From Fields to the Classroom - Helping Students Grow: Meet Penny Miller-Nelson
Watch Episode 23 of
The Max Loves Midland Show
Penny Miller-Nelson, In Her Own Words:
"I grew up on a dairy farm just outside of West Branch, where I went to high school and learned about hard work, community, and caring for the world around you. I come from a big family—five siblings—and those early experiences on the farm and in our small-town school system deeply shaped who I am. I knew from a young age that I wanted to work with kids. I babysat, looked up to my teachers, and had this drive to give back to others the way my community gave to me. That passion eventually took the form of teaching agriscience, which blended everything I loved: education, science, and taking care of our land. My teaching career started in Birch Run. I took pride in leading FFA and helping students discover their career pathways. From there, I moved into roles that supported career and technical education more broadly, eventually landing in Midland in 2008.
Midland became home for my husband Craig and me, and it’s where we raised our daughter, Ava, who graduated from Dow High in 2022. Craig works at MyMichigan Health, and I can honestly say I couldn’t do what I do without his support. He understands how much this role means to me—how often it takes me away from home because I believe in showing up for our kids. We spend our free time outdoors—walking our dog at City Forest, enjoying the trails, or taking in Downtown's vibrant activities. We’ve come to love this community, not just for its beautiful spaces but for how it rallies around kids, families, and public education.
Before I stepped into the role of superintendent, I served in various leadership positions within Midland Public Schools, always focusing on helping young people find their purpose. I’m also currently pursuing my doctorate, not because I’m looking for a new role but because I love learning. I'm always looking to connect with educators across the state, learn from their experiences, and challenge myself to grow as a leader. I never expected the opportunity to lead MPS as superintendent to come when it did—but it felt like a natural extension of everything I care about.
Throughout my career, the IB Learner Profile has been one guiding force. The traits—caring, knowledgeable, open-minded, balanced—are not just words we hang on a poster; they’re the foundation for how I lead, how we want our family to live, and how I believe we create environments where everyone belongs. My daughter went through the IB program at Midland Public Schools, and those values shaped her into the incredible person she is today. I believe deeply in nurturing those traits in every student.
That’s why the upcoming Facilities Improvement Bond Proposal on the May 6 ballot is so important. Over the last two years, we’ve undertaken a comprehensive, independent facility assessment across all our buildings. We engaged with families, community members, staff, and students—through surveys, focus groups, and various sessions. We listened. What emerged from that process is the plan we’re presenting now.
This proposal addresses real, pressing needs across our district—starting with our oldest facilities. Carpenter Pre-Primary Center is nearly 100 years old, and Northeast Middle School is 75 years old and near the end of its useful life. The cost to renovate those buildings to meet modern safety and learning standards would be significant, and even then, we wouldn’t gain the long-term value or efficiency a new build provides. For example, replacing Northeast allows us to design a space that reflects today’s best teaching, learning, and energy efficiency practices. We estimate that energy savings alone will be over $50,000 annually, which adds up quickly over the life of a building.
But this isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about what happens inside those walls. Our elementary schools are near or at capacity. Sometimes, teachers don’t have a designated classroom, and small group instruction or student intervention happens in hallways. That’s not the learning environment our students or educators deserve. We also want to expand preschool access by integrating those classrooms into our elementary buildings. This change would provide continuity for families, build stronger school communities, and offer more equitable access to services like special education, literacy support, and social-emotional learning.
As someone from a family that didn’t have much financially, I carry that perspective into every decision I make. I know that even small increases in cost can be significant for some families. That’s why we’re committed to transparency—showing how this investment would be used. Even with the proposed 3.25 mill increase, Midland Public Schools would still be below the bond millage rate of neighboring districts like Bullock Creek and Meridian. This is about protecting and enhancing the value of what we already have—our schools, our neighborhoods, and our community.
Midland is a remarkable place. It’s a city with the heart of a small town where people show up for one another, where someone with no connection to our students rallies around them because they care, and where we prioritize connection, even across differences. My greatest hope is that we continue to build on that spirit—to ensure that our students have every opportunity to succeed, that our staff have what they need to do their best work, and that our community continues to be a place where people want to live, work, and raise a family. It’s not just about buildings—it’s about creating conditions for our kids to thrive."
Do you have a Midland County story you would like to tell that aligns with our vision?