From left: Brad Jacobs, Mark Olmstead and Jeff Tuka
Spartan News is a presentation of Mason County Central School District in partnership with Mason County Press.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
SCOTTVILLE — Three local school superintendents who now lead neighboring districts gathered Tuesday morning at the Mason County Central Business Office to reflect on the careers that brought them together and the administrative team that helped shape them.
Mark Olmstead of Shelby Public Schools, Brad Jacobs of Hart Public Schools and Mason County Central Superintendent Jeff Tuka all followed a similar path: Each served as a principal at Mason County Central before assuming the top leadership position in a school district. Their conversation centered on mentorship, professional growth and the relationships forged while serving at MCC.
Jacobs, who began serving as Hart Public Schools superintendent July 1, said his nine years at Mason County Central remain among the most rewarding of his career.
“I came here in 2008, and my first year I was actually the assistant high school principal because that was Jack Murchie’s last year,” Jacobs said. “The cool part was just the outstanding group of administrators we had. We had Tim Genson, Chris Etchison, Randy Fountain, Kevin Kimes, Angie Taylor, Jeff Mount, Jeff Tuka and Mark Olmstead. We really had a great group.”
Since leaving MCC, Jacobs has served as superintendent of Inland Lakes Schools and Fremont Public Schools before returning to his hometown to lead Hart Public Schools. Looking back, he said the leadership team assembled at MCC was exceptional.
“After leaving Mason County Central and working in different districts, I realized we really had a special administrative team,” Jacobs said. “The group of administrators we had here over the nine years I was here was probably the best collection of administrators I’ve ever worked with. It shows, too, because we’ve all kind of moved up the food chain a little bit.”
Olmstead, who has served as superintendent of Shelby Public Schools since 2022, recalled that his connection to Mason County Central almost never happened.
After serving as athletic director at Kingsley Area Schools, he applied for a position at MCC but was not selected.
“I remember talking to Jeff Mount while driving home, and I said, ‘Jacobs got that job, didn’t he?’ He said, ‘Yeah, in fact, he did,'” Olmstead said. “A year later, Brad called and said, ‘Hey, you should apply for this position.'”
Olmstead joined MCC as assistant high school principal before later becoming middle school principal. During that period, he worked closely with Tuka as the district navigated declining enrollment and statewide education budget reductions.
“I remember Jeff was a middle school social studies teacher,” Olmstead said. “That position ended up on the chopping block, and we were able to bring him back as a student success facilitator.”
Tuka said he survived one round of layoffs before enrollment declines forced additional staff reductions.
“I was laid off as a teacher,” Tuka said. “Back then, the rules were based on seniority. … Brad told me there was going to be a student success position to keep me afloat until a social studies position came open. That’s when I got to work with him at the middle school.”
Tuka eventually served in student success roles throughout the district before becoming MCC High School principal in 2017. On July 1, he succeeded longtime Superintendent Jeff Mount.
The conversation also highlighted how interconnected the three educators’ careers have been over more than two decades. Tuka reminded Jacobs they first worked together during a summer migrant education program in Hart around 2000 or 2001.
“I was still a college student then,” Tuka said.
Olmstead said one of the defining characteristics of their careers has been a willingness to seek advice from experienced colleagues.
“We all had mentors,” he said. “You have to learn the principles by which you operate, and then the details are always different, which makes these jobs so interesting because no day is ever the same. It’s important that people getting into administration ask the questions so they understand what applies and can make the right decisions for kids.”
Tuka agreed, saying the relationships they built continue today.
“Even later, when I was a principal, I still called both of you all the time,” he said. “You’d been through it before. It’s just good to have a network. It’s good to have mentors.”
For Olmstead, Jacobs and Tuka, one mentor stood above the rest: former MCC Superintendent Jeff Mount, who retired this summer after 27 years with the district, including 20 years as superintendent.
“Jeff Mount obviously has had a huge impact on all three of us,” Olmstead said. “He had a way of putting people at ease, helping them understand what the priorities were, developing a game plan and then executing it. That’s another connection we all share — we had the opportunity to work with Jeff and learn from Jeff.”
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