Photo by Crystal Hayduk. New hires at Chelsea High School (left to right): Michael McLone, Greg Stephens, and Amanda Clor.By Crystal Hayduk
The primary business of the Chelsea School District Board of Education meeting held on Aug. 19 was to meet a dozen new staff members who had been approved as new hires over the summer.
Superintendent Mike Kapolka introduced Katie Spisich, who has officially been serving as the principal at South Meadows Elementary School (SM) since July 1. Her hiring was approved in late May in preparation for Stacie Battaglia’s retirement at the end of the 2023-24 school year.
Kapolka said Spisich earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Western Michigan University (WMU) and a master’s degree in educational administration from Ball State University (BSU). She has taught third grade and served as a literacy specialist in Chelsea for a total of nearly ten years.
“Katie absolutely earned this job,” said Kapolka, who emphasized every word. “She went through the full gamut of interviews … and in every step of the process, she separated herself from the field.”
Kapolka also introduced Amanda Clor, the new principal at Chelsea High School (CHS), whose hiring was approved at the Aug. 5 board meeting. She replaces Dr. Nick Angel, who resigned to accept the superintendency at Grass Lake Community Schools.
Clor graduated from Eastern Michigan University (EMU) with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with majors in social studies and psychology, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Madonna University. She started her career with five years teaching social studies in the Wayne-Westland Community Schools. She served as assistant principal and principal in the Fitzgerald Public Schools in Warren for a total of 13 years.
Kapolka said Clor’s references called her “fair, honest, approachable, and fun-loving,” and that she is a tireless advocate for students.
Marcus Kaemming, assistant superintendent, introduced Corrina Horton, director of transportation. He said Horton has been driving a bus for the district for a year, and during that time, she has shown herself to be a problem solver, calm, and caring. With her extensive background in management outside of the education field, she brings a wealth of translatable skills and abilities.
Clor introduced the newest high school teachers. Greg Stephens is a special education teacher. He was a paraprofessional in the district who earned a post-baccalaureate degree with a major in teacher preparation from EMU. He completed his student teaching in Chelsea and has been a long-term substitute teacher.
Michael McLone joins CHS as an English teacher. He received his bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Michigan (U-M). He comes to the district with six years of teaching experience, including one year as an educator in a foreign country.
Beach Middle School Principal Matt Ceo introduced three new teachers. Cristian Garcia, who will be teaching English, earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from U-M.
Hannah LaFleur is a new teacher with a degree in social studies from EMU. She was a student teacher at CHS with Erin Dillon, who highly recommended her.
Joe Linde will be teaching health and physical education, coming to the district with nearly 20 years of teaching and coaching experience. He has been coaching the JV baseball team since 2023. He received his bachelor’s degree from EMU and his master’s degree from Concordia University.
Spisich introduced Megan Kadykowski, who will be teaching fourth grade. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Michigan State University (MSU). She has 14 years of experience as an elementary teacher and a literacy coach. Kadykowski’s references said she is a leader among teachers, she builds positive relationships, and her students feel loved and supported.
Casey Wescott, North Creek Elementary (NC) principal, introduced three new teachers. Ashley Moerman is a special education teacher who received her bachelor’s degree from WMU and a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis from BSU.
Ryli Harden is a first grade teacher who graduated from the University of Toledo with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.
Jill Mann is returning to the district after having taught at NC previously. A graduate of Bowling Green State University with a major in early childhood education, she will be teaching Young 5s.
In consent action, the board approved the hiring of Doug Whitsel as the new director of safety and security for the district. (Read the related story here.)
During the superintendent’s report, Kapolka said families can expect to begin receiving weekly communication from their building principal, and monthly from the superintendent’s office.
A videorecording of the meeting is available to view here.
The next school board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Sept.9 in the board room at the Washington Street Education Center.
