Superintendent
Dear East Grand Rapids Community,
I am honored and thrilled to serve the staff and students of East Grand Rapids Public Schools. East is a unique community with high expectations and incredible support for public education.
Our district is eager to continue the work of our strategic plan by focusing on teaching and learning and supporting the whole child. Our students continue to receive numerous awards for their performance in all areas (academic, athletic and the arts). In order to ensure our students are able to learn in an environment that supports them both physically and emotionally, we completed our plan of training all current K-12th staff members in Restorative Practices and implementing a research-based social emotional learning resource in grades K-8th. Having an entire team knowledgeable and dedicated to this important work will continue to have a significant, positive impact on students and their well-being.
Additionally, we are continuing to create project-based learning opportunities with community partners. Industry-partner projects not only give our students real-world experience, but also help them make connections with local organizations right here in West Michigan. We are thankful for our staff and community for partnering alongside us to create this space for students to learn and grow.
Our success would not be possible without our amazing partners: our East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation, whose endowment provides each student an average of $550,000 between kindergarten and graduation; our building PTOs, who support our students and teachers through grants, volunteering, and events; our Board of Education, whose unwavering commitment to the students of this District keeps East as one of the top schools in the nation; and our parents, whose countless hours of volunteering and support for our staff, continue to set EGRPS apart as a true school community.
We are proud to carry on the Tradition of Excellence through our academics, our athletics, our arts, and our community.
Go East!
Heidi S. Kattula, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Our Team
Dr. Heidi S. Kattula, Superintendent
Michelle Kastanek, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Amanda Rickert, District Office Assistant
About the Office of the Superintendent
The Superintendent's Office oversees executive-level functions including the Board of Education, human resources, FOIA, and communications.
Dr. Kattula has an active role in local, state, and national organizations. A few of the organizations Dr. Kattula is involved with and their missions are highlighted below.
Hispanic Center of West Michigan
The Hispanic Center of West Michigan is an organization that serves the West Michigan Latino community by providing language services, workforce development, outreach, and family support services.
Dr. Kattula proudly serves on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Center to elevate the voices of and support our Hispanic community.
IBSOM
IBSOM (International Baccalaureate Schools of Michigan) is an organization that supports the implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme across the state of Michigan. As a board member, Dr. Kattula advocates for all IB programmes (PYP, MYP, CP, DP) and networks on an international level to support the IB methodology in order to develop globally-minded students.
BAMF health
BAMF Health is a Grand Rapids medical organization changing the lives of cancer patients through targeted, specialized, and affordable therapies. Dr. Kattula has collaborated with BAMF Health to bring real-world opportunities and project-based learning experiences in technology and healthcare to EGRPS students and staff.
StoreHouse
StoreHouse is an organization that connects corporate product donations to nonprofits and schools with specific, identified needs.
As a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Kattula is thrilled to be a board member for this organization that supports schools and nonprofits in need.