John Jarpe, 67, credits his precocious 6-year-old grandson for helping him to realize it was time to retire from his 10-year position as Brandywine Community Schools Superintendent.

Jarpe’s grandson, Benjamin, kept asking his grandpa when he would retire and spend more time with him.

“I said ‘you’re only 6 years old. How do you know about retirement?’” Jarpe said.

But after 43 years serving in education, Jarpe said, the time was right. Still, it was not an easy decision, he said.

Jarpe’s last day is June 30, after which he will have a lot more time to spend with Benjamin and his other grandchildren, who live nearby.

Jarpe announced his retirement in May last year. Current Merritt Elementary School Principal Karen Weimer was selected to take his place.

Jarpe’s passion for the profession could be seen in his student interaction. When he was not in his office, Jarpe could be spotted reading a book to children during class time. After so many years of this practice, the book became more of a prop, rarely glanced at.

And when students get
recognition in the their local paper, they could expect a clipping of the article and a handwritten note from Jarpe congratulating them.    

Like many great educators, Jarpe discovered a passion for the profession in none other than the classroom.

During a 1972 spring break trip to San Francisco as an undergraduate, Jarpe volunteered his time teaching for the Free School Movement, which offered class to children who were seeking an alternative to public school. Through the experience, Jarpe said he realized he wanted to be a teacher.

“I thought, ‘boy, I kind of like this connecting with kids,’” Jarpe said.  “The kids were so energized and … excited about learning. Whatever I did for a career, I realized that I wanted to make a difference. I though maybe education is the way to do that.”

At the time, Jarpe was studying history at the University of Michigan, but  he said his career path had been undetermined until that trip.

Jarpe began his education profession as a substitute teacher in Detroit. During the day he taught and at night he worked on master’s degree in teaching from Wayne State University. Jarpe would also earn a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Michigan University. 

Jarpe’s career at Brandywine started in 1978 as a teacher, and later he served as an assistant principal for Brandywine Elementary beginning in 1986. He also served as an administrator for the St. Joseph Public Schools for 19 years before returning to Brandywine to take the superintendent job in 2007.

Looking back on 10 years as superintendent, Jarpe said one of the things of which he is most proud is the partnership formed between Brandywine Community Schools and Lake Michigan College.

That partnership started about five years ago, when Bertrand Crossing Leader Barbara Craig and former college president Bob Harrison visited Brandywine to discuss offering free early college classes to students. LMC classes can now be attended on the Brandywine High School campus and at the LMC Bertrand Crossing Campus, 1905 Foundation Drive, Niles.

In the last five years, a number of Brandywine students have graduated with college credit in addition to their high school diploma. This year, 15 juniors and 20 seniors were enrolled in the LMC courses. Some students were able to take enough courses to earn an associate’s degree and their high school diploma.

Jarpe said he is also proud of helping to select a group of teachers and administrators who care deeply about their students.

“It boils down to caring about kids,” Jarpe said. “If you have somebody who genuinely cares about kids and cares about improving them and can relate to them, then … the mastery of the curriculum can fall into place.”

This was especially important in a district where more students began facing poverty in the past 10 years, Jarpe said.

From 2006 to 2016, the number of students on free and reduced lunch jumped from 45 percent to 63 percent of the student body — an 18 percent jump over 10 years.

For these students, there are additional challenges to academic success.

“The [students’] parents might not have the time or the resources to provide for the kids, so the school has to help fill that gap,” Jarpe said.

Another school resource is helping to find students ways to pay for higher education. Jarpe credited the school district’s counselors and principals for helping students to track down and obtain a number of scholarships.

Last week, the school hosted its annual honors assembly, where more than $500,000 in scholarship awards was distributed to students.

While counselors are available to students throughout the year, they also meet with parents to show them how to complete FAFSA forms.

For Brandywine Community Schools, more positive change is on the horizon. The school proposed building new tennis courts and a community center earlier this year. Jarpe said these plans are expected to continue. 

In his retirement years, Jarpe said he plans to keep ties with the education industry and hopes to potentially teach a college course or two.

Reflecting on 43 years in the education field, Jarpe offered this advice to future school leaders:

“Enjoy every day,” Jarpe said. “It has got to be a fun profession. There are a lot of headaches. There are heartaches — things that will break your heart. Just know that everything you do has the potential of making the difference for a life of a child.”