MICHELLE THOMSON

A education career spent mostly in Iron County has culminated in Michelle Thomson becoming the new superintendent of the Forest Park School District in Crystal Falls.

The Forest Park School Board announced Thomson as the district’s next superintendent earlier this month, stating in a news release that “Michelle is a proven and experienced educational leader whose passion for public education and student focus will continue the district’s tradition of high expectations and promoting the success of all students.”

She will officially start July 1.

Thomson rejoins Forest Park after working as a kindergarten-12th grade literacy consultant at the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District for the past year.

But much of her resume is with West Iron County School District in Iron River — 12 years as a middle school and third-grade teacher, then principal of Stambaugh Elementary School for 11 years until 2022.

She and her husband, Chris, also raised three sons in Iron River, all now in their 20s.

She gained high school experience as at-risk coordinator at Forest Park for one year before shifting to DIISD in Kingsford.

But Thomson said she’s always wanted to be a superintendent. She said her previous time at Forest Park gave her an appreciation for the community and staff.

“I missed being in a school building,” Thomson said. “So when the opportunity arose, I jumped at it.”

The Forest Park superintendent position became available in February when former superintendent Christy Larson took the same administrative role with the Florence County School District, just across the border in Wisconsin.