We’re continuing our Alumni Spotlight series, and this week we’re featuring Mike Fehr!
Mike attended Reading K-8 and Northern Heights High School 9-12. Some of his favorite memories were looking forward to Play Day each year and getting to work at the Reading Post Office. But what he valued most were the friendships and mentors he gained from older students and community members.
After attending Butler Community College for their ag program, Mike came back home to continue working on the family farm with his dad and uncle. This is where he grew up, and it’s where he eventually wanted to raise his family.
Today, Mike is raising his girls here and says one of the things he values most about our community is the way people look out for one another. He loves raising his girls in a place where hard work, agriculture, family, and helping your neighbors still matter.
When asked why a strong school matters, Mike said:
“A strong school means a strong community.”
He also talked about the lasting impact his teachers and school leaders had on him. Mr. Butler and Mr. Crawford are two educators who still cross his mind today, and some of the things they taught him are things he still uses to this day.
“Kids aren’t just a number.”
For Mike, getting to watch his girls learn and grow in a smaller community like the one he grew up in is what it’s all about.
When asked about the future of USD 251, Mike talked about the need for more community and school pride. He believes investing in our students and our facilities is important to keeping our district strong for many, many years. He also believes bringing all of our students together in one location is an important first step.
As a dad, safety is another important piece for Mike. Having our students in an established community closer to police, fire and EMS is important to him — hopefully something we never need, but something that is important to have close by.
And really, his answer came back to the same thing over and over:
Our kids.
That’s why we wanted to share these stories. Our alumni have experienced our schools in different ways, but they all have a perspective on what makes USD 251 important to them and what they hope to see for the future.
Thank you, Mike, for sharing your story and for continuing to invest in the community you grew up in!
Strong schools. Strong community. Strong future.
