Bangor Township Schools is the second largest district in the Bay-Arenac ISD, serving close to 2,700 students. Superintendent Matt Schmidt was named the
2025 Michigan Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators. In the announcement, the MASA credited Schmidt with leading an era of “unprecedented growth and academic success, with a focus on closing achievement gaps, enhancing school culture, and expanding opportunities for all students.”
Before coming to Bangor schools in 2013, Schmidt was a middle school and high school teacher as well as a middle school principal.
Route Bay City spoke with Schmidt to learn about what’s happening in the district for students and staff.
QUESTION: What’s going well for your district?
ANSWER: Bangor Township Schools has continued to create a supportive and inclusive environment for students and families. Our community partnerships and teaching practices have resulted in increased enrollment and engagement across academics and extracurriculars. The community approved the
2023 bond and our schools are getting updates and upgrades to create better learning environments for all. Additionally, our focus on mental health services and personalized learning plans has been met with positive feedback from students and parents.
We are so grateful to have such an amazing community that values the investment in our students, staff, and families.
Q: What challenges do you anticipate the district facing in 2025?
A: In 2025, challenges such as continued recovery from pandemic-related learning losses, recruitment and retention of staff, and adapting to changing funding landscapes are at the front of our minds. Additionally, addressing the needs of an increasingly diverse student population and ensuring equity for all students will require strategic planning, communication, analysis, and collaboration.
![]()
Graphic courtesy of Bangor Township SchoolsQ: How will you make the most of the district’s assets? How will the district address the challenges?
To maximize our assets, we will:
● Leverage community partnerships to support student programs and staff development.
● Utilize data-driven strategies to allocate resources effectively and prioritize areas such as literacy and STEM initiatives.
● Continue to create and build a culture of collaboration and trust among students, staff, and families to build strong relationships.
To address challenges, the district plans to:
● Expand targeted intervention programs for struggling learners.
● Strengthen staff retention strategies by focusing on professional development, competitive benefits, and fostering a positive work culture.
● Advocate for equitable state funding to ensure all students have access to quality education.
Q: Are we starting to see test scores turn around? What is the district doing to help students gain ground, especially since the pandemic ended?
Yes, we are starting to see positive trends, particularly in early literacy, thanks to strategic interventions.
Our efforts include:
● Implementing evidence-based reading programs.
● Providing additional support through instructional coaches at the elementary level and MTSS (
Multi-Tiered System of Supports) for secondary schools.
● Creating after-school programs to offer extra support to students, along with snacks and transportation home after the help.
● Summer programs to address learning gaps.
● Partnering with families to extend literacy practices into the home environment. We have started “Parent University,” a program designed to better support our families and provide tools to help their students inside and outside of the classroom.
Q: Recruitment and retention of staff has been a highly-publicized issue for schools across Michigan. What is Bangor Township doing to recruit and retain staff?
We’ve taken several steps to recruit and retain high-quality staff:
● Partnering with local colleges and universities to create pipelines for new teachers.
● Offering competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages.
● Providing mentorship programs that include three tiers for new staff to ensure a smooth transition and professional growth. The tiers are: Mentor Teacher, Building Coach, and Principal.
● Creating a collaborative and inclusive work culture to retain existing staff.
● Recognizing staff contributions through awards and celebrations, reinforcing a sense of value and belonging.
Q: Recently, the state created programs such as Michigan Reconnect and the Community College Guarantee to help people earn degrees beyond high school. How does Bangor Township Schools plan to help students take advantage of these opportunities?
A: The district is committed to making sure students are aware of and prepared for these programs by:
● Partnering with local community colleges to provide dual enrollment and Early Middle College opportunities.
● Offering career counseling to align students’ interests with educational pathways.
● Hosting workshops and parent information nights to explain the benefits of programs like Dual Enrollment, Early Middle College, and overall study habits and mental health informational meetings.
● Working closely with businesses and higher education institutions to develop career and technical education (CTE) programs that lead to high-demand careers.
We celebrate all student paths through our “Enroll, Enlist, Employ” signing days. We offer a trades class to sophomores, and many of our juniors and seniors attend classes at the
Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center. We also offer online electives with hundreds of options so students can explore potential careers before they even leave high school.
Q: What is one thing you wish the community understood about public schools? What do the public schools need from the community?
I wish the community understood that public schools are more than just institutions for academic learning. They are vital community hubs that foster growth, creativity, and citizenship. Our community has supported us so well, and continues to see the value in investing in our students. We are beyond grateful for the support and love they give our #BobcatNation.
Public schools need the community to:
● Advocate for equitable funding and resources at the state level.
● Volunteer and participate in school programs to strengthen the bond between schools and families.
● Celebrate the successes of our students and staff, recognizing the effort it takes to maintain excellence in public education.
● Understand that every student has a story and a life outside of the classroom. We do our best to support everyone, and hope that students and families will take the extra time to talk to someone they don’t know well, and learn their story. We are all one community and are stronger when we work together.