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Vote Eric John Roberts for Kenowa Hills School Board by Nov. 3, 2026!
"I'm Eric John Roberts and I'm running for the School Board to deliver Accountability, Belonging, and Community for Kenowa Hills.
Eric John Roberts is a 2016 graduate of Kenowa Hills High School. That same year, he was elected as the youngest-ever and first out LGBTQ+ elected official to serve on the Kenowa Hills Board of Education. He served on the School Board from 2017 to 2022.
Eric John has been a substitute teacher for over 6 years during his time studying Public & Nonprofit Administration at Grand Valley State University and now studying law at The University of Toledo College of Law. He has been published in legal journals on disability and education rights and hopes to pursue a legal role in public service.
Eric John currently owns and operates two small businesses in West Michigan.
In 2021, Eric John received the President's Award of Recognition from the Michigan Association of School Boards for over 2000+ hours of training dedicated to becoming a better school board member.
"It has been an honor to fight for Kenowa Hills kids, and to work with this community to improve outcomes for our young people."
Eric John has more school board training than any Kenowa Hills School Board Member in history, has worked inside our schools as a substitute teacher, and has created jobs and opportunity through his two West Michigan small businesses.
Eric John Roberts is ready to deliver for Kenowa Hills families on Day One.
"At the onset of COVID, I led the effort to partner with Sprint and provide at-home WiFi to every child in our District. In 2020, I spent more than 300 hours delivering food to Kenowa Hills families."
Accountability.
Belonging.
Community.
The building blocks for a stronger Kenowa Hills.
Kenowa Hills is better when more Knights are heard.
It's why I voted for 2 student seats on the School Board so students could directly communicate concerns. It's why I supported Student Climate Surveys and supported efforts to collect more data from our kids and community about our District. It's why I supported exit interviews to hear from our graduating seniors, both of their triumphs and challenges at Kenowa Hills, and how we might best support the next generation of Knights.
And it's why I led the charge for recorded public meetings.
As a School Board Member, I will fight for more community involvement in setting the future of Kenowa Hills. I will always strive to provide every child with a high-quality education based on their own needs.
The Kenowa Hills mission statement is "Every Student, Every Day." I will fight to see that this is more than a mantra, that it is truly a daily practice at Kenowa Hills.
Accountability.
> Record School Board Meetings.
On October 25, 2021, the Kenowa Hills School Board voted 7-0 to support livestreaming and recording all future school board meetings. They still have not started recording meetings.
I wrote this resolution and, unfortunately, after I left the School Board in 2022, my colleagues abandoned this effort entirely.
This is greatly disappointing and a disservice to the KHPS community. Former Superintendent Hopkins spun a tale that it would cost $50,000 to record meetings and that the Board would have to permanently select one room to have future meetings. This, of course, was a convenient lie.
I will fight to make sure that the actions of the Kenowa Hills School Board align with its stated values. It's about Accountability, Belonging, and Community.
Voting YES: Melissa Courtade, Jeff Gustinis, Tracey Hart, Erin LaBotz, Danielle Roberts, Eric John Szczepaniak (now "Eric John Roberts"), and Stan Truskoski
"WHEREAS, the Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education values public input; and
WHEREAS, the Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education recognizes that streaming meetings significantly increases the visibility of the Board and the ability for the public to view decisions and deliberation of their elected officials;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education requests that the Superintendent prepare, no later than January 13, 2022, a plan and pricing for the Board to consider for perpetual streaming of the meetings of the Board of Education;
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education requests that a policy be developed for perpetual streaming of all open sessions of the Board of Education."
> Annual financial disclosures for School Board Members and Superintendent.
Community members deserve to know that their tax dollars are supporting the public's interests.
In 2025, the City of Grand Rapids passed its "Conflicts of Interest, Ethics, and Financial Disclosure Policy" (click here for a copy of that policy) that requires the City's elected officials, spouses, and some leadership staff to disclose their employment, organizational roles, assets, liabilities, and any financial interest they hold in private companies that contract with the City.
