By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – One of four candidates who will be interviewed for the Brandywine Community Schools superintendent position is no stranger to the area.
In fact, John Jarpe, who moved to Niles with his family in 1956, was once a carrier with this newspaper.
"What I remember most, hold dear and cherish the most, are the memories of the pride people in Brandywine have in their schools. There is no Brandywine, Michigan, on the map. Brandywine Community Schools is that community and gives it its unique identity," said Jarpe.
Jarpe, 56, spoke from his Brown Elementary School principal's office in St. Joseph.
He recalled growing up on the eastside of Niles and moving into the family's 17th Street home. He spoke fondly of the old junior high he attended where the post office now stands. He graduated from Niles High School in 1968.
"I began my teaching career in the Detroit area where I met and married my wife, Mary Kay. In 1977, we returned to the area. I spent eight years in Brandywine where I taught as an elementary teacher and was assistant principal from 1986 to 1988," Jarpe said.
The couple raised their children within the Saint Joseph school system and Jarpe said it was a good experience. The Jarpes have two grown daughters. Beth Jarpe-Ratner, 27, and Meghan, 24. Both girls live and work in New York City.
He taught at St. Brigid School in Detroit from 1974 until 1977. Then he taught at Lake Michigan Catholic Schools until 1978 when he moved to the Brandywine Community Schools, where he remained until 1982. While at Brandywine, he taught classes for Merritt and Brandywine Elementary schools.
From 1982 to 1984, he returned to the Lake Michigan Catholic School system to teach middle school English and physical education. He returned to Brandywine in 1986 and accepted a position as assistant principal for Brandywine Elementary.
In 1988, he accepted the position he currently holds as principal at Brown Elementary. Later, he also took on the responsibilities of special education coordinator.
Jarpe has lived and worked in the Saint Joseph area ever since.
Given the current state of school budgets in Michigan, Jarpe believes the legislature and governor have got to come to a meeting of the minds. He feels it can't go on the way it has and stops himself short before saying it can't get any worse.
"It's got to get better. We've suffered through these kinds of executive order cuts before. I remember the meetings and the pink slips. It happened to me. This is a challenge I would like to take on," he said.
With education facing such a difficult time, Jarpe said it will continue to take a great deal of collaboration between staffs and administrations to meet the challenges. Jarpe believes he would be a good person to tackling the job ahead.
"I think part of my decision to seek this position was a desire to give back to the community where I feel I became my best. I would hope to keep that spirit alive. It feels right to be taking this step now. I hope others will see me as the right fit for the job," Jarpe said.
Jarpe is active in his community where he had served as a member of the Council for World Class Communities from 200 to 2004.