About West Michigan Aviation Academy
Your child has big goals. You want to do whatever you can to help him or her achieve those goals. West Michigan Aviation Academy may have the flight plan you’re looking for. Your child will receive a rigorous academic foundation with an aviation slant to prepare him or her for post-secondary education and careers. Located on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, WMAA is a new aviation-focused charter high school serving students in the Grand Rapids area.
This isn’t just for aspiring pilots. Yes, there’s a strong aviation focus here, but this school is for any student looking for a new, challenging, rewarding way to learn.
As a charter school, we’re completely tuition-free. Students receive a top-of-the-world education from the most qualified teachers in all subjects offered at other high schools, plus an intense focus on aviation, giving them a huge head start.
We will begin accepting applications for the 2012-2013 school year September 6, 2011. Get your application today.
Our Mission
To provide a rigorous educational program, through an aviation focus, preparing students for unlimited opportunities, including college achievement, career success, and engaged citizenship.
WMAA Administration
Patrick J. Cwayna, Sr., CEO
Patrick J. Cwayna, Sr. comes to West Michigan Aviation Academy with nearly 40 years experience as an educator in Michigan. He spent over 20 years as principal of East Grand Rapids High School, which was recognized as an exemplary school by both the Michigan Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education. He helped earn the same distinctions as principal of Brighton High School prior to his time at EGR.
Since leaving his post at East Grand Rapids in 2007, Pat took on the role as Chief Liaison for Presidential Affairs at Grand Rapids Community College, where he then stepped into the position of Vice President for College Relations.
Just prior to joining West Michigan Aviation Academy, Pat served as leadership coach for the Kent Intermediate School District. Pat is passionate about education and excited to bring his experience and expertise to the revolutionary new aviation-focused high school, West Michigan Aviation Academy.
Betsy Lubben, Executive Assistant
Betsy brings years of experience in education and administrative support roles to West Michigan Aviation Academy, making her the perfect choice to be our Administrative Assistant. She owns a degree in elementary education and taught sixth grade until 2002, when she took on some more administrative roles.
Battle Creek Christian Daycare had the pleasure of employing Betsy for three years as daycare director before she moved on to Horizons Developmental Remediation Center as administrative manager.
Betsy’s amazing sense of detail and astonishing organizational skills make sure things get done. She understands education, both as a teacher and administrative assistant, and is looking forward to showcasing those skills with West Michigan Aviation Academy.
Lawrence V. Fisher, Dean of Student Life
Mr. Fisher comes to the West Michigan Aviation Academy after serving as the Director of Guidance at East Grand Rapids High School. Prior to his 19 years at East, Mr. Fisher also worked as a Guidance Counselor for five years at Grand Rapids West Catholic High School and for five years at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory School. Mr. Fisher has over 31 years in education as a Counselor, Teacher and Coach.
Mr. Fisher earned a Masters degree in Guidance and Counseling from Central Michigan University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University. He is proud and active supporter of Central Michigan University where he completed his undergraduate degree in Education with a double major in History and Journalism.
Professional memberships include the Michigan Association of College Admissions Counseling, the National Association of College Admissions Counseling, and in inaugural member of Michigan State University Director of Admissions Advisory Board.
Mr. Fisher is excited to join the energetic staff at the West Michigan Aviation Academy. The combination of veteran experience and youthful enthusiasm at the Academy combined with the new facilities creates a synergy that will make WMAA a great place to serve students.
Ruth Moxon, Dean of Curriculum and Planning
Ms. Moxon graduated with a B.A. from Michigan State University and a Masters in Public Health (in Health Behavior/Health Education) from the University of Michigan. She also pursued doctoral studies in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University. Ms. Moxon served over five years with the Paul Carlson Medical Program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa. She taught in the Detroit Public Schools and (as a substitute teacher) in Grand Rapids Public Schools. Ms. Moxon was a Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator with the Kent County Health Department and worked many years at Kent Intermediate School District, both as a health consultant and as an educational/curriculum consultant. She was instrumental in the development of Kent ISD’s well-regarded Kent County Collaborative Core Curriculum in the Curriculum Crafter online tool that WMAA uses.
Ms. Moxon is delighted to be part of the West Michigan Aviation Academy team. She works with staff on developing and implementing the WMAA curriculum, is involved in various other administrative activities for the school, and serves as WMAA’s liaison to county and state curriculum initiatives. She finds it rewarding to see students who are engaged, learning, and discovering aviation as a real-world application of their course content.
Zay Reynolds, Dean of Academic Affairs
Mrs. Reynolds, a highly skilled and experienced counselor specializing in academic and college counseling, is excited to be at WMAA. Her career as a secondary educator includes teaching, serving as a crisis counselor, grade level counselor, college counselor and as Director of Guidance at East Grand Rapids High School.
