In her first school year as Montague High School principal, Christy Thommen has learned some things.
One thing keeps the proud Montague native and alumna going each day.
“Coffee … kidding … sort of,” she quipped before getting serious. “What keeps me going is the thought that each day I have the chance to make at least one person’s day a little better. Sometimes that ripple is all someone needs to push them to the next level. We often don’t realize the power we have to make little things happen that can have a great impact.”
Montague Area Public Schools superintendent Jeff Johnson believes the district is in good hands with Thommen and Nellie B. Chisholm (NBC) Middle School principal Jim Perreault in their respective roles.
Perreault, 49, is in the 10th year of his position. The Muskegon native and 1993 Reeths-Puffer alumnus is a Montague resident, who has held positions across the board in the work force, including those as a waiter, in retail, and at a steel foundry.
Perreault was drawn to education because of “making a difference with kids and helping them to grow beyond what they thought they could do,” and he’s been in the profession for 25 years. He’s also served as a teacher.
“I really enjoy working with students and staff to implement new programs or procedures that have an impact on the learning of our students,” he said. “I really enjoy making NBC a place that kids feel safe, supported, and cared for.”
Perreault attended Western Michigan University, where he earned his teaching degree in 1999 and master’s in educational leadership in 2004. He and his wife have three sons.
He was a teacher at Reeths-Puffer Schools for the first five years at McMillan Elementary School and the next 10 years as a sixth-grade science and language arts teacher at Reeths-Puffer Intermediate School.
Thommen, 45, is a 1996 alumnus of Montague. She earned an associate’s degree from Muskegon Community College in 1998, a bachelor’s degree from Hope College in 2000, and her master’s degree from Calvin College in 2006.
“From the time I was in second grade, I knew I was going to be a teacher,” she said. “I always loved helping others learn and was especially drawn to literature in high school and the needs of all students.”
Thommen has worked as a special education teacher and spent time in general education. She worked at Walkerville Public Schools for 11 years in the middle school and high school. She worked primarily in special education but also taught English 8 and English 11 in addition to varying electives.
Thommen arrived at MAPS in 2012 as an elementary special education teacher before she spent two years as Director of Student Services, then transitioning to her current role. She’s been in education for 23 years, also including roles as substitute teacher and student council advisor.
“I am proud of the leadership demonstrated by Christy Thommen in her first year as high school principal,” Jeff Johnson said. “Her dedication to create a positive culture within our community is truly commendable. Her efforts are creating an environment where students, staff, and community members alike feel valued, supported, and inspired to do great things.”
Montague has always felt like “home” to Thommen. She and husband Jim Thommen have three sons in the district: Jimmy (17), Fletcher (15), and Van (13).
Christy Thommen said that Montague is a caring community, where the small-town atmosphere combined with kind people and genuine family feel create a “very cozy and comfortable place to be.”
“I am inspired by this place, these students, this community. (She’s inspired by) meeting people where they are at and encouraging them to be a little bit better each day,” Thommen said. “Most people really are good, and that is all the inspiration I need to make an impact.”
Away from NBC Middle School, Perreault enjoys golfing, woodworking, and skiing.
At school, what drives him is making connections with students and seeing them grow over the three years they attend NBC Middle School.
“Jim continues to provide an outstanding effort in driving positive academic growth within our district,” Johnson said. “His dedication to the growth and development of our students provides an impact that extends far beyond the walls of our middle school.”
Perreault’s advice to educators that he’s mentoring is to work to ensure that the relationships with students are at the center of what one does.
As for advice to students, it comes down to the Golden Rule.
“Treat others as you would like to be treated,” he said. “We have many students who are very different from each other. Everyone deserves the respect that you would like for yourself.”
Photos courtesy of Montague Area Public Schools
In her role as principal, Thommen has learned the importance of balance and prioritization. Her email inbox is never empty.
Connecting with students each day and helping them to “practice life” in a safe place, along with working alongside an “amazing staff,” are rewarding aspects of her position.
“MHS is a safe place where it’s OK to fail forward,” Thommen said. “I would encourage (students) to try new things, step out of their comfort zones, and see what sticks.
“(In mentoring educators, she encourages them to) spend time at the beginning of each year laying the foundation for positive relationships and expectations. A strong foundation often makes the tough moments much more bearable.”
