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Mark and Vicki Platt pose with some of the Hart High School seniors. The seniors, who are graduating May 21, have been with Platt since Day 1, because they were in kindergarten when he began his career at Hart. Front row, left to right: Mark Platt, Halen Boos, Elon Babbin, Kyle Greiner, Logan Jorissen and Vicki Platt; second row: Blake Helenhouse, Caleb Ackley, Abdel Lopez, Leah Walker, Kennedy Symons, Renleigh Schiller, Payton Lindgren, Addison Schiller, Grace Hallack, Rosemary Hernandez and Ali Fleming.
– Contributed photo
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 school year.
Platt, 60, has led a team of dedicated educators with the cooperation of strong and supportive school boards for more than a dozen years to improve the district’s buildings; make major technological advancements; and create successful athletic programs. His calm and steady guidance, along with his signature sense of humor, have drawn enthusiastic community support for the “Pirate Nation” he leads. This year marked 13 years at the helm of the Pirate ship and 36 years as an educator.
The seniors who are graduating May 21 have been with Platt since Day 1, because they were in kindergarten when he began his career at Hart.
He and his wife Vicki fell in love with the scenic beauty of the area after moving to Hart, he said. “We have had a lot of fun. The local people I think are going to adopt us as Hartians now.”
“I had a great time with the administrative team. Some of the folks have been with me since the beginning. I’ve had a very fun time.”
Platt attributes not only the strong leadership of his administrative team, but also the school board for the district’s success over the years. “The current board has done a really nice job. They have been absolutely wonderful to work with.” He particularly credits longtime board member Chad Coker as being a strong asset for the school district.
The school leader said watching the transformation in athletics at Hart Public Schools has been one of his greatest pleasures. “One of the things I have enjoyed the most is watching kids go from when I first got here, they really didn’t believe that they could win, and now they believe they can. That to me is Number 1. That changed the staff’s disposition and the community’s disposition.”
The Pirates clinched 10 state championships during his 13 years in the district. Although he doesn’t take credit for the positive transformation in Pirate sports, Platt said he feels lucky to have been able to watch it and be a part of it.
The school leader 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 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.”
Platt’s daughter is now a mother of two young children — Riley and Madelyn. The grandpa is looking forward to spending more time with them during his retirement. An avid angler, Platt definitely plans to spend more time fishing.
Platt and 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 native and former Hart High School teacher and coach Brad Jacobs has been hired to take over for Platt. Jacobs was superintendent for Fremont Public Schools in 2022-23 and Inland Lakes Schools, where he led the district for five years.
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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