Zeeland Public Schools has hired a new staffer to help oversee the high school campus: Jim Kitchen.
The district operates two high schools — Zeeland East and Zeeland West — with separate buildings, staff and student bodies. They do, however, share a campus and some programming. The buildings are located at 3390 100th Ave. (West) and 3333 96th Ave. (East) along Riley Street, with a connected drive between them.
“This role supports the unique structure of our campus, where two buildings and shared programs come together to serve students well,” Superintendent Rod Hetherton wrote in a statement.
Kitchen previously spent 15 years in a variety of roles at Swartz Creek Community Schools. He was a teacher, principal, deputy superintendent and, most recently, interim superintendent — accepting the latter role in June 2025 after Hetherton left Swartz Creek to become superintendent at ZPS.
Kitchen announced his departure from Swartz Creek in December, but didn’t specify his next steps, only saying his new chapter would allow him to work more closely with students again.
“That connection — the daily relationships, the learning, the growth, the moments that shape lives has always been my ‘why,’” the post read.
Kitchen will join Hetherton during an upcoming Community Coffee Chat running 8:30-10 a.m. Feb. 6. at Frank’s Restaurant in Zeeland.
Learn more at zps.org.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: ZPS announces another transfer from Swartz Creek. Here’s who
Reporting by Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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