Thornapple Kellogg — For the first day of school at Page Elementary, Principal Amy Forman bought a bubble machine to kick off a fun school year.
“We’ve been having a lot of fun,” she said about her first few weeks. “My goal is to get the kids and staff excited to come to school and love their jobs every day.”
Forman said she spent the weeks leading up to the first day meeting with teachers, discussing their goals and redecorating the staff lounge to make it more welcoming and homey.
SNN gets to know Page’s new principal Forman better in this edition of Meet Your Administrators.
Other positions held in education:
- English learners interventionist, Collins Elementary, Forest Hills Public Schools
- Language arts strategies and success strategies resource teacher, Thornapple Kellogg Middle School
- Resource English and study skills teacher, Thornapple Kellogg High School
- Assistant principal, TKHS
Education/degrees:
- Bachelor’s degrees in history and special education, Michigan State University
- Master’s degree in educational leadership, Grand Valley State University
What would you like to share about your family? Forman and her husband, Mike, have three daughters who all attend TK schools. Her oldest started fourth grade at Page this year and is adjusting to having her mom as her principal. The Forman family also enjoys fishing, hunting, camping and hiking together.
What inspired you to become an educator? Forman fondly recalled her Sicilian grandmother, who dreamed of being an educator but for whom life had other plans.
“All throughout her life, my grandma’s teachers helped and supported her and her family. Education was always super important to her, but she didn’t get to go to college because she had to stay home and help her recently widowed mother, who didn’t speak English.”
Forman is the first woman in her family to attend and graduate college, and credits her grandma’s guidance for her decision to pursue a special education degree.
“I changed the trajectory of our family and my three daughters. I did it for (my grandmother) and it’s why I want to show any student that they can achieve what they’re meant to do.”
How would you describe your leadership style? “My leadership style is really just being another piece of the puzzle of our building. I believe that we are all working toward the same goal, building successful students, and that I am just one piece of the team. My job is to support teachers, students and parents in their roles, and have fun.”
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from students? “Kids are kids, no matter if they’re in high school or elementary school. One of my students graduated a few years ago, and she told me the thing she loved most about school was the unconditional love she felt at school all the way through high school. … Even when (students) make mistakes, I will still love them.”
What did you learn as a teacher that helped you be a better principal? “I know what these teachers are experiencing and what they are being asked to do. They are responsible for these children, which is a monumental task … I’m able to empathize with what happens in the classrooms.”
Forman added, “As a principal, too, we need to be a safe person for students to come to and not lose sight of being in ‘school mom’ mode.”
What do you love about your school’s community? “The people, the staff and the kids. Everyone shares the same dream, that they want students to be successful and achieve their dreams here.”
If you could go back in time, which grade would you choose to return to, and why? “I would go back to third grade. I had Mrs. Evans, and she was amazing, fun, cultivated my love of reading and writing, and helped me learn ways to make math less intimidating.”
Read more from Thornapple Kellogg:
• District invites people to test drive school bus
• From butternut squash to candy cane beets, students dig into Michigan-fresh foods
