Paul DeLeeuw
"Education is for everybody."
Candidate for Allendale School Board
I grew up just down the road in Hudsonville, but Allendale has always been home. Both my parents earned their degrees at Grand Valley State University, and so did I — where I met my wife Tina. When we decided to raise a family, we chose Allendale on purpose: a down-to-earth community that stays culturally connected to education. Our daughters Evie and Mila are in the schools today.
After graduating from GVSU in 2007, I co-founded the West Michigan Food Co-op, connecting online shoppers with local farmers. Today I'm on the leadership team at ddm marketing, heading up Performance Services — building websites, apps, and digital campaigns that help organizations reach people effectively.
I've spent my life building things that connect people to resources they need. The world our kids are walking into is fundamentally different from the one we grew up in — and our schools need to change with it. That's why I'm running.
In an AI-saturated world, students need applied skepticism — not doubt for doubt's sake, but the ability to challenge claims, respect expertise, and seek truth together.
As a parent of two daughters on the autism spectrum, I've seen that our staff are thoughtful but under-resourced. Education is for everybody means every kind of learner.
Trades jobs are in high demand and resistant to automation. Not every student needs a four-year degree to thrive — let's equip kids for the real future.
Forcing every student to use the same device is like forcing everybody to use a hammer when some have screws and others have nails. The right tool for the right kid.
Our district has been fiscally responsible, but growing buildings need real investment. We need a bond the community can rally behind — real needs, not wish lists.
Teachers are underappreciated and we should pay them more. Our district is competitive — but I want us to win that competition, not just be in it.
I want to make parent volunteering easier, bridge the gap between our township and schools, and connect our community to the people who serve it.
If elected, I'll launch a regular video series interviewing parent volunteers, teachers, and community members — real conversations with the real people doing the work. Not press releases. Not filtered statements. Just our community, connected.
Education is for everybody. Let's make sure our schools live up to that promise.
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