The Lead: April Edition
Student Spotlight - Nkenga Bergan (Ph.D. Student): Leading with Passion and Purpose
Nkenge A. Bergan (pronounced Na-KING-a) has been a public school educator for more than 29 years in urban and suburban school districts in North Carolina and Michigan. Currently serving as Associate Vice President for Student Development Services at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Mrs. Bergan is dedicated to equity, community and cultural responsiveness for all stakeholders. It is this dedication to public education that has allowed Nkenge to successfully lead in settings from the special education classroom, to middle school principalships on to district leadership, and now in higher education with confidence and unabashed advocacy for every learner.
Nkenge was honored as a Safe Kids Champion by Safe Kids Kalamazoo, Community In Schools-Kalamazoo Champ Award, and Region 4 Principal of the Year by the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association. She is currently serving on the board of directors for Integrated Services of Kalamazoo, YMCA, and Gryphon Place, as well as maintaining active membership with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated in the Kalamazoo Alumnae Chapter.
Recently selected by her alma mater, Syracuse University’s School of Education as the 2023 convocation speaker, Nkenge is committed to making a difference in the lives of all educators; future and seasoned.
Mrs. Bergan became an educator because she believes that a community is only as strong as its children and young people, therefore she is dedicated to making sure the public school setting is safe physically and psychologically. Nkenge also believes that every stakeholder has all the necessary tools and resources to do their very best for every individual student before them. It is her belief that the local school be the beacon of the neighborhood and an appropriate partner in the development of not only the youngest of citizens but support life-long learning for all who call this community home.
The mother of three children and one granddaughter, Nkenge and her husband Sean, also an educator, will celebrate 23 years of marriage this year.
Nkenga is currently working towards her Ph.D. here at WMU. When asked why she chose WMU, she responded,
“I found the program to be well prepared for leadership upon completing my Masters program and I wanted to continue with that outstanding preparation. Also, this community of Kalamazoo has an appreciation and appetite for research and improvement and this aligns with my approach to education.”
We are extremely proud of Nkenga continuing to learn and grow as a leader while impacting the future leaders of tomorrow.
Faculty Spotlight - Colin Ripmaster: Championing Equity and Excellence in Education
In an inspiring testament to overcoming adversity and dedicating one's life to the betterment of others, Colin Ripmaster emerges as a beacon of hope and transformation in the educational landscape. With a storied career that spans roles from an elementary teacher and middle-level assistant principal in West Ottawa Public Schools to a high school principal in Mattawan Consolidated School, Ripmaster has consistently focused on changing the odds for student success.
His journey is not just professional; it is deeply personal. As a product of special education who once felt undervalued and disengaged, Ripmaster's educational experience took a turn for the better when a teacher recognized his potential beyond the labels. This pivotal moment ignited a lifelong commitment to dismantling the educational inequities that segregate our nation's youth along lines of race, class, language, and disability.
Currently serving as the Deputy Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP), Ripmaster has been a formidable force in policy work aimed at ensuring rigorous graduation requirements, whole child development, improved career awareness, and the fulfillment of all students' potential. His leadership is characterized by a relentless pursuit of equity, guided by the belief in creating educational environments where every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Beyond policy, Ripmaster is actively involved in on-the-ground efforts to elevate teaching and learning. His work with the University of Washington's Center for Educational Leadership on the 5 Dimensions of Teaching and Learning and the 5D+ Teacher Evaluation System is revolutionizing instructional quality across Michigan and the nation. By fostering a shared vision of excellence and scaffolding practice, he is helping districts pave the way for transformative educational experiences.
Ripmaster's influence extends into higher education through a groundbreaking partnership with Western Michigan University's College of Education. This collaboration addresses educator shortages by bridging state associations and academic programs at the university. Notably completers of the MASSP Path to Leadership (PTL) alternative pathway program, can now use the WMU specific Prior Learning Assessment to seamlessly pursue advanced degrees.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Ripmaster finds solace and joy in competitive dogsports, competing in obedience, tracking, and conformation with his rottweilers and sharing his passion as an instructor at the Kalamazoo Kennel Club.
