Brent Crossman - Class of 1998

WELCOME TO BENZIE COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOLS FEATURED FRIDAY ALUMNI. Today we would like to recognize Benzie Central 1988 Alumni, Brent Crossman. Brent graduated from Benzie Central in 1988. As a student, he participated in Football, Basketball, and Baseball. During his Senior year, Benzie made it to the football playoffs for the first time, and he was also on the 1987 basketball team that finished runner-up in the Class C state championship game.
After high school, Brent attended Northwestern Michigan College for two years. In August of 1990, he transferred to Western Michigan University to pursue a degree in education. One of the main reasons he went into education was the impact his teachers and coaches had on him while at Benzie Central.
After graduating in 1993 from Western Michigan University with a History Major and a Social Studies Minor, he accepted a teaching job at Kalamazoo Central High School where he taught in the area of World History. During that time, he also was assistant Varsity girls’ basketball coach at Portage Northern High School.
In 1995, he accepted a teaching position at Charlotte High School, where he and his wife Julie have taught for the last 22 years. While at Charlotte High School, he has coached Freshman baseball, JV girls’ basketball, Varsity girls’ basketball for 9 years, and is currently the 7th grade girls’ basketball coach and head boys and girls golf coach.
In 1999, he earned his Master’s degree in Curriculum from Michigan State University.
Brent is an integral part of Charlotte High School and his community. When he is not in the classroom, or coaching, you will find Brent volunteering and advocating for the American Cancer Society. He is the Relay for Life Advisor for Charlotte Schools and his club has raised over $100,000 for the American Cancer Society since 2004.
In 2015, he was awarded the Excellence in Education Award from the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce for his community work for Charlotte Public Schools.
In 2016, he was selected as teacher of the year for Charlotte Public Schools.
He and his wife Julie and thier two children, Lauren and Elise, have resided in Charlotte since 1996.
As always, like, love and share.....Brent, we are #OneBENZIE proud!

 

 

Dr. Ed Scarbrough - Class of 1982

WELCOME TO BENZIE COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOLS FEATURED FRIDAY ALUMNI. Today we would like to recognize, class of 1982 graduate, Dr. Ed Scarbrough. Take a moment to read and take in Ed's journey. It is an amazing combination of talent, hard work, giving back, family, and it all began at Benzie Central. Congratulations, Ed. We are #OneBENZIE proud and wish you continued happiness and success! As always, like, love and share it!
Ed was the youngest in the graduating class of 1982. He was a student at Benzie Central for all grades kindergarten through 12th, and attended all 4 schools in the district. While a student at Benzie, Ed participated in basketball, track, cross-country, varsity club, National Honor Society and choir. He was the number one runner on the cross-country team and earned conference champion and all-state honors in 1981. He participated in 5 musicals while in school including the lead role of Captain Von Trapp in the Sound of Music. These theatric roles were also important in cultivating his relationship with another 1982 graduate, Sandy Johnson. They are currently enjoying 31 years of wedded bliss.
After graduation, Ed attended Ferris State University to study biological science. He also continued his athletic success and lettered in cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track and field…even scoring a point for his team in the high jump at one invitational. He participated in the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship in 1984. While at Ferris, he was also a member of the Men’s Glee Club and elite men’s vocal octet, The Ferris Wheels. He enjoyed being a dorm resident assistant and serving on his dormitory council.
After 3 years of undergraduate study, Ed moved on to study optometry at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. While there, he also was able to do a little teaching as an associate instructor of Geometric Optics in the School of Optometry. He graduated with honors in 1989 with a Doctor of Optometry degree.
Dr. Scarbrough has been in private practice in Traverse City for over 25 years. He was selected as the Young Optometrist of the Year for the state of Michigan in 1997 and served as President of the local optometric society for several years. He was very happy to have the opportunity to expand his practice and open a second office in Beulah in 2010; opening the door to support many organizations in the Benzie community.
In their spare time, Ed and his wife Sandy, have raised four children. Their children all graduated from Glen Lake Schools, where Ed had the opportunity to coach Pop Warner football, baseball and basketball. He also helped with several musicals, fundraisers, and organized the 8th grade boy’s career day. Now that all of his children have graduated from college, Ed has redirected his loyalty back to Benzie Central where he supports the track and cross-country programs. Ed and Sandy also continue to sing in the Benzie County Community Chorus and are very active in their church.
Ed currently resides in Leelanau County where he enjoys cycling, maple syrup-making, golf and Pickle ball. Be careful as you drive around Benzie County, as one of Ed’s favorite cycling routes is around Crystal Lake. www.scarbroughfamilyeyecare.com