Kenowa Hills should do the same.
This would make fellow school board members and the community more informed and able to readily enforce existing conflict of interest laws. By law, school board members in Michigan cannot speak or vote on any items where someone in their household has a financial interest.
Financial disclosures are a minimum expectation for transparency that protects the public.
Belonging.
> Focus on building relationships and a positive school culture.
"Every student deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” – Rita Pierson
The health and well-being of all Knights should be a top priority for our entire District. By working together, we can ensure that students have trusted adults who care for them and fellow students who recognize that we each bring with us unique gifts.
As a school board member, I advocated for Student Climate Surveys, student seats on the school board, and senior exit interviews to hear directly from students about how we can improve their time at Kenowa Hills.
With your help, we can continue to build meaningful relationships that last and empathetic Knights that want to make their communities a more welcoming place.
> Expand educational and recreational opportunities.
Strong school communities can make a world of difference in the lives of our kids and graduates.
From designing schools with more play space to assisting KHHS seniors in job planning or getting scholarships for higher education, it is essential that we pour into each Knight.
We should take advantage of every opportunity to expand what is available to our kids.
At the onset of COVID, I led the charge to bring at-home WiFi to 100% of Kenowa Hills families. As a team, Kenowa Hills recognized the importance of connecting with our kids every day and providing some sense of normalcy to them in an uncertain time.
I have spent over 2000 hours learning from other districts and school board members about pioneering new ways to reach our kids. I will always meet with anyone to discuss how best we can serve our Knights.
Community.
> Open applications to the public for KHPS committees with seats for students and community members.
As a school board member, I was proud to vote to establish 2 student seats on the Board of Education.
However, it is clear that this alone is insufficient to listen and learn from our students and community.
I will advocate for open applications and specific seats for students and community members on all Kenowa Hills Strategic Planning groups, Bond Committees, and the Sexual Education Advisory Boards.
I will fight for these meetings to be public, posted, and subject to the Open Meetings Act so that interested community members can have a say in the direction of the District.
I will fight for conflict of interest checks for members of these groups to ensure that special interests are not running the show at Kenowa Hills.
For too long, Kenowa Hills has allowed a select few to influence the direction of the District.
When I was a School Board Member, former Superintendent Hopkins refused to inform the School Board of who was on the Bond Committee. This is shameful, and I called it out in real time when he did.
The Bond Committee membership was kept secret, along with hiring committees, and salaries of public officials, resulting in several school board members filing Freedom of Information Act requests to get access to public information withheld from them.
Not anymore. The Board of Education must demand a more inclusive set of KH committees with members representing all parts of the Kenowa Hills community. Let's get it done.
> Support educational outcomes and the classrooms that support them.
Our first priority should be to build lifelong learners of every Knight. By building resilient kids, we set them on a path to face new challenges and positively impact their lives and the lives of others.
Getting kids and teachers the resources they need to build positive learning communities is essential.
I was proud to fight for free breakfast and lunch programs for our students that have now been adopted across Michigan.
To best reach our kids, we must make sure that our educators have the resources to do their best work for our students. I am proud to have voted to increase pay starting teachers at Kenowa Hills. I will work to increase outreach to teachers to hear how we can best support the classroom.
As a community, let's build up our kids and teachers whenever possible so they can make a positive impact on the Kenowa Hills community and beyond.
10+
Years of Board
& Nonprofit Service
Eric John Roberts has spent over a decade dedicated to strengthening this community & Michigan. He first joined the Board of Western Little League at age 16 as the umpire-in-chief. He has spent the past 8 years volunteering with the Michigan Center for Civic Education to promote civil dialogue to strengthen communities.
