Sturgis Journal
The Sturgis Journal marks Women s History Month by recognizing the efforts of women in leadership and who have made an impact in the St. Joseph County area.
Today’s segment focuses on Teresa Belote, superintendent at St. Joseph County Intermediate School District.
Belote, who has served as superintendent at ISD for nearly four years, is grateful for the opportunity to lead and for the teachable moments by those she serves and oversees.
Belote rose to the role of ISD superintendent in April 2017, capping a career so far that included three years as superintendent of Bronson Community Schools, 10 years as a principal at Sturgis Public Schools and as a teacher at Colon Community Schools.
Sturgis Journal
Colon Community Schools has benefited from the Nola and George Cummings Family Foundation Fund, held at Branch County Community Foundation.
Five teachers in the district received funding from the December grant cycle of Cummings Family Foundation, a total of $14,000.
Brendan Hoekstra, band director, submitted a grant application and received some needed items, including a sousaphone and baritone for marching band; 50 new music stands and chairs for 6-12 grade band room; and a new percussion work station.
Musical instruments of that size and expense are typically school property because they are cost-prohibitive for nearly any student to purchase.
“This grant is huge to me,” Hoekstra said.
It’s no secret there is a school bus driver shortage.
Rather than having drivers waiting in line for a job, as was the case in some years, some schools scramble to keep routes covered.
Colon Community Schools has outsourced the department to Dean Transportation. Joshua Collins, Colon s transportation coordinator for the Lansing-based company, said it’s a statewide shortage.
Ceairra Green, transportation supervisor at Centreville Public Schools, currently has five routes, but only three drivers.
Green drives one of the routes and a substitute driver covers the morning shift on the other route. If the school does not have an afternoon driver, students are driven home in vans driven by staff members, she said.