Mrs. Reynolds is noted for her work at the National and State level presenting at a wide variety of conferences and seminars about the college admission process. She served a three-year presidential cycle with the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling and on national committees with the National Association for College Admission Counseling. For eleven years she was a faculty member of the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admission, and for three years she was on the national College Board SAT committee. She currently serves as Executive Assistant for the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling.
WMAA Teaching Staff
Ron Baum, Aviation Faculty
Mr. Baum brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our “Introduction to Engineering Principles & Robotics Systems” class and the West Michigan Aviation Academy. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in electricity-electronics and secondary education from Western Michigan University and holds a Master’s degree in counseling from the same school. Mr. Baum represented WMU for three years on their ice hockey team. During his tenure at East Kentwood High School, Mr. Baum developed and taught eleven different courses and wrote books for six of these classes. His robotics course at East Kentwood was one of the first in Michigan and received national attention in a CNN featured broadcast several years ago. Besides his Kentwood experience, he has taught engineering-related classes for several local corporations, Grand Rapids Community College, and is presently an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University in the Movement Science department.
Along with his classroom teaching experience, Mr. Baum was the head varsity hockey coach for thirty-five seasons while at East Kentwood and was one of the founders of the Kentwood Hockey and Skating Association and the Kentwood Ice Arena. He is currently on staff with USA Hockey in their coaching education program and holds a masters coaching certification with this organization. In 2010, Mr. Baum became the ice hockey steering committee head for the Meijer State Games of Michigan and serves on the advisory board of the West Michigan Sports Commission.
His long-time interest in avionics and space were realized when he was offered a teaching position here last spring. He is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and hands-on instructor who believes students learn best through project-based learning and the practical application of theory.
Mr. Baum and his wife, Linda, have three adult children and six grandchildren, all who live in the Grand Rapids area.
Dave Brasser, Science Faculty
Mr. Brasser graduated from Calvin College in 2010. He graduated with degrees in mathematics and physics while also completing the secondary education program. During his studies, Mr. Brasser had the opportunity to teacher aide at Grandville Middle School, student teach at East Grand Rapids High School, and serve as an intern at Achievement First Bushwick Middle School (Brooklyn, NY). He has also had the privilege of tutoring students in addition to his work in schools. In addition to his studies, Mr. Brasser had the privilege of participating in service projects as well as serving as one of the student leaders of Knight Nation, Calvin College’s athletic fan base.
Mr. Brasser is excited to be part of the beginning stages of West Michigan Aviation Academy. He is eager to help shape the science curriculum and get the program up and running. Additionally, Mr. Brasser plans to further his studies in the future, pursuing either a masters or a doctorate in education.
Eric Fey, Math Faculty
Mr. Fey graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with a minor in psychology where he consistently was showcased on the Dean’s List. While at GVSU, Mr. Fey was active in the theatre department and in music outside of the academic setting.
Since graduating, Mr. Fey has been a substitute teacher in multiple school districts in Grand Rapids and is looking forward to bringing a new kind of energy to mathematics, the West Michigan Aviation Academy and their inaugural freshman class.
Peg Howard, English Faculty
Mrs. Howard brings a variety of experiences in education to West Michigan Aviation Academy. Mrs. Howard earned her Bachelor of Arts with honors from Michigan State University and Master’s degree in Educational Technology from Grand Valley State University. As an undergraduate, she spent a year in Japan.
Mrs. Howard served as a classroom teacher for English language arts in seventh through twelfth grades for over ten years. Then Mrs. Howard took her passion for reading and research to the Media Center where she implemented the first K-12 Information Literacy Curriculum at East Grand Rapids Public Schools. After leaving East Grand Rapids Public Schools, Mrs. Howard served as a building and then district-level administrator at Mattawan Consolidated School. Her main responsibility at Mattawan was data-driven school improvement.
Twenty years of experience allows Mrs. Howard to serve several roles at West Michigan Aviation Academy. In addition to teaching 9th grade English language arts, Mrs. Howard will continue to provide leadership in curriculum development, technology integration and assessment and data-analysis. Mrs. Howard regards working at West Michigan Aviation Academy’s inaugural class a once in a lifetime opportunity. She hopes to instill the values of compassion, life-long learning and passion for excellence to her students.