 

 

John Plumstead - Class of 2004

WELCOME TO BENZIE COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOLS FEATURED FRIDAY ALUMNI.
Today, we would like to recognize 2004 alumni, John Plumstead. Take a few moments to read about John's great accomplishments as well as his great advice. John, we ARE #OneBENZIE proud, and always ready to like, love and share.
John graduated from Benzie Central in 2004. After graduation, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. While at West Point, he walked on to the Army Football team and eventually became a starting linebacker and team captain. After graduating from West Point, John became an Army Officer. Working his way through the ranks, Captain John Plumstead has held multiple leadership positions, included being a platoon leader in Afghanistan. John is still an Army Officer, but he is currently attending Graduate School at the University of Idaho, studying sport psychology. Upon graduation, John will return to West Point to teach sport psychology to cadets. John is happily married to his high school sweetheart, Danielle (Moss), and they have four boys (Carson 5, Griffin 4, Wyatt 2, & Chase 8 months).

One piece of advice John wishes he would have received in high school is this: “The world doesn’t care where you’re from. The world doesn’t care who your parents are. The world doesn’t care if you were popular in high school. The world doesn’t care about any of that stuff. The world cares about hard work. The world cares about trustworthiness. The world cares about how you make people feel. The great news, though, is that if you do work hard, and you are a trustworthy person, and you do make the people around you feel loved and respected, you can achieve everything you want to achieve.”

John recently gave a TEDx talk that can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWQmDwLs0pA&t=3s

John and Danielle also document parts of their life on their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/teamplumstead.
Why You're Ready to be a Parent | John Plumstead | TEDxUIdaho
Parenting. Many of us are afraid of the word, concerned that we will make terrible parents. What if you knew you couldn't mess up as a parent? In this light ...

Dr. Michele Siderman - Class of 1986

WELCOME TO BENZIE COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOLS FEATURED FRIDAY ALUMNI. Today, we would like to recognize, from the class of 1986, Michele Siderman.
Congratulations to MIchele, on all of her accomplishments. WE ARE #OneBENZIE proud.

Michele graduated from Benzie Central High School in 1986. As a student at Benzie Central, she participated in basketball, softball, track, National Honor Society, choir & Key Club. Upon graduation, she attended Grand Valley State University where she earned a Bachelor Degree in Social Work in 1990 and was also a scholarship member of the GVSU Women’s Basketball Team. In June of 1990, Michele moved to Yuma, Arizona to pursue a position in social work. Quickly, she realized that her calling was education, which ran in her family, and she took a teaching position at Woodard Junior High School, teaching 7th and 8th grade Math and Science. During this time, Michele also coached girls and boys basketball, as well as, girls’ softball. While at Woodard Junior High School, Michele earned her teaching certificate from Prescott College in the area of Social Studies. In 1993, Michele accepted a teaching and coaching position at Yuma High School, a 9-12 high school with approximately 4,500 students. She spent the next 6 years as a “Criminal” (Yuma High School’s Mascot), where she taught a variety of Social Studies Classes and also coached Varsity Girls Basketball and was an Assistant Varsity Girls Softball Coach. While at Yuma High School, Michele earned her first Masters degree in Education, with an emphasis in Human Relations Counseling from Northern Arizona University. In addition, she added another 30 master credits in Educational Leadership.
In 1998, Michele moved back to Michigan, where she was hired as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Elk Rapids High School. Although she enjoyed her time there, she missed the culture of a large high school, so in 2001 she accepted the Assistant Principal position at East Kentwood High School, in their 10-12 building, with a student population of approximately 2,100 students. She spent 4 years in that position and then moved to the Principal position at East Kentwood Freshman Campus where she still works. East Kentwood Freshman Campus is a 9th grade only building with a student population of approximately 800 students each year. During her time as principal, Michele earned a second Masters of Education degree in Educational Leadership in 2010 from Northern Arizona University and then completed her Ph.D. in K-12 Leadership in December of 2013 from Western Michigan University. Her research focused on the topic of Cyberbullying.
Michele will be retiring from K-12 education at the end of the 2018 school year with 30 years of service. In retirement, Michele will be working at Ferris State University as a Field Representative for their Charter Schools Office. Michele is currently working in this position part-time and hopes to increase her retirement endeavors with Ferris in the future.