Superintendent's Office

A note from the Superintendent

My name is Ethan Ebenstein and I am both proud and excited to be the new superintendent of Ionia County Intermediate School District. I wanted to take a moment and share a little bit about myself and my past experiences.

My Work History

For the past ten years, I have served as superintendent of Comstock Park Public Schools, a suburban district located just north of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Prior to coming to Comstock Park in 2008, I served as superintendent of White Cloud Public Schools, a rural district in Newaygo County. I am also a proud graduate of White Cloud High School as is my wife Julie.

I worked in many capacities as a teacher and administrator prior to becoming a superintendent. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Aquinas College, I worked as an elementary teacher in both traditional and multi-age formats across several grade levels. After obtaining a Masters in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University, I served as an assistant junior high principal and then as an elementary principal. I also had opportunities to serve and lead on many committees involving curriculum, discipline, and school improvement; and even briefly coached varsity basketball. Each position in my educational career has presented its own unique challenges and rich rewards.

My Personal Life

On a personal level, my wife Julie and I have been married for 23 years but have been together for 30 years since we started dating in high school. We have two sons, Logan and Trevor. Logan is going to be a sophomore at Grand Rapids Community College this Fall where he is focusing on a career in accounting. Trevor will be a junior in high school this year and he is planning to work one day in the field of mechatronics. Julie has a passion and gift for working for older adults and is currently a fitness instructor for senior citizens. We are a close-knit family and love to spend time together.

Looking Forward

Being a superintendent has its challenges as one may imagine, but it has also brought many opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of children and adults. In addition to the activities directly related to school administration, I have been blessed to be able to serve on numerous community committees and organizations that share similar beliefs with a focus on improving the lives of community members.

I am excited to join Ionia County ISD. I believe strongly in servant leadership and look forward to working with everyone to meet the needs and improve the lives of the students and communities we serve together!