Luanne Koessel, Special Education Teacher Consultant
Mrs. Koessel joins the West Michigan Aviation Academy team after a 35-year teaching career in special education for Wyoming Public Schools. Her years in Wyoming were spent working at all grade levels, K-12, first as a classroom teacher and eventually as a teacher consultant. Mrs. Koessel received her undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University, a continuing certification from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from Grand Valley State University. Mrs. Koessel is a member of the Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan, has served as a department chair for the teacher consultants in Wyoming and has been on numerous committees working to ensure equal access to students with disabilities. Mrs. Koessel has the role of teacher consultant here at WMAA and her goal is to facilitate the progress and success of the students on her caseload. She is excited that WMAA provides the opportunity for all students to attend that may struggle academically, but with hard work and perseverance find that they can soar to new heights. Mrs. Koessel is honored to work alongside the fine WMAA teaching staff who work collaboratively toward the success for all students. Outside of school, Mrs. Koessel enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, and all outdoor activities that occur during the warm months of the year.
Lynn Leiter, English Faculty
Mrs. Leiter joins the West Michigan Aviation Academy Team after teaching English/Language Arts in the East Grand Rapids district for 25 years. During her professional career, she has demonstrated educational leadership by serving as department head, student teacher and new staff mentor, and director of summer school. In addition, Mrs. Leiter has proven to be a teacher leader in the area of technology integration and curriculum development.
Mrs. Leiter will wear several hats at WMAA. She will be one of the English instructors as well as serving in the areas of curriculum development, technology co-ordination, school improvement and assessment. Mrs. Leiter’s goal is to instill in her students an appreciation for life, learning, and laughter through their study of literature and the written word. Mrs. Leiter is excited to bring her leadership, classroom experience and passion for learning to the West Michigan Aviation Academy.
Kelly McCormick, Spanish/English Faculty
Ms. McCormick graduated from Calvin College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in Spanish. While at Calvin, Ms. McCormick was consistently recognized on the Dean’s List, played basketball on the Junior Varsity team, and participated in two living-learning communities focused on diversity and social responsibility.
During her studies, Ms. McCormick had the opportunity to teacher aide at Northpointe Christian High School, student teach at Wyoming Park High School, and volunteer as a tutor for individual students and for Creston High School. Additionally, Ms. McCormick had the opportunity to study in Spain for a semester.
Ms. McCormick is honored to join the staff, students, and families of West Michigan Aviation Academy. She is eager to teach Spanish and English, and is excited to engage students in making connections between aviation and their course work.
Zach Ripley, Social Studies/English Faculty
Mr. Ripley recently graduated Cum Laude from Cornerstone University (Dec. 2010) with a degree in English Secondary Education and History. At Cornerstone, he competed in Cross Country and Track and Field, achieving various Conference, Regional, and National honors.
Immediately after graduating, Mr. Ripley began pursuing work in education, including substitute teaching in various schools throughout the greater Grand Rapids area. During the latter half of the Spring of 2010, he served as a Special Education Paraprofessional at Baldwin Street Middle School where he learned to engage students with a slew of unique and creative educational tools and activities. Mr. Ripley eagerly anticipates blending his passions for music, sports, and technology with that of learning to further the unique educational experience of West Michigan Aviation Academy.
Becky Roberts, PE/Health Faculty
Miss Roberts joins the West Michigan Aviation Academy team from Western Michigan University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Physical Education and Health Education. While earning her degree, Miss Roberts held several leadership positions that were devoted to promoting health and fitness throughout the community. For two years she served as the tournament director for Special Olympics and worked as a personal trainer at West Hills Athletic Club. Miss Roberts also served on the board of Phi Epsilon Kappa, a professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of the education of students in the fields on physical education and health. In addition to her volunteer experiences with WMU, Miss Roberts coached varsity track, cross country, and middle school basketball.
Miss Roberts is extremely eager to bring her passion and knowledge of health and physical education into West Michigan Aviation Academy.
Linda Sadowski, Special Education Teacher Consultant
Mrs. Sadowski is excited to join the WMAA team after a 31 year teaching career in special education. She taught in Jenison, East Grand Rapids, and the last 27 years in Forest Hills as a resource room teacher and teacher consultant. She has worked with all grade levels from K-12. She has also co-taught math and language arts at the middle school level. Mrs. Sadowski received her undergraduate degree from Grand Valley State University and her Masters degree from Western Michigan University. She has served on the Executive Board of Directors for the “Michigan Association of Learning Disabilities Educators” and many committees for improving education. She is trained in the University of Kansas Center for Research, Strategic Instruction Model, (SIM) Learning Strategies. She feels the Learning Strategy Instruction will benefit the students on her caseload, helping them to become more active learners.
She is a volunteer for the West Michigan Therapy Dog Program along with her dog, Misty, at various facilities in the Grand Rapids area and the “Ruff Readers” program at area libraries in the summer.
