Manistee Intermediate School District
Helping All Learners Reach Their Full Potential
🌟 Meet the Manistee ISD General Education Team! 🌟
A new school year means new opportunities to learn, collaborate, and support the educators and students in our region. We’re excited to introduce the 2026–27 Manistee ISD General Education Team!
We’re especially excited to welcome Jason Lundin as our new Assistant Superintendent of General Education! Jason joins our team ready to build relationships, support our districts, and help lead the important work of teaching and learning across Manistee County. Welcome, Jason! 👏
Jason is joined by a talented team of professionals, each bringing unique expertise to support our schools:
📚 Kim Rinehart – Gen Ed Coordinator & SEL
🌱 Shannon Fuller – Early Literacy Coach & Coaching Coordinator
📖 Valerie Puffer – Early Literacy Coach
➗ Tom Ouwinga – Math Specialist
🤝 Jim Piwowar – School Attendance Officer/Court Liaison
💻 Devin Wegner – Gen Ed Administrative Assistant
Together, we’re committed to supporting districts, strengthening instruction, facilitating meaningful professional learning, and helping all learners reach their full potential.
We’re looking forward to a great year of collaboration, connection, and continued growth! Here’s to 2026–27! 🎉📚
A new school year means new opportunities to learn, collaborate, and support the educators and students in our region. We’re excited to introduce the 2026–27 Manistee ISD General Education Team!
We’re especially excited to welcome Jason Lundin as our new Assistant Superintendent of General Education! Jason joins our team ready to build relationships, support our districts, and help lead the important work of teaching and learning across Manistee County. Welcome, Jason! 👏
Jason is joined by a talented team of professionals, each bringing unique expertise to support our schools:
📚 Kim Rinehart – Gen Ed Coordinator & SEL
🌱 Shannon Fuller – Early Literacy Coach & Coaching Coordinator
📖 Valerie Puffer – Early Literacy Coach
➗ Tom Ouwinga – Math Specialist
🤝 Jim Piwowar – School Attendance Officer/Court Liaison
💻 Devin Wegner – Gen Ed Administrative Assistant
Together, we’re committed to supporting districts, strengthening instruction, facilitating meaningful professional learning, and helping all learners reach their full potential.
We’re looking forward to a great year of collaboration, connection, and continued growth! Here’s to 2026–27! 🎉📚
🌟 Building Connections Across Manistee County! 🌟
Our MISD team recently had the opportunity to present to GSRP programs throughout Manistee County!
GSRP (Great Start Readiness Program) provides free, high-quality preschool opportunities for eligible Michigan children, helping prepare young learners for success in kindergarten and beyond. 🍎
We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with our county’s early childhood educators, share information and resources, and strengthen collaboration to support children and families from the very beginning of their educational journey. 💙
A special thank you to Becky Biller, Denver Phillips, Kelly Bousson, Natalie Keefer, Taylor Root, Jamey Kistler, and Emily Black for your time, insight, and thoughtful presentations! We appreciate the expertise and energy you brought to this important work. 👏🏼
When we work together, our students and families benefit! 💙
#ManisteeISD #MISD #GSRP #GreatStartReadinessProgram #EarlyChildhoodEducation #EarlyLearning #ManisteeCounty #ProfessionalLearning #TeamMISD #SupportingStudents
💙 Learning, Preparing & Growing Together! 💙
Our MISD team—including teachers, paraeducators, itinerants, and members of our leadership team—recently completed a two-day CPI training!
CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) training provides educators and support staff with strategies for preventing and safely responding to challenging behaviors and crisis situations, while emphasizing dignity, respect, safety, and relationship-building.
This important training helps ensure our team is prepared to support students with confidence, compassion, and consistency when challenging situations arise. 💪🏼
A special thank you to Chris Huizinga and Heather DeFer for delivering such a great—and incredibly important—two-day training! We appreciate the time, knowledge, and expertise you shared with our team. 👏🏼
We’re proud of our staff for continuing to learn, grow, and prepare to provide the best possible support for our students! 🌟
#ManisteeISD #MISD #CPITraining #CrisisPrevention #StudentSupport #SpecialEducation #EducatorTraining #ProfessionalLearning #TeamMISD
A huge thank you to Kris Johnson from the Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center in Manistee for delivering an insightful and impactful Stewards of Children presentation to our team today!
We deeply appreciate Kris sharing such critical child abuse prevention and advocacy strategies with us. Equipping our staff with these tools strengthens our collective ability to protect, support, and advocate for students across all of Manistee County.
Together, we are building a safer community for our youth. 💙
#ChildAbusePrevention #ProtectOurKids #ManisteeCounty #LakeshoreCAC #StewardsOfChildren #CommunitySafety
Welcome back, Manistee ISD team! 🍎✨
As we kick off the 2026–27 school year, we are filled with so much gratitude and excitement for the incredible energy every single one of you brings to our schools and community.
