Welcome to Muskegon Heights Academy

A Message from the Superintendent

I'm truly humbled and energized to join the family as your new Superintendent of the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy (MHPSA). Thank you for welcoming me. I didn't come here to watch; I came to work, and I'm ready to accept this mission alongside our Public School Academy (PSA) and Board of Education (BOE).

Muskegon Heights has a powerful legacy, built on community and strength. We know who we are, and we know we're better than the labels we've carried. This turnaround won't happen from the top down; it requires every single one of us, the neighbors, the business owners, the parents, the teachers, and the students, to lock arms and commit to a new direction.

The First 100 Days: Our Shared Foundation

My immediate focus is on two non-negotiables that lay the groundwork for everything else:

1. Showing Up Matters: This is simple, but vital: Attendance. If our students aren't in class, on time, every day, we can't teach them. This isn't just a school problem; it’s a community commitment. We need every parent and every student to make being present their number one job.
2. Building Trust, Brick by Brick: I'm spending my time visiting our classrooms, and sitting down with all of you: our students, our dedicated staff, our parents, Board members, local leaders, businesses, and our cherished alumni. My door is open. We can't fix what needs to be repaired until we listen to the people who live it every day. Your voice is the most important tool we have.

The New Standard: Conduct, Curriculum, and Commitment

Safety and Conduct

Student conduct and safety is of utmost importance. We will  adhere to state mandates, guidelines, and all district policies and protocols. To ensure learning for all, we expect our students to govern themselves accordingly while on campus and at all school events. Every student deserves a safe, disruption-free learning environment.

Academic Excellence and Teacher Quality

The work in the classroom is our core mission. We are putting relevant curriculum, project-based learning, and courses that align with our Michigan Merit Graduation requirements at the forefront of our priorities. To deliver this high-quality instruction, we will be focused on ensuring that our teachers are highly qualified. This means providing them with ongoing professional development, coaching, and meaningful feedback. We plan to achieve this by strengthening our partnership with the Muskegon Intermediate School District and key stakeholders from the Michigan Department of Education.

Taking Ownership: It’s Our Academy

We are not just a building; we are the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy, an institution with the goal of providing high-level learning. That means we expect excellence from ourselves and our students.

It's time for our students to become drivers of their own success. We are rolling out programs to teach them how to:

• Own their academics by understanding assessment targets, how data is used and to celebrate their achievements. Grading Scale & Grading Terms & Due Dates 25-26'
• Step into leadership roles and showcase the greatness we know they have.
• Grab hold of opportunities cultural and academic, that will equip them to thrive when they leave our halls. We are building the bridges; they have to walk across them.

Muskegon Heights, let's look forward. We have the spirit, the talent, and the tradition. It's time to channel that into a legacy of academic achievement. I am here for the long haul, ready to work.

Yes, Muskegon Heights is the place for all students to learn and grow!

Let's do this together.

-Mr. James Evege III

Principal