By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES-Education is in his blood. Thomas Palmer, one of four candidates for the Brandywine superintendent's job, said both his parents were educators.
"In looking for a job, the first thing we as parents look for is a community in which we want our own children to go to school," Palmer said.
The Niles Daily Star caught up with Palmer at his Fremont home over the weekend. Courtney, 5, snuggled up on Dad's lap during the interview. Palmer has been married to wife Annemarie since 1991 and the couple have two other children, Timmy, 13, and Tommy, 11.
"We chose this as the time to make the next career move as we didn't want to have to make the move after Tim is in high school. It helps that the Brandywine Community Schools district looks like a great place to live," Palmer said.
Palmer has a master's degree in educational administration and continues his studies toward his certificate as a specialist of educational administration. He received his bachelor's in 1990, graduating from Central Michigan University.
"I am a big believer in curriculum and like the idea of taking an individual student or a group of students to that point where they really understand the work. A school has to cater to a vast array of student learners. To do that, teachers have to be made comfortable with teaching to both the upper and lower achievement level of student, not just those in the middle," he said.
Administratively, Palmer has been the principal at Fremont High School since 2002. While there, he has implemented a school improvement team process in the building and supervised special education programs and services.
He provides direction and support for a system of continuous curriculum development including alignment of state content standards and benchmarks, instructional delivery and assessment Palmer also served high school principal at Bad Axe from 1998 to 2001 when he took over the directorship of the daily operations for both the junior and high school buildings.
Following his masters graduation, he served as both assistant principal and athletic director at Escanaba High School for one year.
"Our jobs as educators, at one time, was simply to prepare students academically for either college or entry into the work force. Today we have to deal more and more with teaching moral values like respect for self and others. Kids need a personal connection in school, not just an educational one," Palmer said.
He said that it is impossible for some kids to get down to learning when they are carrying so much baggage. Baggage that relates to home, peer pressure and sometimes even jobs needed just to get the clothes and books they need to attend classes.
"In this manner, every employee of the district has to take on some of the responsibility. Teaching staff, secretaries, maintenance staff, all who come in contact with our kids are responsible to give the proper advice and discipline as needed. It is important that the community be part of the school," Palmer said.