Amanda asked for his help in a science class she was student teaching, and he was eager to assist. Science was a focus of his college studies, and he always felt the desire to serve others. He soon found joy in helping students through their challenges.
“Being in that science class, helping Amanda, was kind of the final push toward who I wanted to work with,” Meisel said. “Some students need extra support, and that really resonated with me.”
The pair attended Eastern Michigan University and moved to Indiana to find teaching jobs after finishing college. Tyler was then able to secure a long-term substitute position at North Saginaw, which prompted a move back to Michigan and Amanda joined him at the school shortly after. Tyler taught middle school science for five years before becoming the K-2 dean. After five years, he then became the middle school dean for two years before accepting the role of principal.
“There's a period of time that some of the students here at North Saginaw only had a dean that was named Meisel, because at some point I was the K-2 dean and then my wife was the dean of 3-5, and then I got the same kids when I made the move to dean of middle school. So, it was a really cool experience to be able to kind of watch the kids develop.”
Meisel takes great pride in his commitment to North Saginaw and the quality staff dedicated to educating the scholars there. He hopes to maintain a stabile environment for both students and staff, so they feel comfortable coming to school each day.
“I think it's a point of pride. So even if they haven't had me as a boss, they know me and they know my moral compass, and I think that has helped with the sense of consistency.”
Meisel knows the importance of making a connection with students while they’re at school, and his aim is for them to know they’re cared for by each staff member throughout their time at North Saginaw.
“I just really want them to leave here knowing they were cared for by a group of individuals that really worked together to ensure they had the best experiences possible and were truly cared for.”
Quick facts:
- Meisel, at age 37, has already hired two of his former students, one as a paraprofessional, and the other as a third-grade teacher.
- An avid tinkerer, Meisel made a heater for his pool this summer out of some copper pipes and a bonfire pit.
- He loves woodworking and is currently building a wooden canoe from scratch inside his house.
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About North Saginaw Charter Academy
North Saginaw Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Saginaw, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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