Dee Callander
Dee Callander’s commitment to the Communities In Schools model, precedes almost all of us---she participated in the City of Kalamazoo’s Blue Ribbon Committee to explore whether CIS would be a good model for the City-School District partnership to improve the academic success of the community’s children. Dee is a product of Kalamazoo Public Schools, a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School. We could probably refer to her as a “PK”---but rather than it standing for Preacher’s Kid, it would be “Principal’s Kid”. Dee’s father was both a KPS Administrator and subsequently a member of the School Board so she has a “genetic pre-disposition” to KPS. As is common with Preacher’s Kids, Dee may have needed to remind her dad periodically that expecting her to always be the perfect role model for other kids just wasn’t possible. KPS students could not have a stronger, more well-informed ally than Dee Callander. She never forgets what it’s like to be a kid and naturally incorporates that into all that she does as an Administrator of Student Services---she avoids making the problems of adults the problems of the students she serves.
Dee is a problem-solver---low-key, matter-of-fact, pragmatic and most of all student-centered. Her reinforcement comes not from the accolades from adults but from knowing that her actions have improved the circumstances of one young person at a time. Day-in, day-out, year-after-year, Dee Callander can be counted on to figure out how to make things work with children in mind she is a champion for the whole child and the KCIS model of integrated student support services.
Congratulations, Dee Callander, on your 2008 Champ Award!