A massive THANK YOU to our amazing local food truck vendors for serving up an absolute feast this morning! 🚚☕🥞 Reconnecting over a delicious breakfast was the perfect way to refuel our spirits, catch up with colleagues, and set a high-energy tone for the year ahead. We are so lucky to have such wonderful community partners supporting our team!
Here’s to another year of empowering students, supporting each other, and making a lasting difference across Manistee County. Let's make 2026–27 our best year yet! 💙💛
#ManisteeISD #BackToSchool2026 #StrongerTogether #CommunityFirst #FuelingEducation #ManisteeProud
School is starting soon! Join us for the second annual Backpack Bash at the Maple Grove Community Center in Kaleva this Saturday. We request that children be present in order to receive a backpack. Rain or shine!
🎬📺 That's a Wrap on Season 3 of Transition News! 📺🎬
Our Older MOCI students are excited to share the third and final edition of Transition News for the 2025–26 school year!
This special broadcast takes a look back at an incredible year filled with learning, growth, new experiences, and memorable moments. From classroom activities and community experiences to special events and achievements, our students have worked hard to bring you a recap of the many highlights that made this year so meaningful.
We are incredibly proud of the confidence, creativity, teamwork, and communication skills our students continue to develop through this project. Thank you to everyone who has watched, encouraged, and supported our student broadcasters throughout the year.
🎥 Be sure to check out the final broadcast and celebrate all they have accomplished!
☀️ Have a wonderful summer, and stay tuned for more Transition News broadcasts during the 2026–27 school year. We can't wait to share what our students have in store next!
#TransitionNews #OlderMOCI #StudentVoices #YearInReview #MISDProud #LearningInAction #HaveAGreatSummer
LINK: https://youtu.be/0-hNo9AoLf4?si=ADtFrafexyFSpM9s
🎨✨ Celebrating Creativity at the 2026 Manistee ISD Student Art Show! ✨🎨
What an incredible showcase of talent, imagination, and self-expression! Our 2026 Manistee ISD Student Art Show featured an amazing collection of artwork created by our students, highlighting their unique perspectives, artistic skills, and creative spirit.
From colorful paintings and detailed drawings to collaborative projects and mixed-media creations, each piece reflected the hard work, individuality, and creativity of the students who made them. We are so proud of the confidence, effort, and artistic growth demonstrated throughout this year's show.
A special thank you to our dedicated staff who encourage, inspire, and support our students every day. Your commitment to helping students explore their creativity and share their talents with others makes opportunities like this possible.
We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended the event. Your presence, encouragement, and appreciation meant so much to our students. Thank you for taking the time to celebrate their accomplishments and support the arts in our schools.
Congratulations to all of our student artists for sharing your talents with the community. Your creativity brightens our schools and inspires us all!
💙🎨 Thank you for making the 2026 Manistee ISD Student Art Show such a wonderful success!
#ManisteeISD #StudentArtShow #StudentArtists #CreativeMinds #CelebratingCreativity #ArtsInEducation #MISDProud #StudentSuccess 🎨✨🖌️💙
🎓 Congratulations to the Manistee ISD Class of 2026! 🎓
Today, we celebrate the accomplishments, growth, and perseverance of our graduates. Each student has worked hard to reach this important milestone, and we could not be prouder of all they have achieved.
Throughout their journey, they have inspired us with their determination, resilience, and unique talents. While we are excited to see what the future holds for each of them, there is no doubt that they will be greatly missed by the teachers, itinerants, support staff, and fellow students who have had the privilege of being part of their educational journey.
As they move on to new opportunities, adventures, and goals, we send them our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for continued success. The impact they have made on our schools and programs will not be forgotten.
💙 Once a part of the Manistee ISD family, always a part of the Manistee ISD family.
Congratulations, graduates! We are proud of you and can't wait to see all that you accomplish in the years ahead.
#MISDGraduates #ClassOf2026 #CongratulationsGraduates #ManisteeISD #FutureReady #ProudToBeMISD 🎓✨💙
🎬 Lights, camera, action! 🎥
Our Older MOCI students are proud to announce the release of their SECOND broadcast production! 🌟
This exciting project continues to give students opportunities to strengthen communication, collaboration, technology, and presentation skills while having FUN and sharing their creativity with others. From behind the camera to in front of the spotlight, every student plays an important role in making these broadcasts come to life!
We are incredibly proud of the confidence, growth, and teamwork our students continue to demonstrate with each new production. 💙
Stay tuned for more amazing broadcasts from our talented students! 📺✨
There was so much excitement recently in Ms. Angela’s Older MOCI classroom as students welcomed several adorable baby chicks into the world! 🐣
Students adopted local eggs and spent the past several weeks learning all about the life cycle of chickens and how baby chicks grow and develop inside their eggs using a classroom incubator. Throughout the process, students carefully monitored the eggs, learned about proper incubation conditions, and even “candled” the eggs to observe the chicks developing inside.