This spring, he embarked on a new journey as an instructor for the EDLD 6670: The Principalship course at WMU, guiding future leaders in building cultures of learning and leadership.
Colin Ripmaster's story is one of resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to educational equity. His work not only changes the odds for student success but also serves as a profound reminder of the transformative power of believing in every student's potential.
Alumni Spotlight - Dr. Jeff Leslie: From the Court to the Classroom: A Journey of Leadership and Excellence
Dr. Jeff Leslie was in the classroom spending 15 years as a high school math teacher. The first 6 were in Andrews, SC–a rural, high poverty area roughly halfway between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. He moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan in 1997 where he taught high school math and ran their technology lab. During his teaching career, he also coached 20 seasons of high school basketball. His overall record during that span was 323-136. The highlight was a 31-0 record and a South Carolina Class AA State Championship during the 1994-95 season.
He started his career in administration back in Andrews, SC in 2006 as their high school assistant principal. After completing my Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at WMU in 2009, he sought to lead his own building. That opportunity presented itself in his childhood hometown of Edwardsburg, Michigan in 2011. He served as principal of the middle school and the high school over the course of 5 years. Both were named a “Beating the Odds” school by the Michigan Department of education while he was there.
He then took on the superintendent position at New Buffalo Area Schools in 2016. Over the course of the 6 years that he served there, New Buffalo High School was named a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School, New Buffalo Elementary School was named a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School, and the district was named a 2022 “Bright Spot District” by the Michigan Department of Education for the work they were doing on social emotional learning. He noted the district student achievement actually went up during the pandemic in many areas.
He is currently in his second year as the superintendent for the Public Schools of Petoskey.
He chose Western Michigan University for a couple of reasons. First, his father graduated from WMU in 1967 with a degree in metallurgical engineering and he was a huge supporter of the university. He was also influenced by the convenience of the WMU campuses. Many first classes were held at St. Joseph High School or the new (at that time) building in Benton Harbor on the campus of Lake Michigan College. He is very proud of the education that he received at WMU. He noted, “I use the lessons taught to me by Gary Campbell, Van Cooley, Denny McCrumb, Jianping Shen, and Charles Warfield on a daily basis.”
He served on the Board of Directors for the College of Education and Human Development Alumni and Friends for the 6 years while in New Buffalo. He also enjoys going back every semester to serve on the superintendent panel who speak to the Education intern
Believe in the Change: Urban Leadership Cohort Starting in Battle Creek Public Schools
The WMU K-12 Educational Leadership Unit is extremely excited to be piloting an Urban Leadership Program with Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS). Dr. Kim Carter, the Superintendent of Schools, approached us to see if we had any interest in partnering with BCPS on an innovative program to grow leaders within the district. After a number of meetings, we launched our first cohort of 19 staff members earlier in the month. Below you will find some details regarding the program:
Overview:
The BCPS Aspiring Leaders Program (ALP) is a cohort-based model designed to provide individuals interested in advancing their career within the district with a pipeline to school or systems leadership or simply developing their leadership skills to lead from where they are. The program is designed to help participants develop the skills they need to be effective leaders who foster equity and understand the tenets associated with ongoing, successful systems improvement.
Facilitated by the superintendent of schools and professors from WMU, the program participants will engage with invited guest leaders from outside the district and provide input on the district improvement plan, all while working to bridge the gap between theory and practice for those seeking leadership development. Every attempt will be made to tailor the curriculum and experiences to meet the specific needs of those admitted to the program.
Program Goals:
Identify and nurture leadership potential within the school district.
Develop the leadership skills and knowledge needed for future leadership roles.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement and leadership development.
Program Components:
Case Study Reviews
Role-Playing Activities
Panel Discussions
Collaborative Adult Learning
Leadership Projects
Networking
Focus Areas:
Improvement Science
Instructional, Transformational, Distributed, and Servant Leadership Models and Theories
School Climate
Organizational Management and District Operations
Equity, Cultural Competence, and Cultural Responsiveness
Self-Awareness and Resilience
Data Analysis and Decision-Making
Effective Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
Educational Policy and Reform