Mrs. Sadowski feels privileged to work closely with the students, teachers and parents as a teacher consultant ensuring the students have a positive learning experience here at WMAA.
Allison Solis, Spanish Faculty
Señorita Solís joins West Michigan Aviation Academy after earning her degree in education from Grand Valley State University. While at GVSU, Ms. Solís studied Spanish and Geography, and has the frequent flier miles to prove it.
During college, Ms. Solís had the incredible opportunities of spending time in Spain, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and most recently, teaching in a dual-immersion school for 6 months in Costa Rica. Throughout her travels she learned to value cultural differences and take chances with new experiences. She hopes to encourage this same attitude in the students in her Spanish classes.
Ms. Solís is muy emocionada, or, very excited, to be a part of the West Michigan Aviation team. Her students should be prepared to buckle-up in the co-pilot seats as together, they share in adventures going everywhere her class will take them.
Keith Sutherland, Aviation Instructor
Mr. Sutherland is a general aviation enthusiast. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Science from Baylor University. In addition he has an Associate degree in Pilot Technology from Texas State Technical College. Mr. Sutherland comes to West Michigan Aviation Academy with a wide range of aviation experience including flight instruction, cargo and commercial flying.
He will be taking a leadership role in exploring community resources to support the program. In addition, he will work to strengthen the relationship between WMAA and the School of Aviation at Western Michigan University. Mr. Sutherland looks forward to inspiring a passion for aviation and building a program for the future that is unparalleled.
Peter VandenBerg, Science Faculty
Mr. VandenBerg graduated from Calvin College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Science. While at Calvin College, Mr. VandenBerg had multiple valuable opportunities to work with students as well as do science research.
Outside of academic and professional life, Mr. VandenBerg enjoys working on cars and motorcycles as well as going to car shows.
Mr. VandenBerg is excited to be a part of West Michigan Aviation Academy and bring his passion for science and learning to the students as well as the faculty and staff.
Brian Way, Social Studies Faculty
Mr. Way attended Michigan State University for his undergraduate degree and graduated in 2008. He left with a Bachelors of Arts in History with a minor in Geography. Mr. Way was an active member of the Spartan Marching Band for 4 years assuming leadership roles as squad leader and section leader of the alto saxophone section.
After graduation, Mr. Way completed a yearlong internship and a long-term substitute job at Waverly Middle School in Lansing. He hopes to inspire students in a variety of social studies as local, regional, and global citizens.
WMAA Support Staff
Linda Stepanovich, Administrative Assistant
Ms. Stepanovich graduated from East Grand Rapids High School and attended Grand Rapids Community College before moving to Anchorage, Alaska where she spent eleven years working for the First National Bank of Anchorage in the Data Communication Center as an Assistant Supervisor. Ms. Stepanovich then moved back to Michigan where her family settled in Petoskey and owned a small business. She then worked as a Customer Service Specialist for a local printing company in Petoskey and has just recently relocated back to East Grand Rapids.
Ms. Stepanovich is thankful and excited for the opportunity to work with the faculty and students at West Michigan Aviation Academy.
Bob Wise, Property Manager
Mr. Wise will serve as Property Manager of the West Michigan Aviation Academy. He has 20 years of experience at Smith’s Avionics, formerly Lear Sigler Aerospace Division, as a Journeyman Tool Maker. Prior to his position with WMAA, Mr. Wise spent 15 years in Construction and Facility Management for public schools and health care environments in the Grand Rapids area. He will combine all of his experience into his new position with WMAA.
Mr. Wise is proud to be a part of the team and excited to be a part of this “ground-breaking opportunity”.
Martin Grant, Aviation Consultant
Martin Grant has been working in the field of aviation for 32 years. He serves as a Master Faculty Specialist in the College of Aviation at Western Michigan University, teaching both Aircraft Flight Science and Aircraft Maintenance. During his many years at Western he has taught British Airways, Aer Lingus and Arab Emirates cadets as well as students from European countries. He has designed and presented various courses for leading avionics’ manufacturers based in Grand Rapids. Prior arriving at WMU he spent two years in Florida teaching at Flight Safety International. He earned his MA degree in Career and Technical Education. Mr. Grant retired from the Royal Air Force after 22 years, where he worked with the Aircraft Engineering Design and Investigation Teams, providing liaison with civilian companies including BAe and Rolls Royce. He also spent several years on a front line Helicopter Squadron both in the UK and overseas.
He holds qualifications as a FAA A & P mechanic and is a student pilot. His hobbies include sailing, and he is a RYA & ASA qualified Yachtmaster Instructor. He also earned his Coast Guard Captain’s license.
We also encourage you to read the bios of the WMAA board members – they are the governing body of our school.
If you’d like further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.