Meet Klooster — the new superintendent at NMC

Courtesy photo At Northern Michigan Christian there will be many new faces with the start of school Ñ including new superintendent Rick Klooster.

MCBAIN — After a year of having an interim superintendent, Northern Michigan Christian School once again has a full-time leader.

Rick Klooster, who most recently served as administrative principal of Chatham Christian Schools in Canada, was chosen to succeed Jim Hofman, who left to work at a Grand Rapids school after four years.

Klooster said Chatham is a rural community, much like McBain.

“They are both farming communities and have simmilar-sized schools,” Klooster said. “I grew up in Grand Rapids and have family there, so it is nice to move closer.”

As an administrative principal in Chatham for 19 years, Klooster had been involved in many challenging situations including a building project and increasing enrollment and funding.

“I was involved in many projects that didn’t make it easy to leave,” he said. “In six years, we experienced 50 percent growth in the school. Although that is a good thing, that brought up challenges in itself. You ask yourself if you should cap enrollment or add more classrooms?”

As for accomplishments at NMC, Klooster hopes to get over financial and enrollment challenges, which he said most schools in the area are experiencing. He also plans to continue to maintain the quality of both academic and athletic programs in the school.

“This is a non-public school that charges tuition, so that in itself is tough when the Michigan economy isn’t the most robust,” Klooster said. “But that is an issue I’ll have to deal with. NMC has a rich history and an incredibly supportive community. I look forward to working with the school and community and build on those strengths.”

Before Chatham Christian Schools, Klooster was principal at the London Christian Elementary School in London, Ontario, and also taught in Lafayette, Ind.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Grand Valley State University and his master’s degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids. Klooster holds teaching credentials in both Michigan and Ontario, has an Ontario Christian School Principal’s Certificate and is a Christian Schools International Certified Administrator.

Klooster and his wife, Jan, live in Cadillac. They have four children. The youngest son is attending college in Canada, two older sons are living in the Grand Rapids area and their first born passed away.

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