TCAPS Superintendent: Unplugged

by Gayle Neu

Traverse City Area Public Schools Superintendent Steve Cousins doesn’t just speak passionately about education – he sings it. Staff members discovered this at the September Welcome Back rally when he whipped out his Taylor six-string from behind the podium and began to play.

“It takes courage to perform in front of 500 folks – many of whom he sees daily!” says Central High Publications Adviser Missi Yeomans. “When I reported for work, our Central staff was still chatting about it, saying, ‘Can you believe he did that?’ ‘Now, that takes guts!’”

Guts – and a good, handwritten song. Cousins has been using his original music to break the ice at staff meetings or enhance presentations since setting foot in TCAPS a year ago. Now his songwriting acumen is striking a chord outside the school walls. Groups like the United Way, Economic Club of TC and Rotary Club of TC are booking the singing superintendent for their own meetings. (And, yes, he’s already on YouTube.)

The Ticker scored a few minutes with the educator-slash-guitar hero to find out how he got his start:

How long have you been doing music?
SC: Since I came out of the womb! I started out as a drummer, but once I went to college, I wanted to learn an instrument I could play more conveniently. My wife, who was my best friend, taught me my first two chords and I learned from there.

When did you first incorporate music into your profession?
SC: When I was a teacher. Kids would say, “Play us a song!” and I would say, “OK, but first you have to get through this stuff.” It was a natural progression to use it as a principal, then as a superintendent. The first time I performed (at Reeths-Puffer Schools), I played with some guys on staff to kick off the year, only intending to do it once. But the staff said, “You guys are doing a song again next year!” So, it became an annual thing – for seven years!

How do people react to your songs?
SC: Really positively, because they don’t expect it. Whenever I use music in a presentation, though, I try to tie it into the content.

You’ve written other educational songs, but you’ve been asked to repeat your “Dream With Me” performance for area groups. What inspired you?
SC: It’s based on three conversations I had: one with a teacher, one with a couple of other dads at our daughters’ all-night graduation party, and later listening to a group of graduates talk about their education. It’s also based on the William Butler Yeats quote: “In our dreams begins responsibility.” It gets at what’s most important in education.

To hear part of a recent performance, click on the photo at top left.

Flock to it: Cousins will give a special performance to the TCAPS team with the most registered participants in this year's Turkey Trot at Thirlby Field (Thurs. Nov. 24). The winning team gets to choose the event Cousins can rock – a PTO fundraiser, school assembly, staff gathering, etc.

For more info on the Trot, click here.