LeeAnn Stephan was born and raised in Traverse City. Though she has lived and worked in multiple areas around the state of Michigan, Northern Michigan has always been her home.
LeeAnn earned her Bachelors from Michigan State with majors in elementary education and special education. She minored in psychology and political science. She obtained her Masters from Grand Valley and her Ed. Specialist from Central Michigan; both in Educational Leadership.
Prior to accepting the position as Mesick Jr./Sr. High Principal, LeeAnn taught special education for ten years, one at the high school level and nine at the middle school level. She moved into administration and spent nine years as an elementary principal and two years working at the district level.
LeeAnn believes that while success looks different for everyone, with the right structures and supports all students can be successful. The foundation of a strong school begins with relationships. Positive relationships between adults and students foster an environment where students strive to reach their potential. A well rounded education includes academic learning, a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to explore a wide variety of interests (such as music, arts, sports, technology, the trades, etc.). The use of data helps us to determine the greatest areas of need so that we can continue to put in place new structures and adjust others resulting in better outcomes for students.