane, who moved to the position of assistant superintendent of business and administrative services. SNN gets to know Stuhan in this edition of Meet Your Principal.
Previous employment in education: Stuhan was a secondary math and physics teacher for 11 ½ years at Kent City Middle and High schools before taking over as assistant principal for grades 6 through 12, a position he held for two years.
How about jobs outside education? “My first job ever was a Fazoli’s in Muskegon. I would often carry the breadstick basket around the dining room to offer additional breadsticks to restaurant guests. Guests would often refer to me as the ‘Breadstick Boy.’ I also worked for two summers as a rides operator at Michigan’s Adventure amusement park in Muskegon. The second summer I was on the ‘Ripcord’ crew and I rode the ride over 100 times in two days while we were training before the park opened.”
Family details: He is married to Shannon Stuhan. The couple has three sons: Isaiah, Ethan and Xavier, all of whom attend Kent City Community Schools.
Hobbies/interests/little-known talents: “Many people know that golf occupies a large portion of my free time while the weather is nice. Sports in general are an interest of mine. While I was a classroom teacher, I often claimed to be an expert at underwater basket weaving. Sadly, this was made up.”
What kind of kid were you at the age of students in middle/high school? “I was very interested in sports when I was in middle school and high school. I played basketball, baseball and football. I was relatively quiet, although I had many good friends that knew me to be very active and outgoing when I wasn’t in the school building. While at school, I focused on my work and was pretty mellow.”
The biggest lesson you have learned from students is… “Don’t take yourself too seriously.”
If you could go back in time, which grade would you return to? Stuhan would choose fourth grade. “I had Mrs. Spyke for fourth grade and, for whatever reason, I have very fond memories of her class,” he said. “Nothing specific stands out; I just remember feeling very comfortable there.”
Do you see any potential positive changes for schools that may come from the COVID-19 pandemic? “As is the case with most major challenges that we face, the pandemic has provided us with a new perspective on why education and school are so important. I’ve also been very impressed with the way that our teaching staff has grown and adapted professionally. I’m confident that many of the tools that have been used for online and remote instruction will continue to be utilized in 2020 and beyond.”
If you walked into your new school building to theme music every day, what would the song be? Stuhan’s pick is “Brother” by NEEDTOBREATHE.
