John Da Via

It has been my great pleasure to be the principal of Middle School - North since January, 2000. I had begun my L'Anse Creuse teaching career in this same building in September, 1974, where I taught sixth, seventh, and eighth graders English and Social Studies. This was my second teaching position since graduating from the University of Michigan in 1973. In 1983 due to a downturn in the economy and declining enrollment in our district, many of the staff members were involuntarily transferred to different buildings. I moved to Middle School - South, where I continued in the same teaching assignment. I taught only half-days because I had embarked on a second career attending Wayne State University Law School, from which I eventually graduated in 1986, passing the State of Michigan Bar Exam on my first attempt. By that time, however, the downturn in the economy and the district's decline in enrollment had reversed. I was able to transfer to L'Anse Creuse High School in the fall of 1986 to teach English, Social Studies, and coach both boys and girls tennis teams. While I really enjoyed my teaching and coaching career, in 1994, I gained appointment to the position of Associate Principal at L'Anse Creuse Middle School - Central. When an opening for Associate Principal occurred at Middle School - North in 1997, I returned to my first home in the district, and have enjoyed my time here ever since. 

One of the things I enjoy most about returning to MS-N is working with the sons and daughters of some of the same students I worked with when I was teaching here back in the 1970's and 1980's! It really seems at times that I've stepped into a time warp! Also gratifying is that some of the students I've enjoyed working with as students have become teachers in L'Anse Creuse! It is great to compare their efforts as students with their work as teachers.  I couldn't be prouder of them.

If you need to contact me, please use the link to my school e-mail for John Da Via