Pete Battey for Kentwood Public Schools Board of Education
About Pete
I am proud to be a graduate of public education and especially proud to represent Kentwood Public Schools. I grew up in Kentwood and attended Hamilton, Crestwood, and East Kentwood, graduating in 1994. Throughout my K-12 life, I was an active member of various academic programs including policy debate, We the People, forensics, theatre, mock trial, and more. I am forever grateful for these experiences - curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular - and the opportunities to develop my own pathways and for the meaningful interaction with the teachers and coaches along the way. Teachers and coaches including Deb Snow, Evans DeVries, Colleen Flynn, John Young, and more were transformative in my learning journey.
After high school, I graduated from Iowa State University, my parents’ alma mater, and returned to Kentwood in 1998 with an engineering job at Steelcase. I have continued in a variety of roles at Steelcase.
Upon returning in 1998, I coached various Kentwood academic teams, including debate, mock trial, and We the People. I first ran for school board in 2010 because I wanted to ensure that all KPS students had access to the same excellent academic opportunities that I did. I remain committed to re-imagining and ensuring these programs exist for all students.
My Family
Getting to Know Us
I am married to Ellen Zwarensteyn, another graduate of KPS who is currently the Executive Director for the Michigan Center for Civic Education, having previously taught at EKHS. MCCE is the non-profit organization responsible for high school mock trial, We the People , Project Citizen, and more in Michigan. She also serves on a variety of boards working towards inclusion for all people and providing more academic opportunities for all.
We both believe in the power the school system has to provide opportunities for students to practice real-world skills that are necessary for a healthy, thriving democracy. Our experiences in KPS demonstrate this. While growing up, we didn't realize how special these opportunities were, programs provided by KPS. We now know how special it is to have immersive academic opportunities including policy debate and We the People.
We have 2 sons, Leo and Wally, that are in 4th grade and Kindergarten at Explorer elementary. We also have our family dog, Bhaga. Both of our children have various forms of hearing loss. Leo is Deaf and has cochlear implants; Wally has moderate hearing loss and wears hearing aids. We are grateful to the special services offered not only to our children but all children in Kentwood Public Schools. We believe in advocating for all students, inclusive of those with special needs.
Leo loves playing baseball in the Kentwood Baseball League and Wally enjoys cheering on his brother! In light of our children's hearing needs, what we love about Kentwood is reflected in Leo's baseball team. When Leo plays in the Kentwood Baseball League, he is just like every other kid on the team because of our community’s commitment to belonging. That is what I hope to continue to develop and foster.
Kentwood is our home. Ellen and I have set down deep roots in this community and there is nowhere we would rather live and raise our family together.
We love to work in our community and try to travel when we can. Our family enjoys going to the beach, Meijer Gardens, playing in our backyard, and, when we can, go to Disney World! We believe in travel as a way to learn more about one's self, cultures, and connections to each.
When time permits, I also love to play board games, golf, and read.
We love the diversity of our community and the way we feel welcome in it and work on welcoming all to Kentwood.
My Personal Mission:
To seek to build a world that is diverse, healthy, just, equitable, sustainable, and joyful. Success will require that we unleash the power of self-actualized people on a global scale.
Let's get to work!
My Personal Mission:
To build a world that is diverse, healthy, just, equitable, sustainable, and joyful.
Success will require that we unleash the power of self-actualized people on a global scale.
Let's get to work!