Thornapple Kellogg — Since being hired as assistant superintendent last fall, Mark Provost has felt right at home in Thornapple Kellogg.
He grew up hunting and fishing in the “farm lands” of Gladwin, Michigan and said his new district feels very similar to his upbringing.
“(TK) really reminds me a lot of my home,” he said. “The community is invested in our schools (and) their support is really what inspired me to come here.”
Provost said he and his family toured the district and ate lunch in downtown Middleville before making the move.
“The community kept coming to the forefront,” he said. “They rally around the district and I love it.”
Other positions held in education: Provost worked at Godfrey-Lee Public Schools for 15 years before transitioning to TK. He started as Godfrey-Lee’s accountant before becoming executive director of finance and human resources. During his last four years in Godfrey-Lee, he served as assistant superintendent of administrative services. He said, “Change is hard, but it felt like it was time for a new challenge.”
What did you learn from your previous district that prepared you for your new role? “One thing about working in a small district is you have to wear a lot of hats. Godfrey-Lee gave me a broad perspective of all the ins and outs of everything you have to do in a district because you don’t have the staff. In the finance world, you do things from the ground up and here, I have a team supporting me. I can invest more into the finance side of things and do it with deeper knowledge. When you have a one- or two-man show, it’s really hard to do that.”
Jobs held outside of education: Provost worked for BDO Seidman, a national accounting firm, before switching to education.
Education/degrees:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Grand Valley State University
- Master’s degree in business with an emphasis on human resource management, Davenport University
‘The (TK) community is invested in our schools … their support is really what inspired me to come here.’
— Assistant Superintendent Mark Provost
What would you like to share about your family? Provost and his wife, Michelle, have been married for 12 years. Together, they live in Caledonia with their three kids, Blake, 11, and travel-soccer-playing twins, Jack and Luke, 8.
“We are very much a soccer family. We travel around the state and sometimes to Indiana for my twins’ soccer games and this year we are going to Atlantic City for a tournament.”
What are some of your hobbies or interests? “One passion of mine is going out west to go skiing. Every year, I try to go on a boys trip out to Colorado. I love being with my kids and my family outdoors, playing golf and soccer and watching my sons play. My family also got really into pickleball last year.”
What do you enjoy most about your new role? “The team here is pretty fantastic. I’ve been really fortunate to walk into the district as the bond is wrapping up and we’re looking ahead to what our needs are four to five years from now. It’s a collective effort focused on how we can all work together to achieve a common goal for the kids.”
If you could give your younger self advice, what would you say? “Don’t sweat the small things in life. I’ve been known to take life a bit too seriously. I was so focused on getting good grades and it got me to where I am, but I don’t want to miss out on life experiences. I’d tell myself that life is going to be okay.”
Describe your perfect meal: “My mom’s prime rib at Christmas time. Being with my entire family at Christmas is a tradition we’ve had for some time now, and traditions mean more as you get older.”
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