Wheaton is the principal of Mattawan Early Elementary School. In December 2011, he was recognized as 2011 Outstanding Practicing Principal by the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association.
Mattawan Early Elementary School has some 900 students in grades K-2 and has consistently ranked among the best in the State for student achievement during Wheaton's leadership.
Wheaton makes the effort to connect with each student by (for example) recognizing birthdays and placing more than 14,000 "Super Calls" to parents—just to let them know their student has been 'caught' doing something positive.
Wheaton has been the principal since 1995, with prior positions as a teacher in Kalamazoo Public Schools and Los Angeles Unified School District.
To learn more about the exemplary leadership that got Wheaton recognized, please follow the link below:
KALAMAZOO GAZETTE — DEREK WHEATON, MATTAWAN EARLY ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, RECOGNIZED BY NATIONAL GROUP