Our Team

Contact Us

To reach any of us at the West Michigan Teacher Collaborative:

Mary Kay Murphy, Interim Executive Director Mary Kay is a seasoned leader, educator, influencer, and equity practitioner with over 20 years of experience in education. As the Supervisor of Teacher Development for the West Michigan Teacher Collaborative (WMTC), she brings a wealth of knowledge from both school systems and the educational nonprofit sector. Previously, Mary Kay served as the Managing Director for the Midwest Region of Leading Educators, where she worked with districts to enhance professional learning systems. She also spearheaded the Equity in Literacy Fellowship for Kent County educators, which aimed to foster engaging and inclusive literacy practices in classrooms. Mary Kay has held various impactful roles throughout her career, including teacher, principal, instructional coach, and district consultant. Her work with national nonprofits such as Partners in School Innovation and The Education Trust-Midwest further deepened her educational equity and system improvement expertise. Mary Kay earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Aquinas College and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University. Fun facts: She treasures the simple joys — a cup of black coffee, being near water, and time with family. Her favorite childhood book was Oh What a Busy Day, by Gyo Fujikawa Favorite quote: “I watch what I do to see what I believe.” – Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ

Morgan Dailey, Coordinator Morgan Dailey has over 10 years of experience in student recruitment and program management. Upon graduation from Forest Hills Central High School, she obtained bachelor’s degrees in Communications and Electronic Media and Film. During her time at Eastern Michigan University, she was an accomplished member of their Cross Country and Track and Field programs. Morgan also obtained a master’s in Business Management from Davenport University. She has a passion for working with students and facilitating positive and rewarding educational journeys. Morgan is a Grand Rapids native and comes from a long line of educators within greater Grand Rapids. She looks forward to continuing the work needed to inspire and excite others into the teaching profession.

Laura Fennell Castle, Consultant Laura Castle has been a teacher and administrator for over fifteen years. Laura began her career teaching students in underserved communities as a member of Teach for America, teaching high school English in St. Louis, Missouri, and later middle school in Gary, Indiana. Laura then served as Director of School Culture and Instruction at a K-8 school in Chicago. These experiences motivated her to pursue a master’s in educational leadership at the Teachers College at Columbia University, and in 2013 she was hired to be the founding principal of a K-8 school on Chicago’s southwest side. Laura moved to Grand Rapids with her family in 2019 and is pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Michigan State University. She is passionate about developing the next generation of excellent teachers and is excited to share her experience with the students and teachers of West Michigan.

Lauren Wenstrup, Administrative Assistant Lauren Wenstrup is a lifelong learner and teacher with over ten years of varied work experience in education. After graduating from the University of Kentucky with her master’s in secondary education, she honed her skills teaching high school English in northern Kentucky. In 2019, Lauren relocated to Grand Rapids with her family where she transitioned into roles as a Registrar and later as a Quality and Compliance Analyst. She is committed to the democratization of knowledge and has adeptness in training and mentoring both students and peers. Leveraging her expansive background, Lauren is eager to assist in the advancement of West Michigan’s next generation of educators.

For media inquires, contact:

Joy Walczak, Kent ISD Communications Specialist, 906.632.6290.
Ben Kalb, Muskegon Area ISD Director of Communications, 231.767.7263 or 720.899.1529
Michelle Ready, Ottawa Area ISD Associate Superintendent of Communications and Integrated Marketing, 616.738.8940 x 4093

Our Partners

West Michigan Teacher Collaborative is a partnership of Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa Area ISDs, the public school districts within them, and Grand Valley State University.

Home to 42 public school districts serving roughly 175,100 students in grades K-12, plus thousands more in pre-K and adult education programs, Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa Area ISDs have a long history of working together on behalf of their schools and communities.

These educational service agencies provide the systems needed to identify Mentor Teachers and placements for Residency participants, plus the additional learning communities and support to ensure the ongoing success of West Michigan Teacher Collaborative participants.

Grand Valley State University is West Michigan’s largest university and leader in educator training and innovative degree programs for adults. GVSU provides academic counseling and coursework for Teacher Collaborative participants giving teachers and future teachers new ways to obtain the education, endorsements, degrees and certifications they need.