The Lead: January spotlight series
Student Spotlight: Ramsey Nichols
Ramsey Nichols is the head boys’ basketball coach at Kalamazoo Central High School where he has compiled a 12-year record of 358-130 winning 6 District and 2 Regional Championships. Prior to Kalamazoo, Coach Nichols started his coaching career in Detroit where he coached middle school boys from 1994-2000 and was an assistant coach at Schoolcraft Community College from 1995-1996 under hall of fame coach Glen Donahue. He returned to his alma mater, Benton Harbor, in 2000 where he posted a six-year record of 108-26. While at the helm at Benton Harbor, Coach Nichols coached his 2004-2005 team to an undefeated regular season (20-0) and #1 ranking in Class A for the state of Michigan. He was named 2005 BCAM Overall and Class A Coach of the Year as well as Big 16 West Division Coach of the Year in ’02, ’03, ’04, & ‘05.
Some of Coach Nichols’ most notable players are:
- Current Detroit Piston and 2018 Michigan Mr. Basketball, Isaiah Livers.
- Former NBA star and 2005 Michigan Mr. Basketball, Wilson Chandler.
- Former Utah Jazz player, Robert Whaley.
- Former Detroit Lion, Joique Bell.
From 2008-2012, Nichols coached at Jackson High School where he won district titles in 2011 and 2012. In the summers from 2006-2008, Coach Nichols coached professionally with 2-time world champion Elkhart Express of the International Basketball League.
Coach Nichols played collegiately at the University of Detroit from 1989-1993. Three-year starter and captain at Benton Harbor High School. Academic All-State selection, Mr. Basketball candidate and All- State selection as a junior and senior. Coach Nichols is currently a social studies teacher at Kalamazoo Central High School and is in his 29th year as an educator. He started his teaching career at Wayne State University Public Middle School, Michigan’s first charter school. From 1994 - 2000, he was a social studies teacher and served as the Athletic/Physical Ed. Health Director and helped create and implement the school’s first athletic program. From 2000-2008, Nichols taught social studies at Benton Harbor High School before moving on to Jackson Public Schools. At Jackson, Nichols served one year as assistant principal, one year as athletic director, and two years as a social studies teacher.
"My inspiration comes from many. I was blessed to be around some great leaders and mentors growing up in my hometown, Benton Harbor, MI who were very instrumental in my life. I come from a large family and each one of them has been an inspiration to me in some way or form rather it’s seeing the strength of my grandmother, mother, aunts, and uncles or witnessing cousins, extended family members and friends grind out in their own life accomplishing their goals.
I would have to say my biggest motivation over the years has been my pride and joy, my daughter Kaila Nichols, who has grown to be an amazing, beautiful young women who is tenacious and has a heart of gold. I love the game of basketball and my passion has always been to work with aspiring athletes and empower others. My goal has been to enhance the skills of athletes to equip them with the tools needed to become leaders and have success both on and off the court.
With my Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on Interscholastic Athletic Administration and with over 20 years of experience working in athletics, which includes seven years of experience as an athletic director I can imagine myself taking on an administrative role someday."
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Andrew Rynberg
A Western Michigan University alum has been selected as the next U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity's Caribbean Community superintendent. Dr. Andrew Rynberg, a graduate of the College of Education and Human Development's educational leadership program, will focus on prioritizing students' social, emotional, and intellectual growth and guide them toward success.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), it is the umbrella organization that unites efforts to provide quality educational opportunities and services to military dependents around the globe. DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates and manages the education programs for dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. They operate 160 accredited schools in 8 districts located in 11 foreign countries, 7 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Prior to joining Caribbean Community, Rynberg served as the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the School District of Indian River County in Florida. As assistant superintendent, he oversaw 26 schools, 1,200 teachers and 18,000 students. Simultaneously he collaborated with Michigan State University's Office of K-12 Outreach, actively supporting the instructional and leadership needs of hundreds of schools.
Rynberg's career includes service in the Air Force and roles at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. He later transitioned to educational leadership as a community superintendent. As superintendent, he guided the DoDEA for Europe East in Denmark, and Europe West in the United Kingdom.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Brian Davis
Dr. Brian Davis currently serves as an educational consultant with the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators (MASA) and the Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education (MAASE). In these roles he has extensive experience in curriculum development, teaching, and assessment aligned to the National Educational Leadership Preparation Standards. This work has developed an alternative pathway to leadership program, recognized by the Michigan Department of Education, which leads to school administrator certification and central office endorsement.
Davis has collaborated with post-secondary institutions to develop a prior learning assessment articulation model with Western Michigan University and Northern Michigan University leading to post-graduate study. Through his work with MASA, he also oversees the executive coaching for new superintendents and serves as a program consultant with Beyond Equity. Dr. Davis has over 30 years of experience at the PreK-12+ level having served in small, rural, suburban, and urban districts. He was the Superintendent of Schools of Holland Public Schools for 13 years. He was recognized as MASA's State Superintendent of the Year in 2011.
Dr. Davis earned his Ph.D. from Western Michigan University and is excited to return to his alma mater as an Adjunct Professor for the College of Education and Human Development.