Administrative Team

Steve States - Principal

I’m Steve States, and it is my honor to serve as the principal at Grand River Academy. I started in Education in 1999 and have been in the school district for 25 years. I have been a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and central office leader. I have a BS in Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, a BS in Biology, Teaching Certification, and an MA in Educational Leadership.  I like to fish, hike, camp, read, scale model, garden, and spend time with my family in my spare time. I love the work I do because I am able to support students and staff so that they can be successful.  I take this responsibility seriously, and I feel that providing our students with a nurturing, safe, and rigorous learning environment is the most important thing we can do for them. 

Grand River Academy focuses on the needs of the whole child.  We know that learning won’t take place if students don’t feel safe and like they belong in the school environment (even online).  Relationships with students are key to making sure students feel this way.  Our teachers work hard to build and nurture relationships with their students. That may be through our advisory classes, where students work on social and emotional learning (SEL) as well as get academic advising in grades 6-12.  It could be the work our elementary teachers do around SEL and integrating that into their everyday work with students. It could be one-on-one meetings with students.  We have many ways to connect with our students.  When we have those relationships, we can get to the business of the rigorous learning that we know you want for your child.

Grand River Academy stands out for its unique learning opportunities. We offer the flexibility of 100% online learning or blended learning, allowing families to choose the mode that best suits their child’s educational needs. We take pride in delivering a positive online learning experience for both students and their families.  We encourage you to explore our website and other resources to determine if Grand River Academy is right for your family
 

Alicia Wuster - Assistant Principal

My name is Alicia Wuster and I am so pleased to be the new assistant principal at Grand River Academy. This will be my 21st year in education. Prior to becoming an administrator I was a Spanish teacher. I have a BA/E in Spanish and Education and I have a MA in Educational Leadership. I love to spend my free time camping and hiking. I also love to read, crochet, grow plants, and spend time with my husband, our dogs, and our combined 5 children whenever we can. My favorite part of being an educator is helping students grow in their academics as well as supporting them and their families to become productive, contributing members of our community. It's so fun to watch our students mature and reach their potential.

Grand River is a unique place to learn and grow for students. We are designed to meet students where they are in their academic and social and emotional needs. Our different options for learning give students and their families flexibility to prioritize school along with the other demands of life. While most of the students’ learning takes place at home utilizing our online curriculum; we are proud to offer both blended and virtual options. These options consist of a well-rounded experience including highly qualified teacher taught classes, access to a wide array of services and supports, opportunities to participate in hands-on activities, field trips, and events.

At Grand River Academy we emphasize the importance of relationships as an essential component to a student's success. Our staff wants our students to have a sense of belonging and connection--especially because so many of our students report feeling disconnected in a traditional school setting. We specifically set goals for students' feelings of emotional safety and a sense of belonging within our learning community. We consistently receive feedback from students and their families that our efforts are successful. Grand River Academy is a great choice for families seeking an alternative option for educating their children - we hope you’ll consider joining our amazing school!