“Even before my first day in the office, I’ve met some amazing staff here,” he said. “There are good people here and it doesn’t take long to see what a blessing that is. The second thing is that I’ve seen the incredible amount of community support. The schools are a big part of the community and it’s good to see the community is very supportive. Our facilities are gorgeous and that just shows how much pride and care everyone invests in the district.”
He used “relationships, compassion and communication” as three words to describe himself as a leader for the district. “On a personal and professional level, I truly value relationships - it’s the heart of all we do.”
Compassion, he said, is putting yourself in other people’s shoes and adapting to look through different lenses to get a better understanding of what’s happening. Lastly, he talked about communication. “I will be honest, open and transparent to all. Communication is very important.”
While he admits family was a significant reason for wanting to move to the west side of the state, he said he likes what TK offers and has similarities of being a rural/suburban area as did his previous district.
Pouch served as the Superintendent of Morrice Area Schools in Shiawasee County since 2021. Previously, he served as Principal at Linden Middle School from 2017-2021 and at Linden Elementary from 2013-2017.
In his first few months at TK, Pouch has a tall order of things he wants to do. “I will be out and about in the buildings and in the community. I will be visible. I want to build relationships. It’s the foundation of who I am as a person and as a leader.”
He also is eager to help move TK forward. “You have to have communication and establish trust inside and outside of our organization. We’ll be following the strategic plan and looking at it for the future.”
“As a leader of this organization, I want to make sure we have the best systems in place to get all kids college, career and world ready. Through our facilities, athletics, academics, arts, everything - I want the best we can give to every student.”
He recognizes there will be hurdles to overcome in the days and months ahead. “I want to learn and grow every day. I know how to be a superintendent and I know what it requires. I need to understand working with the board on policy and budget. I can put my energy into understanding the systems at TK and finding systems and ways we can work together. I’ll be learning about the community and the people here and how we can all work together. I’m very thankful to be here and excited for the future here at TK.”
When he’s not busy being a superintendent, Pouch enjoys spending time with his wife and five children - ages 12 years to 9 months old. “I enjoy being Dad,” he said. “I like spending time and doing things with my family.”
Hobbies: “Spending time with my family. I like fishing, golfing, cooking, hunting and outdoor life. A favorite day for the summer would be going to the beach with my family or out on the boat together. Maybe playing a round of golf. In the fall, a favorite way to spend a day would be hunting and cutting wood for my fireplace.”
Favorite Movie: “Usually we watch a kid’s movie. Most recently, we watched ‘Sonic 3.’ Probably my favorite movie is ‘Top Gun,’’ and I also like ‘Sweet Home Alabama.’
What’s Playing on His Radio?: “Sports talk radio, mostly.”
Favorite Foods: “Pizza, burgers, steaks”
Favorite Sport and Team: “Football is my favorite sport, and I cheer for the Lions.”
Favorite Book: “It’s a book called ‘It’s Your Ship’ by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff. It was the first leadership book I read and I still go back to it. It has a lot of good tips and ideas.”
Famous Person He Would Like to Have Dinner With: “JFK. I loved studying about the 1960s. JFK was kind of a polarizing figure in the 1960s and I just think it would be fascinating to sit down and talk with him.”
Superpower He Would Most Like to Possess: “The ability to give all kids equal opportunity. Not all kids are exposed to equal opportunities, and I think that would be the best superpower I could have.”