One community.
One mission.
One Oriole family.
Natalie Grochowski for LASD School Board
WHY I’M RUNNING
Holding Together to Move Forward
There's a lot to celebrate about Ludington. Our kids get to grow up on Lake Michigan, with teachers who come to this area and stay. Our facilities are new or recently renovated. Our staff connects the dots, every day, for our entire community. And our community shows up for us: cheering on our kids as they engage in one of the many extracurricular activities we offer.
LASD is a destination school district. I want to keep it that way.
But the last year has demonstrated deep cracks that threaten its core mission. LASD's mission is to achieve excellence in a positive environment, where motivation and quality instruction ensure learning and equip students for success in society. We owe it to every child to fulfill this mission. That means hitting reset.
In my work in communications, conflict resolution, policy development, and organizational storytelling, I help people think carefully about the future every day. I've helped educators translate vision into action. I've been on crisis communications teams threading the needle during nursing strikes. I know firsthand that when communication breaks down, everyone loses. I also know that trust is not rebuilt overnight. True resets take time, and that's a good thing.
I also understand that no job in education is easy. I was raised by an educator and an educational administrator. I grew up witnessing the different challenges both roles involve. I'm now married to a professor at West Shore Community College, and before opening my own business, I spent several years teaching part-time. More recently I served on the Mason County District Library Board, where I led an overhaul of the director's annual evaluation.
I believe a true reset is possible at LASD. I want to help make that happen.
Let's come together, and hold together, as one community, one mission, and one oriole family.
Natalie Grochowski
WHAT I STAND FOR
Three things I'll bring to the Board.
Listen First to Understand
Before casting a vote, my goal is to understand the full picture. This means listening to students, teachers, administrators, parents, and staff. A board member who understands an issue from multiple perspectives is better equipped to serve every part of this community. Listening is where good leadership begins.
Clear Protocols
Real district concerns deserve real traction. That means ensuring the right people are hearing them at the right level, at the right time. When clear protocols are in place and working, issues get resolved before escalating, and trust can be rebuilt.
Accountable Leadership
Good leaders deserve clear expectations, honest feedback, and the support they need to succeed. This applies to district and union leadership alike. When leaders of all kinds are functioning at their best, we have the best chance to fulfill LASD’s mission for every child.
ABOUT ME
Writer, wife, mother, neighbor.
When my kids were young, I stepped away from my career to raise them. During my second pregnancy I wrote my first book, Welcome to Replica Dodge, published by Wayne State University Press. A finalist for the 2020 Next Gen Indie Book Awards, that story is a love letter to rural Michigan and the community I've been proud to call home for sixteen years.
When our son entered kindergarten, I opened my own content and communications business, helping organizations find the right words for complex moments. I currently serve clients in the healthcare and energy sectors. I also recently completed a certificate in conflict resolution through Cornell University and served as a trustee on the Mason County District Library Board.
My husband Joe is the physics and engineering professor at West Shore Community College. Together with our kids we manage two dogs, a tomcat, and a small flock of chickens who are some of the toughest birds I know. Also, I love to run.
