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Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor.
HART — Mark Platt will be the longest-serving superintendent in Hart Public School’s history when he retires at the end of the upcoming 2025-26 school year.
Platt, 59, has led a team of dedicated educators with the cooperation of strong and supportive school boards over the last dozen years to improve the district’s buildings; make major technological advancements; and create successful athletic programs. His calm and steady guidance has drawn enthusiastic community support for the “Pirate Nation” he leads. This year will mark 13 years at the helm of the Pirate ship and 36 years as an educator.
“It’s been a great job. This has never been a ‘me’ thing — right out of the gate we made it a ‘we’ thing,” he said of his staff, school board, community, parents and his own family. “Our goal the first thing was to make people believe that we can. Whether it’s ‘can win,’ such as sports; or ‘we can’ be a leader in technology’ or whether ‘we can’ create a new image and a brand, it just became a ‘we’ thing and ‘can’ was the goal. I feel good about what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
During the darkest times, Platt and his team of educators shined the brightest, he said. The first dark time was during the 2020 school shutdowns due to COVID-19. “We were probably the first in the state to say, ‘We’re coming back.’ We were very open about that and were on YouTube holding live events. I am not disagreeing with the governor (Gretchen Whitmer) — I can’t imagine that was any fun for her. But I felt that the kids needed to be in school. There was a unified front that we needed to have the kids in school. The staff was amazing at how they handled that year. It was an incredibly difficult year for all kinds of people. That very dark moment is one of the moments where we shined the brightest.”
The other dark time came last year when Hart High School Principal Troy Moran died from a heart attack while out on a run. Moran’s shocking death rocked the entire community and especially the Hart school district. “Troy and I had been friends for over 20 years. I just loved the guy. Not only did we lose a colleague, but for some of us, we lost a friend. He was the picture of health.”
His staff and the community came together to pull through the tragedy. “There were things that staff members did — and even surrounding districts reaching out — where even though it was a very dark time, cool things happened. The community drew together — just like during COVID, they drew together during this issue.
“One person I would like to thank is Ken Byard, our current high school principal, who literally quit his career and said to me on the phone the day I found out that Troy had passed, “I will quit my job — I will fill in.’” Byard was also a close friend of Moran’s. I thought he was just going to fill in for six weeks, and here we are, a year plus and he’s still here. I’ve watched him with the kids, and he’s incredible.
“I do believe that Troy would have been a superintendent somewhere.”
There have been many times the Pirates have shined when times were not dark, such as the repeat cross country and track state championships and a first-ever state play-off run for the football team. “There have been so many other things that maybe it wasn’t a state championship, but it was a great season — like when Coach (Travis) Rosema took us to the Breslin Center.” The 2023 girls basketball team appeared in the Final Four. “The stuff that Jen Hlady has done with cheer has been nothing short of phenomenal,” he said of the long-time competitive cheer coach. The success that baseball and softball had this year was awesome. Really, I don’t know of a sport that hasn’t made progress. I’ve really enjoyed watching the success that has happened here. It was a lot of fun watching the community enjoy it.”
Not only have the athletic programs flourished, but so have academics and technology. Platt praises his tech duo Jason Gale and Phil DeBrot for their hard work and innovation. “We have really done a ton of things in tech and we continue to” — such as launching a robotics program and a high school media class, to name a few. A $518,000 grant in 2021 propelled the district higher into the ever-advancing tech world.
“The administrative team I’ve had the pleasure to work with has been great. They bring some unique skill sets. The current (school) board I have is the best board I’ve had.”
He has a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Central Michigan University. He graduated from Orchard View High School in 1984.
After graduating from college in December, he worked as an industrial tool sales representative and a janitor at a church. He then went to work at Oakridge Public Schools the following August. “I started out as an alternative ed teacher.” He worked at Oakridge from 1990-2000. “But I did leave for two years — I followed Vicki (his wife) for her job. So, we moved to the East Coast out by Philadelphia” where Vicki worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative. “We left with two of us and came back with three of us because that’s where (their daughter) Selina was born. I worked at a home for the mentally and physically impaired while out there. When we came back, I was fortunate enough to land back at Oakridge.” He served as a high school teacher and then middle school dean of students during his tenure in Oakridge. He was also on the football coaching staff during the Eagles’ state playoff runs and the 1997 championship.
Platt then went to work in the Mona Shores school district, where he stayed for 13 years. For 12 of those years, he served as the Churchill Elementary School principal. When I was at Shores, I ended up with my kids (daughter Selina and son Braxton) in my building for their entire elementary days. My buddies used to tease me that my kids finished elementary school before I did.”
His daughter is now a mother of two young children — 2-year-old Riley and newborn Madelyn. Platt is looking forward to spending more time with them during his retirement. Both of his parents and mother-in-law are doing well, and he is excited to be able to see them more often, too.
The school leader said one of the most rewarding and enjoyable aspects of his job has been watching former students transform into successful adults. He also enjoys watching his staff members succeed, such as former Spitler Elementary School Principal Amy Taranko who was hired as the assistant superintendent of instructional services at West Shore Educational Service District.
Platt plans to work after retirement, but his plans are not finalized. “I’ve always wanted to have a consulting business,” he said. If he goes that route, he would assist schools with superintendent searches. He also hopes to do some writing. “There is a book that I started that I would like to finish.” He would also like to find a job “working with his hands.”
An avid angler, Platt definitely plans to spend more time fishing. “Right now, my goal is to spend a fair amount of time fishing with my dad.”
He is extremely confident in the “experienced” school board’s ability to find the right successor. “I think they will do a great job.”
Platt and his wife Vicki, who served as Hart’s mayor for two terms and was the 2017 National Asparagus Queen, will stay in Hart during their retirement. “I plan on being a great big Pirate fan for a long time.”
Hart Public Schools superintendents
1942-1948 Maurice Snow
1948-1957 Fred W. H. Hall
1957-1969 Eugene A. Randall
1970-1972 Ellsworth Runyon
1973-1975 Elkin Bruce
1975-1976 Ford Longendyke
1977-1989 Bill McIntosh
1990-1994 Patrick Gaudard
1995-1998 Jacob Helms
1998-2005 Michael F. Koster
2005-2010 Peter C. Moss
2010-2011 Barbara Gowell (interim)
2012 Ron Moag
2012-2013 Barbara Gowell (interim)
2013-present Mark D. Platt
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Hart Public Schools superintendents
1942-1948 Maurice Snow
1948-1957 Fred W. H. Hall
1957-1969 Eugene A. Randall
1970-1972 Ellsworth Runyon
1973-1975 Elkin Bruce
1975-1976 Ford Longendyke
1977-1989 Bill McIntosh
1990-1994 Patrick Gaudard
1995-1998 Jacob Helms
1998-2005 Michael F. Koster
2005-2010 Peter C. Moss
2010-2011 Barbara Gowell (interim)
2012 Ron Moag
2012-2013 Barbara Gowell (interim)
2013-present Mark D. Platt
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