By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
The Otsego Board of Education welcomed its newest member on Monday, Oct. 16.
Michael DaFoe was selected from a field of three candidates to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of former board president Scott Reitenour.
Reitenour stepped down after serving nine years on the board.
Dafoe, 39, is originally from Ohio. He and his wife Brianna—who share daughters Amelia (four years old) and Molly (six weeks old)—have lived in Alamo Township for four-and-a-half years.
Dafoe’s oldest daughter attends Otsego Public School’s Learn ‘n Grow Preschool.
“I have always had a desire to serve the community, and this was a unique opportunity that presented itself,” Dafoe said. “I know that serving on a school board is not something that everyone thinks about or would enjoy, but I feel like with my background and experience it was an opportunity to explore.
“Also, as a dad with a student in Otsego Public Schools and another child who will eventually be in school, I wanted to be part of continuing to make Otsego a great district for not only my family, but for all families.”
Dafoe brings a background in service-oriented work to the school board, as he was a pastor throughout the Midwest for 15 years. That included coming to the Kalamazoo area nearly five years ago.
Dafoe, who has a bachelor of science degree in Christian education and Bible from Cincinnati Christian University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Columbia International University, left ministry in 2021 due to COVID. He now serves as the Family Division and Probate Court Supervisor in Van Buren County.
“Moving to the area about four-and-a-half years ago, we really had no idea about the schools in the area,” he said. “When my family began looking at pre-schools for our daughter last year, we were told numerous times about how good the Otsego Schools were, especially the Learn ‘n Grow Program.
“Those recommendations have continued to prove true and it has been a great place for our family. We continue to be excited about the future with Otsego schools.”
As a member of the school board, Dafoe will now play a critical role in helping to determine that future. He joins current board members Shelly Jirgens, Amy Stender, Shannon Goodwin, Todd Bentley, Mike Keeler and Brian Ouellette.
“I believe that (OPS) superintendent (Jeff) Haase and the board have set a great vision of ‘Expect Excellence,’” Dafoe said. “I desire to see Otsego Public Schools as a place that is student-focused and looking toward the future of education. A place where all students have the opportunity to succeed and follow whatever their goals and dreams may be.
“The school district has built a great reputation in our community and it would be easy to rest on those accomplishments. But I think we need to be looking forward to what comes next. As society, culture, technology and the needs of students change. We need to be ready and prepared for those changes.”
Dafoe knows cultivating a healthy, thriving school district isn’t simply the work of the board. Rather, it’s a collaborative effort that involves the administration, teachers, students, parents and the community.
“We all need to work together to guide, govern, promote and celebrate what the school is doing,” Dafoe said. “As the board, we not only represent the community. But we must also look for ways to engage with our community.”
As he begins his tenure with as an OPS school board member, Dafoe is eager to see the district continue to grow and evolve.
“I’m excited about this new opportunity and looking forward to serving the school and community alongside the current board and administrators of Otsego Public Schools,” he said. “I’m excited to watch our school continue to be a great place for education and new ideas and I look forward to watching our students and staff continue to make OPS a great place to be and learn.”