JENISON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Vote forSteve Kooy
Principled leadership.
A commitment to serve.
Focused on the needs of our students, families, and community. Guided by faith, conservative principles, and a responsibility to listen.
Meet SteveA nonpartisan office. A self-funded campaign.
WHAT GUIDES ME
Service starts with principles.
I believe a strong community depends on people being willing to give their time in service to others, and serving on the school board is one way to do that.
Experience I bring to the board
- Parent of four Jenison graduates, committed to giving back to the schools that enriched my children’s lives.
- More than 20 years of experience in the furniture industry, including roles at Haworth and Intertek.
- Director of Health and Sustainability at BIFMA, bringing people together around industry standards and working with state, federal, and international governments.
- Past board chair of mindful Materials, a nonprofit working with industry leaders, architects, and government entities.
- A decade of service on two church boards, including several years as head elder and board chair, with experience in collaborative decisions and financial oversight.
- A bachelor’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan, bringing an analytical approach to leadership.
LOOKING AHEAD
My priorities for Jenison
- Safety and respect for everyone. Maintain JPS’ commitment to the safety and respect of all students, teachers, and staff.
- Support Jenison’s strategic plan. Support its five focus areas: Unlock Character Drive Culture, Strengthen Student Learning, Invest in People, Engage the Community, and Cultivate Continuous Improvement.
- Prepare students for multiple paths. Gather input from inside and outside our schools to improve a learning environment that prepares students for higher education, the trades, entrepreneurship, and other opportunities after graduation.
- Help teachers focus on teaching. Work with our administration and teachers to reduce distractions and address the challenges they face, so educators have the support and resources to inspire and educate our students.
01 / THE CAMPAIGN
My Campaign Approach
This is my second time running for school board. I believe a strong community depends on people being willing to give their time in service to others, and serving on the school board is one way to do that.
Principles and accountability
My faith and conservative principles are central to who I am and guide how I approach life and make decisions. Serving others also comes with a responsibility to listen, be honest about where you stand, and remain accountable for your decisions. Those are principles I strive to live by every day, treating people fairly regardless of their political affiliation or whether we agree on every issue.
Serving the whole community
The school board is a nonpartisan position, and I believe it should be approached that way. My focus is on the needs of our students, families, and community, regardless of political affiliation.
A self-funded campaign
I am also self-funding this campaign and am not seeking contributions. That means I answer to the community, not to donors, and I intend to stay accountable to the people I represent—regardless of how they vote.
02 / LEADERSHIP & FAITH
My Beliefs in Government Leadership
Conservative Christian principles are extremely important to me, and I try to live by them every day, including in the decisions I make. I believe that one day I will be held accountable for those decisions, especially when serving in a leadership position, whether at work, on a church board, or on the school board.
Faith and public office
That said, I do not believe public office is meant to impose Christianity on the people it represents. In my lifetime, using government to advance Christianity has become an increasingly popular position among some Christians, but I don't believe this is the example Christ gave us.
Consider the time in which Jesus lived. The Roman Empire was one of the most powerful governments in history. If spreading Christianity through government were the goal, what better opportunity than the Roman Empire and its emperor? Yet Jesus did not pursue that approach. Instead, he chose to reach people individually, including fishermen, religious leaders, and those who were hurting, such as the woman at the well. I don't believe that was a coincidence.
Lessons from history
History also gives us reasons to question the effectiveness of state-enforced religion. Western Europe, once the center of state-supported Christianity, is now one of the most secular regions in the world. We see similar questions about the effects of government-enforced religion in modern-day Iran. I believe faith is much more meaningful when it is freely chosen rather than required by government.
How I will serve
My faith will guide how I serve on the school board, and I will do my part to protect and support policies that align with my beliefs. I will be accountable for the decisions I make, and I believe that responsibility includes listening to people who may not share my beliefs, treating them with respect, and making decisions that serve the students, families, and community I represent.
LET’S CONNECT
Good leadership
starts with listening.
Have a question for Steve? Send an email. Use the button to request a yard sign.