by Clyde Whitaker

Talk about longevity! Recently I ran into Mike DeMint and his wife Norma at our local McDonald’s. Since I had not seen Mike for a while, I asked him how he was doing. He said he is still working with the school; this is his 56th year of serving the school in one capacity or another!

I thought to myself, “Talk about a story that rings of dedication and commitment.” I asked Mike, and he agreed to let me write about him in this month’s newspaper column.

I started by having him send me some information via email. Wow! Mike sent me so much information, I can barely scratch the surface in the space of this column when it comes to listing all of his accomplishments and responsibilities. But here goes.

Mike started teaching classes at Stockbridge High School in 1970. These included general science; seventh-grade health; K-5 traveling physical education at Katz, Smith, and Howlett schools; middle school shop; along with seventh and eighth grade physical education.

And I’m just getting warmed up!

Other classes he taught were biology and science along with weight training and conditioning class. This year, he manages the fifth and sixth grade STEM class. And don’t forget he was a drivers’ education teacher for 35 years! 

But there’s still more. Mike was class adviser for numerous classes; the Class of 1976 stands out in his memory because Mike was their adviser from seventh grade through graduation. The Class of 1976 just happened to be the first class to graduate from the Clinton Street address.

Coaching you ask? Coaching positions included football, boys basketball and girls varsity basketball. Mike was the first coach to have a winning season for the girls varsity basketball—plus league and district champs! He was selected as the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Coach of the Year in 1982/83. You can add baseball and cross country coaching to his impressive resume as well.

Transportation director also was in Mike’s title for seven years. He was energy manager for 10 years, saving the district more than $2.5 million that didn’t have to be sent to Consumers Energy. Wow! In addition, he acquired a large amount of rebate funds for the district during renovations at the Jr./Sr. High School, Smith Elementary and Heritage School.

I was was attending Stockbridge High as a senior in 1973, and I remember Mike—or rather, “Mr. DeMint”—as a great guy to talk with, full of energy.

Mike was honored by the Class of 2025 as the guest speaker at graduation. He sent me a copy of the four-page speech. It was very impressive, but due to space constraints here, I can only share a snippet—but it’s a good snippet.

Mike shared that he had been asked the question, “Why do you still teach and serve the Stockbridge Schools and not retire?” Mike’s response was that it was not a job, but a calling. A calling he felt God has placed on his heart. Mike’s wish for the Class of 2025 was for each of them to pursue their own calling.

Mike’s wife, Norma Ann Ketterman, was from Valparaiso, Indiana. They met at Olivet Nazarene University and were married on June 6, 1970. They have two children, Shaun and Timothy, and four grandchildren, Jaxon, Canon, Landyn and Kelsey.

I would call this a life well lived!

All photos provided by Mike DeMint.

Clyde Whitaker is a 1973 Stockbridge graduate. He and his wife, Mary, raised four children in Stockbridge, and they still reside in the Stockbridge area.