Two families remain connected through three generations of UCS employment
For the Suggs and LaPorte families, their connection to Utica Community Schools runs deep.
“I have great pride in the UCS community,” Dresden Elementary Principal and UCS alum, Brad Suggs said. “Not only did my mother work for UCS, my sister is currently a teacher at Beck Elementary and my wife works at Wiley Elementary.”
The LaPorte family shares a similar connection with UCS as the Suggs family. Brian LaPorte is currently the Director of Safety and Management Services and as a UCS student found himself inspired to pursue education by his mother who worked alongside Brad’s mother within Utica Community Schools.
“I get the most pride in knowing that UCS provided me with an exceptional education that set me up for success, and I have tried to honor that by giving everything I can back to this district,” said Brian.
Furthering the connection beyond Brad and Brian working together after their mothers had years before them, are Brian and Brad’s daughters – Emma LaPorte and Maia Suggs – who worked together this summer in the School Age Child Care (SACC) program as teaching assistants.
“I love that our daughters worked together and continued to build a bond that started many years ago by their grandmothers,” Brian said. “I know that they would certainly be proud of their granddaughters for carrying on the tradition of working for UCS.”
When pondering how it felt to continue the Suggs and LaPorte legacy, Emma said, “the world is so big, and things can be right in front of you.” She shared that she had an amazing experience and that she loved bonding with all of the kids.
Furthering the connection between the two third-generation UCS employees, Maia and Emma are both attending Central Michigan University this fall as freshmen. Emma is undecided in her studies, but leaning towards veterinary work, while Maia is following the family into education.
“I plan to go into teaching, so this job was a good next step for me,” Maia said. “You can gain experience with the help of everyone here who are extremely helpful in every step of the way.”
“To know that my daughter is now working with the district and is going to pursue a career in education so that she can begin a lifetime of helping others is a great honor,” Brad said.
If you're interested in joining the UCS team and starting a family tradition of your own, please visit www.uticak12.org/ucsjobs.