Principal Seppanen: 'It’s Been a Pleasure, a Challenge, a Joy and an Honor'

Alice Seppanen remembers what it was like when was still under construction – when there was a bulldozer sitting where the cafeteria is now.

She was the principal when the school opened in 2002, and now she's retiring.

Well, sort of.

“I’m not retiring; I’m reinventing," she clarified. "I’m not going to sail off into the sunset.”

Seppanen has spent 35 years in education – all at the middle school level. She taught science for 15 years at Boulan Park Middle School in Troy before taking her first administrative job as assistant principal of what is now Waldon Middle School. She also served as principal there for seven years before being tapped to lead a new middle school in the Lake Orion Community Schools district.

“There were times when I wondered if we were even going to make it,” she said. “It was a really fun and unique time.”

Seppanen, 58, of Rochester Hills pulled together the staff and helped with every detail, including making sure the classrooms had enough desks.

“The day the kids came made it all worthwhile,” she said.

Through the years, she received many accolades for the program, which put a special focus on middle school education. In 2006, Oakview Middle School was selected to participate in Schools to Watch, a national effort that identifies middle schools with high quality standards. That year, the school was one of only three chosen in the state.

The school was designated again in 2010 for keeping children engaged in the classroom and improving the Star program, which is an advisory program for students. The school also was named a Michigan Blue Ribbon school in 2007.

Seppanen credits her success to always putting children first, she said, and making sure the teachers have everything they need to do their job.

“I’ve been blessed with working with so many people who buy into the priorities I’ve had for middle level education,” she said. In addition, she created a culture of collaboration among her staff.

“To me, a staff is like a family,” she said. “You’ve got to know each other, trust each other.”

Seppanen was also honored as Middle School Principal of the Year by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals in 2007.

While Lake Orion Schools faces some tough economic challenges this year, that is not the reason she is leaving, she said.

“I love being the principal, love our kids, love our staff,” she said. “It was just time.”

She will continue to be involved in education as president of the Michigan Association of Middle School Educators and a member of the state committee for Schools to Watch. In addition, she hopes to do some community service and maybe even volunteer in the district.

When her husband, Dennis, retires from his job as principal at Larson Middle School in Troy, they plan to travel and spend more time with their son, Matthew Seppanen, and their two grandchildren near Orlando, FL.

Seppanen knows the last day of school will be tough and was teary-eyed when she saw the video tribute prepared by the school’s Media Production Class.

“It’s been a pleasure, a challenge, a joy and an honor,” she said of her career. “Not everyone gets to do the things I’ve been able to do and afforded the opportunity to do what I know is important to students.”

Meanwhile, John Bernia, assistant principal at Waldon Middle School, has been chosen to replace Seppanen and starts July 1.

“Alice is a legend,” he said. “Any time you have to step in and replace someone like that, it’s a tall order. I’ve got some big shoes to fill.”

As the principal at Oakview, he will lead a school of roughly 570 students and 55 teachers and support staff.

“I’m so excited,” he said. “They have an innovative, really creative staff that does a lot of really exciting stuff. I’m excited to work with them to create a lot of opportunities for kids.”

Due to budget problems, the school has reduced its staff for next year by 5.5 full-time positions. The school also will change from having seven class periods to six and will eliminate some elective courses. 

But Bernia is up for the challenge, he said. A middle school teacher for five years, Bernia served as assistant principal at Oakview before getting the job at Waldon. Bernia, 31, has bachelor’s and master’s degrees and an education specialist certificate from Oakland University. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Oxford.

“I’m so excited this opportunity came up,” he added. “It was the position I was most interested in. A lot of the people that were there before are still there. I’m hoping, in some respects, we can pick up where we left off.”