By Lisa Carolin
Beach Middle School Principal Nick Angel was recently selected as the “Principal of the Year” by the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) Region #2.
Last year, he was recognized by the Michigan Association of Middle School Educators (MAMSE) as the Administrator of the Year.
Angel was nominated by other principals in MEMSPA’s region #2, which serves Washtenaw, Livingston, and Monroe counties.
“I have shared this before but these type of recognitions are really a culmination of the special group of people that work at Beach and support our students,” said Angel. “From the parents, to the students, to the staff and community at large, everyone plays the part in helping to have a successful middle school focused on social, emotional and academic growth. In Chelsea we are fortunate to have dynamic educators who care about the right things and work hard at getting better every day. I like to say that my personal recognition is an end result of my team.”
This is Angel’s eighth year at Beach, and he says that most of all, he enjoys the students.
“Students that started with me in sixth-grade are now entering the latter stages of their college career, have started families or could be in the military or local occupations,” said Angel. “That is very rewarding. I enjoy the Beach staff-they make learning fun and truly care about children. I enjoy my district administrative team which I feel is second to none and feel blessed to have been the principal for all three of my step-daughters and am looking forward to my youngest being here in a year.”
Angel credits his assistant principal, Matt Ceo, and office staff with being part of that successful team. He says that there aren’t enough hours in a day for all that he wants to accomplish.
He graduated from Huron High School in Ann Arbor in 1998 and went on to earn a BA in English/Political Science at Western Michigan University. He worked as a teacher and coach at Blissfield High School then came to Chelsea High School where he served as an assistant principal for ninth and 12-grade classes before heading to Beach.
Angel also earned an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Madonna University, an Ed.S. Specialist Degree in K-12 Educational Leadership degree at Siena Heights University, and is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree (Ed.D) in Leadership and Innovation at Madonna University.
He is married to Theresa, who works for Washtenaw International High School. They have four children – Alannah and Kylie, who are college students, Ava, a Chelsea High School student, and Brooklyn, who attends South Meadows Elementary School.
Marcus Kaemming, the Chelsea school district’s Executive Director of Instruction, Curriculum and Human Resources, and a former recipient of the MAMSE award, said, “Nick’s been fabulous for kids. He cares about their learning path. He invests in staff so they can be the best versions of themselves they can be, and by doing so that investment supports learning for all.”
Julie Helber, superintendent of the Chelsea school district, said, “We are very proud of Beach Middle School Principal, Mr. Nick Angel, for being honored as the MEMSPA Region 2 Principal of the Year. Mr. Angel’s dedication to the students and staff at Beach Middle School is immense and enthusiasm for his work is evident each day. We are fortunate to have Mr. Angel’s leadership present in the Chelsea school district. This honor qualifies Mr. Angel to be eligible for Principal of the Year for the state of Michigan.”
Angel will be recognized as Principal of the Year at the Michigan state conference Dec. 5-7 in Traverse City, MI.
The announcement of the award gave Angel pause to reflect on his career.
“I enjoy that the middle level is always changing and that kids grow dramatically between their sixth- to eighth-grade years. Actually, the more and more I think about it, I enjoy just about everything in my role.”
