A Bright Beginning to the 2026–2027 School Year

Dear East China School District Community,

What a fantastic and energetic start to the 2026–2027 school year! I am thrilled to share that our district is officially operating fully within our right-sized footprint following the completion of our bond renovations, construction, and consolidations. Seeing these updated facilities filled with our amazing students is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together.

Even better news: our enrollment numbers are tracking slightly higher than anticipated this fall! Because school district funding in Michigan is directly tied to student enrollment, this strong start provides vital support for our educational programs and classroom resources.

Speaking of enrollment, Count Day for school districts across Michigan is next Wednesday, October 7. This is the official day when all attending students are formally tallied and reported to the State of Michigan for funding purposes. Having your children present and on time on Count Day helps ensure our district receives every dollar allocated to support their education.

We are truly blessed to live in a community that pours so much love and support into our schools. Whenever I present to local groups or attend educational conferences, the wonderful qualities of our students always come up in conversation. People routinely praise East China kids for being polite, respectful, and engaged—a true reflection of the values nurtured at home and throughout our towns.

That outstanding character was on full display just last week during our annual 8th-grade Washington, D.C. trip. A combined total of 249 students, staff, and parent chaperones from Marine City Middle School and St. Clair Middle School traveled to our nation’s capital and its surrounding historic landmarks. Our tour guides went out of their way to praise our 8th graders for their exemplary behavior as they learned about the history of our great nation. We could not be prouder of how they represented their schools and our entire district!

Our tradition of academic excellence also continues to shine bright:

High School Excellence: Both Marine City High School and St. Clair High School were once again recognized in the U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings!
Elementary Growth: Our elementary schools continue to show high growth and strong performance metrics on the MI School Data dashboard, demonstrating the strong foundation built in our early grades.

We have so much to celebrate in the East China School District, and we are just getting started. On behalf of our teachers, administrators, and staff, thank you for your continued support of our students and schools. We can’t wait to see all the incredible achievements this new school year will bring!

Warmly,

Suzanne Cybulla

Superintendent East China School District

Class of 2027 Sunrise

The St. Clair High School Class of 2027 gathered together for a memorable Sunrise celebration! As the sun rose, students celebrated their friendships, reflected on the memories they have created, and looked ahead to their senior year.

It was a beautiful morning filled with laughter, smiles, and school spirit as the Class of 2027 kicked off their final year at St. Clair High School. What a special way to begin their senior year!

Class of 2027 — make it a year to remember!

Colleen Berry

Hi! I’m Colleen Berry, and I’m so excited to be joining the ECSD community! As an ECSD Mom and St. Clair resident, this community is already a huge part of my family’s life, which makes the opportunity to work here especially meaningful.

I’ve spent my career in education in a variety of roles, including classroom teacher, school counselor, building administrator, instructional coach, and 6-12 curriculum leader. Each role has shaped how I think about teaching and learning, but I’m especially excited to return to the classroom and work directly with students. There really is no better place to be in education!

Outside of school, I love spending time with my family, cheering on my kids at their sporting events, reading, crafting, and settling in to watch football with my family. I’m looking forward to a great year and becoming even more connected to a community I already love!

Paul Schneider

Hi everyone! My name is Paul Schneider, and I’m excited to be joining the St. Clair Campus staff this year. I graduated from St. Clair High School in 2014 and Saginaw Valley State University in 2020, so I’m especially excited to have the opportunity to teach in the community that I grew up in.

This will be my 7th year teaching and my 4th year in East China School District. In addition to teaching, I have had the privilege of coaching cross country and track at St. Clair for the past four years. I truly enjoy working with students and helping them grow both in and out of the classroom.

I’m very excited for the school year and look forward to getting to know my students and their families. I’m grateful to be a part of the St. Clair community and can’t wait for a great year!

Loren Klug

Loren Klug is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who obtained his bachelor's and master’s degrees from Michigan State University. Loren currently works as part of RESA’s 31n program, providing mental health services to various students within his assigned school building. Loren has been at Central Middle School for the past 4 years. Loren will be in our building supporting students in grades 6-12 who meet the grant parameters and resources that his position is funded through.

Loren has over 20 years of experience working within the mental health field in a number of capacities. Before joining RESA’s 31n program, Loren served as the Program Supervisor for Macomb County’s Community Mental Health’s Training and Workforce Development program. Loren provided home-based mental health services to youth and their families, as well as Specialized Residential Services to adults working on their recovery from a variety of different severe mental illnesses. Loren also worked with runaway and homeless youth throughout his time in East Lansing while earning both his degrees.

Outside of work, Loren enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. He also coaches his son’s soccer team during the fall and winter seasons. Loren also enjoys golfing whenever he can.

Loren is excited to be a part of the St. Clair school community this year and to get to know the students and amazing adults in the building who support them.

🏈 St. Clair vs. Marine City — More Than a Football Game! 🏈

Every year, the rivalry between St. Clair and Marine City brings our communities together for an incredible night of high school football—and so much more.

This game has become a special annual tradition that showcases the pride, passion, and support that make both communities so special. Families, alumni, students, staff, coaches, and fans come together to cheer on their teams and celebrate the young people who represent their schools.

While the competition on the field is intense, the atmosphere surrounding this game is what makes it truly special. It is a great reminder that high school athletics can bring communities together, create lasting memories, and build traditions that continue from one generation to the next.

We are proud to be part of this annual community event and look forward to another great night under the lights! Go Saints!