Hart principal happy to be running the Pirate ship

November 14, 2025

Jenna Oleneack, or Principal O as the students call her, took the helm as Spitler Elementary School principal at the start of the school year.

Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

HART — Jenna Oleneack took the helm of Spitler Elementary School right before the start of the school year and leads with enthusiasm and experience.

Principal Oleneack served as the K-12 assistant principal at Pentwater the previous school year. She began her career in education at Greenville Public Schools where she taught special education at the secondary level from 2009 to 2023. “I taught special education for seven years at the middle school and then moved up to the high school where I taught special education for seven years,” she said. “I also served as the work-based learning coordinator at Greenville, and I was department head, so I had multiple different roles there.

“I developed a work-based program that was kind of like co-op, but it was for kids with special needs.” She partnered with 30 businesses in the community. “We had our own driver, and the kids would go out on site. They worked for free, but it was an opportunity for them to learn some employment skills. There were some businesses that opted to hire the kids during the summer.”

The work-based program that Oleneack developed continues to flourish at Greenville.

“From there, I had an opportunity to be a teacher consultant at Rockford. I had an opportunity to work with K-12 school psychologists and worked alongside them on how students are diagnosed with disabilities.”

As a child, Oleneack had always vacationed in Oceana County with her family. After her father, Ron Smith, passed away about two and half years ago, the educator and her husband decided it was time to make the move. “We had a great relationship — he always brought us up here,” she said of her dad. “So we decided, let’s move up here.” That’s when she found the job at Pentwater. “Pentwater was a great opportunity for me — I made a lot of great connections there. I really enjoyed it.”

Oleneack, who grew up in Rockford, personally knows the hardships that some students endure with learning. “I struggled in school — it was hard,” she recalled. “What made me show up every day were the teachers who I had. There were certain teachers who just took the time to invest and help me. That has contributed to perseverance, self confidence and my ability to keep going. I was also involved in athletics, and I had some great coaches.”

Her childhood experiences help her understand and relate to kids who are struggling academically. “I get that coming to school sometimes is hard; I get that it’s not your favorite place, but how can we go about making parts of the day good and building upon that?

“That led me to going into education.”

After graduating from Rockford High School in 2003, she obtained an associate’s degree at Grand Rapids Community College and then went on to Grand Valley State University and obtained her bachelor’s degree in education. In 2010, she gained a master’s degree in learning disabilities. She returned to school last year to gain a certification in school administration.

After Brandon Bruce took over as Hart High School principal, an opening at Spitler arose right before the start of the school year. “I had two days before the teachers started,” she said.

“This is the perfect spot for me, and I have the perfect team here to grow with. It’s been great getting to know the staff; getting to know the students; and getting to know the parents and community members. I jumped into this role with both feet, and everybody has embraced me. Everybody has really rallied around me. The other administrators, Kevin (Ackley — middle school principal) and Brandon (Bruce — high school principal) have been extremely supportive. Michaela Dennert, the director of special education, has been phenomenal too. We have a new dean of students, Kara Baker, and she has also been phenomenal. And Mark (Platt — superintendent) will pop in, and we have standing meetings. I have not been left stranded, and that is a great feeling.”

She and her husband Steve have three children who all attend Hart Public Schools: Andersen who is in seventh grade; Joleigh, fourth grade, and Gracelyn, a preschooler at Diman Wolf Early Childhood Center. The family resides in Mears.

“The kids are able to enjoy where I grew up. I grew up coming here. My dad and my mom had a seasonal lot at Jellystone Campground from 1985-1997.” After that, her parents bought property in the Silver Lake area. “My dad was into the dune buggies and the drag strip. He drag-raced at the sand drag way. My brothers and I were part of his little pit crew.”

Her mom, Darlene, now lives with the young family, helping with the kids, and she works at Spitler as a part-time lunch aide.

“Principal O,” as the kids call her, is learning a lot with the new job and is excited to see what the future holds. “There has been a lot to learn, but I feel we are moving in a good direction.” Oleneack credits her father for inspiring her to be a good leader. “He always taught me — you stay grounded and remember where you came from. You’re never above the custodians, or the bus drivers, lunch aides or teachers. You’re never above anybody. You’re all in this together, because it takes everybody. There is no way we could make this happen if we didn’t have all those pieces.

“I refer to the ship, because we’re all steering this thing together — we’re all working together.”

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