Archive: Around Town

Michelle StoneI didn't even know what my high school principal looked like.  There were over a thousand students in the school, and to keep it manageable it was divided into 'houses.'  The house masters and the principal were all a bit scary.  In fact, the only time I actually talked to my house master one on one was when my good friend ran away from home and he thought I may have been in cahoots.  The next time I was that close to him he was handing me a diploma.

Lansing kids have a much better deal.  Their high school principal is accessible, and knows each one by name.  She doesn't put up with nonsense, but kids know she cares about them and is rooting for them to succeed.  Well, more than that, because she does everything she can to give them opportunities to succeed.  She isn't just some intimidating figure.  She is a person who, without making a big deal of it, provides an example of how to be a human being.

She is also a capable administrator who is knowledgeable and able, somehow, to fit more into our little high school than you would expect.  And I mean programs of a scope and quality that by all rights should exceed the capabilities of a community our size.  Students, teachers, administrators, and parents all seem fond of her.  And she is clearly proud of her faculty and staff, and especially of her students.  She is certainly not your stereotype of a high school principal.

Yet when you think about it, who wants that stereotype?  That house master of mine scared the heck out of me.  Otherwise he didn't have much impact on how I viewed myself or the world.  Michelle Stone has an impressive impact on everyone who knows her.  And that's why she is our November Star of the Month.

-- Dan Veaner, Editor


Kids always come first with Michelle. She, in a lot of ways, is their second mother. She communicates her decisions well and empowers the staff to be part of those decisions. As far as a colleague, I could not ask for a better person to work alongside of. She follows through with her decisions, is accountable and reliable.

-- High School Dean of Students and District Athletic Director Ed Redmond

Anyone replacing a principal who has served 20+ years faces a tough task since many people resist change. Michelle did the smartest thing a person could do in her situation: she spent her first year watching, learning, getting the lay of the land - and it paid off in spades. She earned the trust of her faculty and staff before she began suggesting/implementing change. She is professional to the nth degree - disagreements do not become personal. I'm sure there are people who drive her crazy, but she doesn't let on.

Kids come first with Michelle and she is driven to help EVERY child and she expects the same of her faculty. Despite the enormous responsibilities of a building principal, she lets her human side show - she is an awesome baker - some might say obsessive once she gets in the kitchen, she loves to laugh and the glass is half full with her. Lansing is lucky to have her and I feel fortunate to work in a building with her at the helm.

-- High School English Teacher Julie Berens



I think the greatest compliment that I can pay to Ms. Stone is that if I were a High School student again, I would want her to be my principal.  She would probably give me the same detentions I deserved before, but I would know two things: first, I better not do it again, and secondly, more importantly, if I really needed help I could turn to her!  

For Ms. Stone, rigorous academics are paramount, but a High School has to do so much more.  I would have to argue that Michelle believes in looking at the whole child.  Her approach with students is to demand their respect, but that respect is returned with a level of empathy that makes the child realize that his or her world is important.  To loosely quote Ms. Stone, "If they don't think you care, they won't listen."  She truly cares, students truly listen.  As a teacher I am grateful for her empowering support.
  
Ms. Stone is not an administrator that rules from on high, but expects that her faculty collaboratively work together to improve our school to the benefit of the entire Lansing community.   Ms. Stone invests an amazing amount of time in our school.  Michelle has worked countless hours on the important tasks of improving academics, planning to save our deteriorating school infrastructure, and enhancing student safety and security.  Yet while managing these gargantuan tasks she also does the little things that are not required but bring smiles to both students and staff alike!  

Michelle, thank you for letting those student vent to you so they were ready to learn when they came to my class. Thank you for candy on the stressful days and birthdays.  Simply put, thank you for all do for our school!

-- High School Global History Teacher Dan Ferguson


It has been my privilege and pleasure to work with Michelle Stone on behalf of the young people of Lansing for the past year.  She possesses endless talents as a school leader as well as a sincere dedication to the personal and educational welfare of each student with whom she comes in contact.  

In her four-plus years as principal of Lansing High School, Michelle has worked tirelessly to develop a program for young people rife with opportunities for their current and future success.  She has garnered the trust, not only of the students, but of her staff, her fellow administrators and the at-large community as well.  

On a personal note, I view Michelle as a loyal colleague who possesses a boundless commitment to Lansing.  In fact, in my sixteen years of service as a school superintendent, she is the best high school principal with whom I have had the pleasure of working. This school and the community it serves are fortunate indeed to have her as their high school principal.  

-- Superintendent Mark Lewis



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