The most exciting part of all was witnessing the chicks hatch right before their eyes — truly a magical experience and an unforgettable hands-on learning opportunity for everyone involved!
This project provided meaningful lessons in science, responsibility, patience, and observation while creating memories our students and staff will cherish for a long time. What an awesome and successful learning experience for Ms. Angela’s classroom! 💛🐥
Students adopted local eggs and spent the past several weeks learning all about the life cycle of chickens and how baby chicks grow and develop inside their eggs using a classroom incubator. Throughout the process, students carefully monitored the eggs, learned about proper incubation conditions, and even “candled” the eggs to observe the chicks developing inside.
The most exciting part of all was witnessing the chicks hatch right before their eyes — truly a magical experience and an unforgettable hands-on learning opportunity for everyone involved!
This project provided meaningful lessons in science, responsibility, patience, and observation while creating memories our students and staff will cherish for a long time. What an awesome and successful learning experience for Ms. Angela’s classroom! 💛🐥
🎨✨ The 2026 MISD Student Art Show is here! ✨🎨
Join us in celebrating the incredible creativity, imagination, and artistic talent of our students at this year’s MISD Student Art Show. Featuring a wide variety of handmade artwork, the exhibit highlights the unique talents of each student while also showcasing the power of collaborative creativity and expression.
From colorful paintings and detailed drawings to mixed media creations and group projects, every piece tells a story and reflects the hard work, individuality, and passion of our student artists.
We are so proud of the creativity our students bring to life and grateful to our educators and families who continue to encourage artistic exploration and self-expression. Come experience the talent, inspiration, and joy that make this event so special each year! 🖌️🎭🖼️
#MISD #StudentArtShow #StudentCreativity #ArtsEducation #ProudToBeMISD
✨ What a wonderful afternoon at the Manistee ISD Prom! ✨
This event is something our students — and staff! — look forward to every single year. It’s always a great afternoon filled with opportunities to dress up, dance, socialize, and celebrate together in a fun and welcoming environment. 💃🕺
A heartfelt thank you to Bear Lake School District for graciously hosting this special event and helping create such a memorable experience for our students. We also want to give a huge shoutout to all of the Bear Lake staff and students who attended the dance and shared in the joy, laughter, music, and fun with our students. Your smiles, energy, and friendship helped make the afternoon truly unforgettable. ❤️
From dancing and smiles to shared moments and new memories, it was a night full of happiness and connection. Great memories were definitely made, and we are so thankful to everyone who helped make this event such a success!
Thanks to everyone who joined us for the Spring Wellness Challenge! Check out a few of the activities submitted!
Big thanks to Packaging Corporation of America in Filer City for hosting our Science Network Group on Monday afternoon for an extensive tour. Teachers were able to make connections and see first hand application of their content and the work done at PCA. We hope this is the first of many field trips to come!
🍎 **Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!** 🍎
This week, we celebrate the incredible educators who show up each day with passion, patience, and purpose—shaping futures one student at a time.
Our teachers do so much more than teach. They inspire confidence, spark curiosity, build relationships, and create spaces where every student can belong and grow. The impact they make reaches far beyond the classroom and lasts a lifetime.
To all of our amazing teachers—thank you for the care you give, the challenges you help students overcome, and the belief you instill in every learner. Our schools—and our community—are stronger because of you.
👏 Drop a comment below to share your appreciation or shout out a teacher who made a difference in your life!!!!
#TeacherAppreciationWeek #ThankATeacher #Gratitude #MakingADifference
We’re proud of our students across the ISD for their hard work and focus during spring state testing! 👏
Your dedication, perseverance, and positive attitudes have not gone unnoticed. Keep giving your best—you’re building skills that will carry you far beyond the classroom.
Thank you to our educators and families for your continued support in helping our students succeed!
Your dedication, perseverance, and positive attitudes have not gone unnoticed. Keep giving your best—you’re building skills that will carry you far beyond the classroom.
Thank you to our educators and families for your continued support in helping our students succeed!
Manistee County Schools- 26/27 School of Choice posting
What an incredible evening at our 1st Annual PATH-way to Adulthood - Planning Ahead for Transition & Hope - Family Resource Night! 🌟
We want to extend a HUGE thank you to all of our amazing community partners who joined us and shared valuable information about the supports and services available to our young adults and their families. Your commitment to building strong pathways beyond high school truly makes a difference.
We are also so grateful to the parents, students, staff, and community members who attended and helped make this event such a success. Your engagement, questions, and support are what make opportunities like this so meaningful.
This is just the beginning—and we’re already looking forward to next year! 💙
It's Kinder Round Up Time! Start to prepare for next school year and don't wait until you see the school bus go by at the beginning of the school year! Our truancy officer, Mr. Piwowar, attends kinder round ups and open houses throughout the schools and has many resources to help with great attendance or any barriers. Click here for some ideas to start to prepare for their educational journey.
