Dear Families,

I hope your child’s school year is off to an amazing start. It has been so fun visiting our schools over the past two weeks. The excitement from our students is contagious.

In this edition of MacGregor’s Message:

• Howell High School teacher earns Fulbright Teacher Exchange Award

• Middle school robotics seeks additional team members

• Learn about the Livingston United Girls Hockey program

• Commitment to school safety

Howell High School teacher Crystal Carder has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright Teacher Exchange for the 2025–26 cycle by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. This incredible honor is awarded to only about 400 teachers and administrators worldwide each year and fosters international collaboration and cultural understanding through education. Ms. Carder, a founding member of the Howell High School Global Scholars Program, will use this opportunity to bring valuable international perspectives and experiences back to Howell. To read more about this incredible experience, please visit https://bit.ly/4oWQwVR. 

Our middle school FIRST Tech Challenge robotics program is looking for additional team members. Robotics is an exceptional program that helps develop future-ready students by providing hands-on learning experiences such as coding, computer-aided design, marketing, and public speaking. All middle school students are invited to the Kickoff Event on Saturday, September 6, at 11:45 a.m. in Parker Commons, where this season’s game challenge will be revealed. To learn more about our middle school robotics program, please visit https://bit.ly/3URtjGW. 

High school girls interested in playing high school varsity hockey are invited to participate in the Livingston United Interest Skate on Sunday, September 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Biggby Coffee Ice Cube in Brighton. This is a great opportunity to learn more about joining Livingston United Girls Varsity Hockey. To learn more, please visit https://bit.ly/3VnccwN. 

With the school year underway, I want to take a moment to reaffirm our commitment to student and staff safety. In recent years, we have made significant physical safety upgrades, including secure vestibules and expanded security camera systems. We have also added School Resource Officers (SROs), implemented a visitor management system, and invested in student mental wellness. When concerns arise, we follow the Michigan K-12 Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (Mi-BTAM) protocol, which helps identify early signs of concerning behavior and ensures students receive the appropriate support or intervention. Trained staff work together to assess each situation, develop a response plan, and connect students with resources. This may include involving mental health professionals or, if necessary, law enforcement. This prevention-focused approach prioritizes care, ensures safety, and fosters a positive school environment. Each of our buildings has a trained Mi-BTAM team ready to respond whenever needed. As a district, we remain steadfast in our commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and welcoming place for every student and staff member.

Please remember that there is no school tomorrow, Friday, August 29, or Monday, September 1, for the Labor Day holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, September 2. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Go Highlanders!

Sincerely,

Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.D

Superintendent

Howell Public Schools