Superintendents

Kristen Crawford is our Superintendent of Montessori schools. She joined the Choice Schools family in January 2020 as the assistant principal at New Branches Charter Academy and transitioned into director of of behavior intervention, in August of 2023. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology from Liberty University, her Masters in Educational Administration and Supervision from Southern Wesleyan University, and has recently finished up her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. Prior to coming to Choice, she served at Success Virtual Learning Centers, opening and running learning centers in Grand Rapids and Lansing. Her transition to leadership came after a decade of teaching Health and Physical Education in both private and public schools. Kristen has a great passion for finding ways to support, engage, and meet the unique needs of all students so that they can grow to their greatest potential.

Ali DuBois serves as the superintendent of our environmental model. Ali joined the Central Office team after nearly 15 years of school leadership and teaching, including Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change (MMAEC), where she launched the school and served as the school principal for six years. Ali was instrumental in growing the school as well as improving their test scores and is also a two-time Michigan Charter School Administrator of the Year finalist. Because of the MMAEC team’s efforts, the school is one of the highest-ranking schools in Muskegon County! As the superintendent, Ali consistently drives academic improvement and remains at the forefront of leading the turnaround in academic performance across the schools she leads. Ali is also currently a fellow in the Educational Policy Fellowship Program at Michigan State University.

Laura Moellering has spent nearly all of her career in education working in charter schools. She started her career with Choice in May of 2017. Starting her journey as a High School English and Psychology teacher, she moved into leadership roles first as a Curriculum Director and then as a charter High School Principal. After that, Laura moved to a Central Office position where she oversaw curriculum and instruction and mentored school leaders within a diverse portfolio of charter schools.

She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at Eastern Michigan University, and it was during her master’s program in Curriculum and Instruction that Laura truly came to appreciate the opportunity that charter schools presented for students and families who desired a different educational experience. Laura finds great satisfaction in designing programs that met student’s educational and emotional needs.

She is excited to be with Choice where she is able to be part of a community that genuinely respects families and believes in every student’s ability to achieve at high levels. When she isn’t engaged in work, she can be found on Lake Michigan, ideally with one of her three daughters, or curled up with a good book or podcast.

Kurt has lived a life of serving kids in charter schools. He started his career teaching in 2001 at a charter school in Big Rapids. After serving as a middle school and high school math teacher and a K-8 principal and executive director, he has come to Choice with an enthusiasm to lead our classical schools. He has joined our area superintendents team starting in July of 2019. He received his bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University and his masters from Jones International University.

In Kurt’s spare time, he loves spending time with his wife Kathy and 2 sons (both of whom are attending WMAES).

Cheryl Paull has been with Choice Schools since 2009, joining the central office team in October of 2022. She serves in the role of Superintendent for the K-12 Scholar Model. Cheryl has two masters degrees one in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment and the other in Educational Leadership. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, going on vacation and cooking. Prior to joining the central office team, Cheryl was a classroom teacher, curriculum coordinator and school leader at all educational levels.