Hi, my name is Cyndi Casemier.
I am a candidate for a seat on the Grand Haven Area Public Schools (GHAPS) board of education.
We need your help to continue building a stronger GHAPS for all.
Web based donations may be made by clicking on my image to the right. Otherwise, feel free to contact us at cyndicasemier@gmail.com for information on how to make a donation or donate by mail sending a check made out to “Cyndi Casemier for School Board Member” to this address:
PO Box 41, Grand Haven, MI 49417
Click on my image to help elect me to our GHAPS School Board. Thank you.
Who is Cyndi Casemier?
I’m a mom of a blended family–three biological kids and three step kids. I’m also a grandmother to two. Three of the six attended either Grand Haven Public or Christian Schools. All of the kids hold high school and college degrees. Each of them played sports and participated in clubs and the Arts. It was a busy time. As you can imagine, with six kids there were six different learning styles. I have been an advocate for each of my children at various times throughout their school years, helping them navigate our educational systems. That is why I decided to serve on the Vermont School Board of Education. And now I’d like to serve the community that I have called home for 51 years.
I grew up in Grand Haven. My family roots run deep in West Michigan. My parents and grandparents owned grocery stores and pharmacies for three generations. Casemiers’ are small business owners and love serving our community. I own C2C Gallery, located for more than 10 years in downtown Grand Haven and now an online business. Each generation has been involved in the Chamber of Commerce, our churches, and other organizations.
When I was a student at Grand Haven, I participated in the student government, DECA, sang in the school choirs, attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp for several years, and traveled with Body II, a church youth choir around the midwest. Working for the family business when I was young instilled a strong work ethic in me. After my dad closed his pharmacy, I went to work for Jack Reichardt at his downtown store. After college, I worked in area banks and loved helping customers with their finances. Later, I became a stockbroker and enjoyed always having new information to digest. It was living in Vermont that reminded me of my love for the Arts. I served on the board of a non-profit Arts organization for 7 years. During that time I was elected and served as a school board member for 6 years. I learned a lot about the management of schools, the different views of the community regarding education, contract negotiations, and the challenges of our students. While serving on these two very different boards, I learned that having a business background with creative skills helps a board make long term, fiscally sound decisions. One project that I am particularly proud of is developing a literacy program that helped all students become better readers. We ran this pilot program in one elementary school before expanding it across the supervisory union. Grouping the students by reading levels instead of by grade level increased their literacy skills annually. It is my belief if our students have adequate reading skills, they can be lifelong learners in an ever changing world.
C2C gallery hosted a local musician to perform live music and offered exhibit space to a regional artist monthly for 10 years. By doing this, we offered free community events and supported local artists. Beginning May of 2011 through 2019, we hosted a high school arts exhibit. We hung paintings, drawings, and prints in the downtown storefront windows, displayed ceramics and jewelry in the C2C exhibit space. This exhibit culminated with an evening recognizing the strongest high school artists for that year with parents and teachers. During the ArtWalk years, we worked with the GHAPS administration to bring every fourth grade student downtown to view the art entries, do a group project related to their curriculum, be outside, and have a non-traditional learning day. It was always a lot of fun. Another project that I have worked on is the banner program in our shopping district. Once every three years, I work with the school’s art teachers. We ask the students to create and submit a piece of artwork with a specific theme. We receive anywhere from 30-70 entries. From these entries, we select 8 pieces of art that will be re-created into banners. These banners hang from the downtown lampposts for the summer months.
I am proud of our community. Our schools have a variety of excellent programs. Our businesses are involved in supporting the schools and other programs that keep us connected. I will continue to be a link between local businesses and our schools because I believe this kind of community service helps Grand Haven to continue to be a wonderful place to raise families and retire here.
Thank you.
