School Improvement Facilitator
Grand Rapids Public Schools - Westwood Middle School
Brilliant Emerging Leader
Megan Persons is an enthusiastic and motivated School Improvement Facilitator at Westwood Middle School, who is committed to engaging students and staff in equity-oriented teaching and learning. In her position, she has created the district’s only Developing Teacher Workshop, and she facilitates a district- and county-wide LGBTQ+ safe schools training. Megan explains that her strength as a leader “comes from [her] willingness to listen, learn or lift based on the needs of those [she] serves.” When things get difficult, instead of stepping back, Megan leans in and embraces the challenge with humility, discipline, effort and introspection—with that, comes progress.
Megan Persons
- Details
- Category: Brilliance Awards Finalists 2021
From this issue

It's critical to offer understanding, support and unconditional love to your child if they choose to come out to you. That experience for Ollie Robison (xe/he/they), Healthcare Coordinator, Grand Rapids Pride Center, was a long and complex one, coming out multiple times in different ways to the same people.

Winter is behind us and we're ready to ditch the bulky sweaters, heavy boots and puffy coats for lighter, brighter and fresher styles. Rather than mindlessly buying up a hoard of trendy items, Kathryn Snow of Style Me Ada—an expert personal stylist and shopper—walks us through building a capsule wardrobe that will keep you feeling confident and stylish all spring and summer.

Your childhood may be long past, but its influence is reflected in your present—it shapes how you see the world and how you interact with others. Maybe you've noticed patterns you can't quite shake, like anxiety that won't settle. Or maybe you struggle with depth in relationships or find yourself overwhelmed because of your tendency to overachieve (or overextend).

Living in West Michigan, we have an abundance of places to go to soak up the great outdoors. In every season, travelers head to their favorite hot spots in the lakeshore quadfecta of Muskegon, Grand Haven, Holland and Saugatuck—or stick around Grand Rapids for all it has to offer. While we never tire of spotlighting the standbys, what else is there? Let's take a tour!