Here is a snapshot of his nonprofit and government board experience:
- Board Member, Michigan Center for Civic Education (2019-present)
- School Board Member, Kenowa Hills Public Schools (2017 to 2022)
- Umpire-In-Chief, Western Little League (2014 to 2019)
- Umpire-In-Chief, Northern Little League (2016-2018)
- Umpire-In-Chief, Grandville Little League (2019-2020)
2000+
Hours dedicated to becoming a better School Board Member
Eric John Roberts has completed more professional development than any Kenowa Hills School Board Member in history. He has received the following awards for his commitment to public service:
- President’s Award of Recognition, Jan. 2022
- Master Platinum Award, Jan. 2021
- "35 Under 35" Young Elected Officials Network, May 2020
- Master Diamond Award, Jan. 2020
- Advocacy Skills Certification, Jan. 2020
- Master Boardmember Award, Jan. 2019
- Award of Distinction, Jan. 2019
- Data Skills Certification, Jan. 2019
- Award of Merit, Jan. 2018
- Certified Boardmember Award, Jan. 2018
300+
Hours feeding KH families during COVID school closures
During COVID, Kenowa Hills outfitted its bus routes and came together to feed families in our community. Eric John Roberts spent over 300 hours volunteering on these bus routes feeding families.
Eric John Roberts also led the effort to provide all Kenowa Hills students with at-home WiFi access during COVID school closures.
"Home WiFi was a critical part of Kenowa Hills's efforts to connect with students each day. COVID brought with it a ton of insecurity. This helped us reach all our Knights and provide them a sense of normalcy."
Eric John Roberts founded and operates two LLCs in West Michigan.
One business chiefly fundraises for local nonprofits and the other provides quality umpires for baseball and softball games across the region.
As a small business owner, he knows the importance of good accounting and budgeting. Working each year with over 100+ contractors, Eric John Roberts communicates openly and holds high expectations for his staff. He'll bring these same skills back to the Kenowa Hills School Board if elected.
2 time
Small business owner
Eric John Roberts owns a small business that operates a charity poker room in Comstock Park, MI.
This small business partners with charities to fundraise and further their missions. They have worked with athletic boosters, VFW chapters, and educational nonprofits to strengthen West Michigan.
$500,000+
Raised for local charities
Eric John Roberts, a 2016 graduate of Kenowa Hills, was shaped by the educators and community that poured into him as a student.
During his time as a School Board Member, Eric John voted to raise starting teacher pay, created 2 student seats so the Board could hear directly from students, and ensured that every Knight had WiFi access at home during COVID closures.
"I am so grateful for my time as a Knight. This community taught me about hard work and sticking up for others. Educators and mentors helped me chart my own course. I wish the same for every child.
I am running for the School Board determined to bring my community along with me. Together, we can build intentional relationships that grow our Knights into successful young adults who contribute to this community and beyond."
1 grateful Knight
If using Venmo to donate, avoid fees by selecting "Friends and Family." You must also provide your home address and, if over $100, your employer and work address. Enter this in the contact form at the bottom of this website.
Endorsements
Melissa Courtade
School Board Member & Past President
Kenowa Hills Public Schools
Brooke Davis
(Ret.) Kenowa Hills Mental Health Director and Social Worker
Kristi Menzel
Former School Board Member
Kenowa Hills Public Schools
Milinda Ysasi
City Commissioner
City of Grand Rapids
Rick Stockhill
School Board Member & Vice President
Kent City Community Schools
Adriana Almanza
Candidate for GRCC Board of Trustees
Ivan Diaz
Former Kent County Commissioner
Rima Mohammad
School Board Member
Ann Arbor Public Schools
Kesha Hamilton
School Board Member
Jackson Public Schools
Charlie Fulbright
School Board Member
Battle Creek Public Schools
Susan Estep
Former School Board Member,
Saline Area Schools
Shawn Washington
Former School Board Member,
Baldwin Community Schools
Austin Marsman
Former School Board Member, Martin Public Schools
Chair, Young Democrats of Michigan
If using Venmo to donate, avoid fees by selecting "Friends and Family." You must also provide your home address and, if over $100, your employer and work address. Enter this in the contact form at the bottom of this website.
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