Alumni spotlight: Mark Bielang

Mark Bielang (B.S. ‘74, Industrial Education; M.A. ‘81, Educational Leadership) found his passion for building early in life and continues to apply his knowledge to a variety of leadership roles.

“Building has been a constant thread throughout my life. From building tree houses as a youngster to building homes early in my career, to later building schools, teams, and organizations, the fundamental pieces remain constant. Organizations – like houses – need strong foundations, contain systems of support, provide functionality, and have the capacity to withstand external forces. Furthermore, they must be able to function effectively,” Bielang states. 

Bielang is a first-generation U.S. citizen born in Chicago to immigrant parents who left Poland after World War II to find a better life. At the age of five, Mark, and the rest of the Bielang family, moved to Bangor, MI where he would later graduate high school. Inspired by his passion for woodworking and the influence of a tremendous teacher, Bielang enrolled at Western Michigan University. 

Bielang’s teaching career began at Three Rivers Community Schools where he shared his love for woodworking teaching Building Trades. After returning to WMU for a Master’s degree in Educational Administration, Bielang would later be tapped to become the assistant principal at Three Rivers High School. 

His time as a school administrator continued in his next role as principal at Central Montcalm High School and later at Ionia High School. Next, he would serve in his first superintendency at Paw Paw Public Schools where he spent 18 years at the helm. Since 2013, Bielang has been Superintendent of Portage Public Schools.

Throughout his tenure as superintendent, Bielang has worked with staff and the community to replace and renovate aging and outdated facilities. While he is proud of that fact, what has been more satisfying is working with and developing strong teams who in turn support the success of all students. As Bielang reflects, “I’ve been fortunate to work with school board members whose trust I’ve gained and who understand their role in the organization. I’ve also worked alongside many talented, reflective, and dedicated individuals who keep students in the forefront and are committed to lifelong learning.”

Bielang has also been influenced by two other things during his educational journey. One is “student voice.” From his days as a high school principal when he formed his first Student Advisory Council, to today through his Superintendent’s Student Advisory Board, Bielang has found value in listening to students to better understand their needs and perspectives. “Students have keen insights about the issues they face, and it’s important to hear and learn from them as we develop policies and make decisions that impact them,” says Bielang.

The other is his involvement in “Courage to Lead,” based on the work of Parker Palmer. Using the gift of time to better understand one’s self has been a key factor in Bielang’s development as a leader. As he states, “Knowing myself and exploring the events that have influenced my life have been critical in helping make me as authentic a leader as I can be. And I’ve seen the same thing happen to other educators who have taken a similar path.” 

Giving back to his profession has been a big part of his life. During the 2005-06 school year Bielang was elected by his peers to serve as President of the Michigan Association of School Administrators and later in 2009-10 as President of the American Association of School Administrators. Bielang’s leadership and efforts were recognized through AASA’s Distinguished Service Award in 2011 for exemplary leadership, service, and commitment to education; through the prestigious WMU Golden Apple Award in 2021 for his accomplishments as a school leader; and more recently by Huron Consulting Group through the Difference Maker Award for his steady leadership and commitment to continuous improvement.

Why Western Michigan University?

“By the time I was a junior in high school I knew I wanted to be a shop teacher. I loved working with wood and other materials and was encouraged by one of my teachers to live into my passion by becoming a teacher. WMU was a teacher’s college and had just the program I was looking for,” Bielang states. After graduating and beginning his teaching career, Bielang began work on his Master’s degree in Educational Administration. He says, “Western had a highly respected educational leadership program with the ability to focus on vocational education. That program helped position me for a career in administration.”

Bielang also met his wife of 47 years, Pamela (McCue) Bielang (B.S. ‘74, Consumer Economics) while at WMU. They have three grown children, one of whom chose WMU too. 

Who inspired you at Western?

“It was at Western that I met Dr. Gill Hutchings who mentored and supported me as I navigated university life and the industrial education program,” Bielang states. 

Hutchings was a professor of Engineering Technology at WMU who during his tenure at Western was responsible for the growth and innovation that characterized the woodworking program. He retired in 1987 after teaching at WMU for more than three decades.  

“He was an inspiration to me and kept me on the right path. I was eligible for the Work-Study Program and spent many non-class hours working for Dr. Hutchings in his lab and learning much more in the process.”

Any advice for today’s leaders?

“Lead from who you are. Don’t try to be something you’re not. To do this requires knowing who you are, what values are most important to you, and an on-going assessment of your strengths and vulnerabilities. Make sure to have people in your life who help keep you grounded and on the right path.”