GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – Ever since kindergarten, Molly Ali knew she wanted to become an educator. Now, as Principal of Coit Creative Arts Academy, she is focused on helping every child thrive by creating a school where scholars are excited to learn and feel supported every day.
"When I was in kindergarten, my teacher - I loved her so much,” Ali recalled. “I knew from that moment that I wanted to be a teacher."
That passion led her from teaching kindergarten to working overseas.
"I moved abroad and I started teaching at a primary years program. I discovered my passion for the framework curriculum of the International Baccalaureate," she explained. "It was eye opening. It was absolutely amazing. Then I got to come back here and bring that experience to what I'm doing here."
Today, Ali says Coit is a place where scholars want to be.
"Kids come here for not only to learn, but they come here with excitement. They come here because they're excited to learn because that's what our staff does. Our staff gets them excited to learn," she said.
Ali hopes every scholar knows they have someone in their corner.
"I'm going to help them with whatever they need, I'm going to support them, I'm going to be their cheerleader to make sure that they thrive and they do it the best that they can here."
Above all, she wants every child to know they belong.
"Every student is welcome no matter what their background, no matter what their strengths, that they are all here to do the best that they can."