There’s a whole lotta love that went into this project. Grand Haven’s Lake Hills Elementary was recently selected as a National Blue Ribbon School, which is a really big deal. So big, in fact, that the story needed to be told in a way that would be remembered, shared, and told by many different vantage points.

As a parent myself, I know firsthand that choosing a school is a daunting task. We all want a place that will foster creativity and encourage learning, with a staff that truly cares about their students. The Grand Haven School District does just that, and local elementary school Lake Hills is doing their part to stand out from the crowd.

This fall, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recognized 349 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2018. The recognition is based on a school’s academic performance, or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

A Labor of Love
We spent an entire day at Lake Hills, filming video, photographing, and interviewing staff and students. Beyond that were countless hours of sorting through content, editing, and putting together a project that we came to love. The result shows a team of educators that truly care about their students, and a group of students that are genuinely excited to be at school.

Lake Hills was one of four elementary schools in the Grand Haven / Spring Lake area that was selected as a National Blue Ribbon School. Principal, Jason Lawson, was also recognized as one of 11 principals throughout the country (and the only one in Michigan) to receive the 2018 Terrel H. Bell award for outstanding leadership.

While the final video was debuted at a school-wide celebration event, we’d like to share the love publicly. Congratulations, Lake Hills Elementary – we had an absolute blast working on this video and showcasing all the awesome things you’re achieving!