Superintendent
Welcome to Suttons Bay Public Schools, the school district that is small enough to have a family feel, but large enough to offer all of the educational, social, and extra-curricular opportunities to enable our graduates to go on to their life's endeavors with the confidence that they are well prepared. We are proud of our school district and are fortunate in the strong support and commitment of our community. As a result of this support and the talents and dedication of our teaching staff, we are able to provide quality programs for our infants and toddlers who are entering our doors for the first time to our seniors who are leaving in June with a wealth of knowledge and abilities to take on their next challenges with success.
Suttons Bay Public Schools is well known in the area for its strong educational programs, competitive athletic teams with excellent sportsmanship, and dedicated support systems that care for its students and families. We have good parent and community support as evidenced not only by our fine facilities, but also by the constant use of these facilities. On almost any night during the school year, you can find a sporting event, a fine arts program, or an educational learning opportunity filling the halls and rooms of our schools. With each of these events, we find great strength in the parents' involvement in these programs and the support of the community.
The Suttons Bay Public Schools staff members are dedicated in their commitment towards educational excellence and the need for our students to achieve academically. We have worked extensively in the use of technology, enhanced reading programs, and curriculum opportunities that expand the students' areas of skill and need. We use academic test results and other data to monitor student progress, evaluate curriculum and modify instruction to meet student needs and learning styles. This year, Suttons Bay High School will offer courses to the students in Leelanau County through the use of technology. We constantly strive to meet the needs of our students in providing challenging coursework tailored to individual needs. No single measure can capture the full range of student learning and achievement. However, our students consistently score above state and national averages. Approximately 85% of our high school graduates go on to higher education.
Our role in the community is to serve families in helping to raise our children to be happy, healthy, successful adults. Responding to community needs, we have expanded our Montessori program. We have reduced the class size in Kindergarten, and we have added an all day/every day Young Fives program. For those who qualify, we have a Michigan School Readiness Program. We also now have a comprehensive preschool and day care program, meeting the needs of families for a safe, structured, quality environment to care for the very young during the workday.
With a small but diverse population, we feel that we have the advantages a large school can offer, combined with all of the advantages of a small school. I think you'll find that our district is just right. I hope this website is one helpful step in your journey toward getting to know us.
Sincerely,
Michael Murray
murraym@suttonsbay.k12.mi.us
Superintendent of Schools
Suttons Bay Public Schools
