Five Candidates Run for Wayland Union School Board
Wayland, MI – On the November 3, 2020 ballot, five community members will run for four open seats on the Wayland Union School Board, each four-year terms.
Three of the candidates are currently on the school board: Cinnamon Mellema (President); Theresa Dobry (Secretary); and Dan Cassini (Trustee). The other two candidates running are Rebecca Hohnke and Jason Shane. Please see the bios below on each candidate.
Cinnamon Mellema: current Board President, was elected to the board in November of 2016 and is serving a four year term that ends December 31, 2020. In 2018 she was elected by the Board to serve as Board President and is still serving as the President. She is a 1990 graduate of Wayland Union High School who is dedicated to her family, her hometown, and public education. She and her husband Scott Mellema are the proud parents of Reilly and Johnnie. Johnnie is presently a senior at Wayland. Cinnamon has served in education for 24 years as both a teacher for Kentwood Public Schools and teacher consultant for the Kent Career Technical Center. Her dedication to education is not limited to teaching; she is a committed learner as well, having earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University, a Master of Arts from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Education degree from Western Michigan University. Her involvement in the community includes volunteering on the Board for AquatiCats youth swim team, and volunteering at concession stands for various events.
Theresa Dobry: current Board Secretary. She has been on the school board since 2011. “I am re-running for the Wayland Union Schools Board of Education because I want to continue doing great things for this district. We have done so much in the past 10 years with the support of the community and our leadership. We have so many great people in our organization who are dedicated to the education of our children. I truly enjoy working with them to do what is best for our students K-12. Moreover, I have the highest regard for each and everyone that is currently serving on the board. We have developed a great working relationship and we can work through the best times and the difficult times. I'm also excited to work more with our new Superintendent over the next four years.
My husband, Steve, is a Wayland graduate and we have two children that graduated with the Class of 2020. We also have a Junior this school year, as well as three nephews/niece also in HS.”
Dan Cassini: current Board Trustee, was elected to the board in November of 2016. He has lived in Wayland for 16 years and has three children attending Wayland Union. He currently serves in the United States Air Force/Michigan Air National Guard as a Medical Administrator and training specialist with the 110th Wing in Battle Creek, where he has been for the past 23 years. He graduated from Fremont High School then Spring Arbor University with a BS in Organizational Management. He is the youth Baseball/Softball/Football director and founder of the flag football program. He is also an assistant to the JV and Varsity Football programs, having coached at the Middle School level the past 2 seasons. Dan loves golfing, camping, skiing and the outdoors if it’s spent with my family.
"Over the past 4 years I've been blessed to serve this wonderful district. I was a part of restructuring a bond that had failed; overseeing a successful bond campaign and all the construction projects that have followed; as well as hiring a new Superintendent during a worldwide pandemic. Certainly so much has been done but more obstacles and challenges await, to which I gladly accept."
Jason Shane: Jason focuses his values on the quality of our education and the sustainability of our facilities for future growth. Mentored by an 18 year BOE member at Vicksburg School District early in his life, Jason has been inspired to serve his community in one of the most important roles to him. As a 10 year resident in the school district, Jason resides with his wife and three children in the city limits. Jason has been on his local HOA board as a board member for 3 years with 2 of those years as the Treasurer and now as the President. Jason graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelors in Engineering and Master’s from Penn State in Engineering Management. He currently is the Director of Engineering for a local SW Michigan company focused on innovation and product sustainability.
Becky Hohnke: Becky is a Wayland graduate. She resides in the community and works at Bay Valley Foods as a Human Resource Generalist. Becky has two children that attend Wayland Union Schools. Her daughter is a sophomore and son is in 3rd grade. She is very active within the community. She is a Wayland Kiwanis member where she serves as Treasurer. She is a Key Communicator for Wayland Union Schools and served on the Strategic Planning committee, as well the bond committee. In the past, Becky has served on the WEPA board and is currently an involved parent volunteering for various activities within the community. Since the Fine Arts Center was built, she has attended school meetings and workshops.
“I am running for the Board of Education because I want to be a voice of the students, staff and the community. I want to be actively involved in conversations not only at the Board of Education meetings but to be available to anyone within the community who has questions or concerns, including students. My number one priority is what is going to be best for the students and staff members of Wayland Union Schools.”
