KTC CORE PROGRAM

 Michael Spagnuolo

Hello, my name is Michael Spagnuolo (Span-yo-lo), and I love being a teacher! I am passionate about teaching the fundamental career and employability skills necessary for success!  KTC CORE is a place where students can feel safe, learn a wide variety of vocational skills and soft skills, and increase their confidence and independence. I believe that being positive is contagious and it promotes the proper learning environment for success. 

I’ve had the honor of working with students in special education throughout Kent County for over fifteen years. My mission is to improve the lives of every student I’m privileged to work with. Before creating KTC CORE, I was a Work Based Learning Facilitator at Kent Transition Center (Region 1 and 2).  Previously, I started the R1TS #1 Transition Program at Rockford Public Schools, and started my career as a Child Care Worker at Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) for ten years (KEC Beltline & KVO).

Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is where I obtained my Special Education degree with endorsements in Emotional Impairment, Cognitive Impairment and Elementary Education. I am currently pursuing my Master’s Degree at GVSU in Special Education Administration; being a lifelong learner allows me to implement best practices in my program. I completed my student teaching experiences at GRPS, Northview Public Schools, Forest Hills Public Schools, and Caledonia Community Schools.

My wife, Melanie, and I have two sons, Dominic, and Isaiah and we love spending time with family.  In my spare time, I enjoy yard work, cooking, reading, traveling, woodworking, many outdoor activities and working on projects around the house. For additional information, you can view my  LinkedIn Page.

 Megan MacNaughton 

As an educator who is passionate about seeing students succeed, I have had the privilege of teaching vocational skills for over seven years. Beginning with Grand Rapids Public Schools, I have coached in the Project SEARCH school-to-work program, Kent Vocational Options, and the downtown Grand Rapids job training program at First Place. Currently I work for Kent Transition Center as a CTE Specialist for KTC CORE West located at Visser Family YMCA in Grandville. At CORE West, I especially enjoy seeing students’ vocational and personal growth!

A musician by training, I also teach piano and have served as a Director of Music on the East coast and in the Midwest. With my husband, Roger, I own the recording studio, Acoustic Arts Music where projects have included recording and producing nine award-winning instrumental CDs, providing the music underscore for a film documentary, producing an audio CD for the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden Grand Opening, and providing the closing score for the Dec. 2013 CBS holiday episode of “CSI.”

I love gardening and sewing, have two grown children, Drew and Eric, and am the proud parent to a very spoiled, but affectionate cat, Boo Radley!

Lori Dulak

Hello! My name is Lori Dulak. This is my first year teaching at KTC CORE. I am very excited to be part of the CORE team and helping students learn the needed skills to be prepared for life beyond high school.

I have over eighteen years of teaching experience working with students with learning differences. I have taught in North Carolina, Texas, and Michigan. Working with students in the area of transition has always been my area of passion. I love helping students achieve to their highest potential and ability.

I graduated from Purdue University with a K-12 Special Education degree in Learning Disabilities and Cognitive Impairments. I later earned my Masters of Education degree from Grand Valley State University in the area of Learning Disabilities.

My husband Todd and I are very blessed to have four wonderful children, NIck, Caleb, Ryan, and Kate. During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, hiking, reading, being at the lake, and traveling.

  Susan Balas

I was born in Michigan City, Indiana near the lake shore. I grew up in Chesterton Indiana.  I married my High School sweetheart Craig. We were the Prom King and Queen our Senior Year. We have been happily married for 33 years. We have three grown sons, Ryan Devon and Alec.  We also have a wonderful daughter in law Deirdre and one grandson Benson. My husband and I love animals and have adopted two pitbull terriers four years ago whom are the sweetest dogs ever. I have several hobbies and things I love to do…Walking our dogs, exercising, gardening reading and just spending time with our family. I have several years experience working with students with disabilities and I truly love it. I am very excited to be part of Kent ISD, KTC Core. I feel this is such a unique opportunity and I feel very fortunate to be part of all of it.  

Taken from the Student/Parent Handbook:

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

DRESS CODE AND GROOMING:

Personal hygiene and acceptable dress are essential parts of student behavior. In all programs, dress shall not be extreme, exhibitionist or immodest in so much as it is disruptive to the educational process. Students are expected to use good taste, good judgment, discretion and modesty in their personal appearance. In all program areas, the usual occupational dress requirements will guide the dress code. Students who are inappropriately dressed will be referred to the main office and may be asked to wear a lab coat or coveralls for the day if they are unable to acquire appropriate clothing.

• Footwear: Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. Bedroom/household slippers are not acceptable. Most programs at KTC require closed-toe shoes (no sandals) for health and safety reasons.
• Shorts/skirts: Shorts and skirts (jeans or khakis) must be of an appropriate length. They must be of at least fingertip length at the shortest part with the waistband at the waistline. Many programs at KTC prohibit skirts and shorts for safety reasons.
• See-through clothing: Bare midriffs, exposed cleavage, cut-out dresses, tank tops, muscle shirts, halter (bare back) tops, spaghetti straps, and bare shoulder styles are not permitted.
• Pants: Pants (jeans or khakis) are to be pulled up at the waist and not worn below the waist or sagging at any time. Undergarments, shorts, navels and buttocks should not be seen.
• Clothing with writing or attached symbols that are obscene, libelous, suggestive or illegal to students is not permitted.
• Clothing that represents or implies gang affiliation is not permitted.
• Personal hair grooming, dress and/or accessories shall be of a style, which will not jeopardize the health or safety of any individual.

For more information about the MFB YMCA, Mary Free Bed YMCA Website.
For more information about the Visser Family YMCA, Visser Family YMCA website.