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Spahn recently named superintendent in Chassell

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Steve Spahn, seen in his office Tuesday, became Chassell Township Schools’ new superintendent in July.

CHASSELL — A longtime Chassell Township Schools educator has made the leap to the district’s top position.

Spahn was hired as the new superintendent and principal at Chassell Township Schools in May. He had served on an interim basis in December, replacing Howard Parmentier, who took a job in Manistique.

Spahn’s involvement with the district began in 1995, when he began teaching. He also coached boys varsity basketball for 20 years and girls varsity for five years. He spent 10 years as athletic director.

A Chassell native, Spahn had studied both teaching and engineering in college. Engineering won out at first, with Spahn taking jobs in the Chicago and Owosso areas prior to moving back to the area to work at U.P. Engineers & Architects.

Even in high school, he had enjoyed tutoring children, he said. Before teaching, he had started coaching at the school.

“You’re teaching in that gym there, there’s a lot of learning that goes on,” he said. “So it was kind of an easy transition for me to finally become a teacher in the classroom.”

While he was athletic director, Spahn worked closely with the principal and superintendent. As he learned about their jobs, he saw the kind of impact administrators could have in the district. When he continued his college education to maintain his teaching certificate, he decided to follow an administrative path.

Compared to teaching, where he mostly dealt only with students, the new position has more responsibilities and a wider range of contacts, Spahn said.

“There’s just a lot more people involved that I need to communicate with — other administrators, and other districts,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed it so far.”

Spahn said his top priority will be maintaining the quality of education in the district.

“I feel we have an excellent educational tradition here,” he said. “And I just want to do what I can to maintain that, and also do whatever I can to help us grow, provide more opportunities for students.”

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