Kent City — While Curt Gerbers is a familiar face at Kent City Middle School, he’s taking on a new role as school principal this year. SNN gets to know him better in this edition of Meet Your Administrators.
Other positions you have held in education:
- Long-term substitute teacher in Holland, Hamilton and Kentwood schools
- Math and science teacher, Kent City Middle School
- Dean of students, KCMS
- Assistant principal, KCMS and KC High School (jointly)
Education/degrees:
- Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Hope College
- Master’s degree in integrating technology in the classroom, Walden University
- Master’s degree of educational specialist, Grand Valley State University
What would you like to share about your family? Gerbers and his wife have four children, in grades six, three, one and preschool, and they’re looking forward to having all four in Kent City Schools for the first time. The family enjoys playing video games, taking frequent bike rides and getting together regularly with extended family.
Most notably, the new principal and his family live just two doors down from KCMS: “If you ask most kids in middle school, they probably already know where I live,” he said. “But I think it’s great. I walk to work every day; it’s wonderful.”
Why did you want to become a principal? “I think I was at a point in my career where I was interested in different challenges and interactions. My role now is just a little bit bigger-picture, which I can appreciate.
“I love working with kids, and I still get to spend time with them … but now my focus can be making sure that the overall experience for (students) is the absolute best that it can be. Probably one of my biggest motivations is that I get to make decisions and affect the whole experience at Kent City Middle School, not just what was happening in my classroom.”
What is on your bucket list? “It’s specific to my job, but I just want to improve the climate at Kent City Middle School (and create) a place where every kid enjoys coming here. Oftentimes the middle school years are talked about as the worst, so whatever I can do to lessen that, or reverse it for our kids, I think that’s my number one.
“On a personal note, I want to raise my kids to grow up to be quality humans who help other people.”
What was your favorite grade when you were a kid? “Senior year of high school: I was probably the most outgoing and willing to interact with others by then. I was always a pretty shy kid … but by the latter years of high school, I became more interested in being with others and talking to people. I ran cross-country and track and played hockey, and getting out there more really improved my experience.”
What book, podcast or TV show have you been loving lately? Gerbers and his wife got hooked on the reality competition show “Big Brother” several years ago and it’s become appointment television for the couple:
“The whole premise of the game is that there’s a social aspect along with competitions and different ways to win power. … (My wife and I) wait for the new season every year, and it’s really fun to get to know the different people and talk about who’s playing a good game and who’s doing it terribly. We’re pausing the show constantly to talk about the different strategies or what we think is happening.”
How will you encourage student voice at KCMS? Gerbers said he hopes to get the student council and student leadership team more involved beyond event planning and management of the school store. With a district-wide focus on positive approaches to behavior management, he sees plenty of ways to encourage student leadership as the school year progresses.
“We’re all about acknowledging students for doing the right stuff and the good stuff. … I think that’s a piece where (students) have an opportunity to not only participate but to be leaders. What that looks like needs to be fleshed out and organized more, but that’s absolutely something I’d like to do.”
What are the best and worst pizza toppings, in your opinion? “Any vegetable is the worst. I don’t want any of that on my pizza. But I love pepperoni. Pepperoni and ham. And I’ll do bacon, too. And sausage. Really, just give me a meat lover’s.”
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