Jon DeCou

Approachable, kindhearted, and compassionate, Jon DeCou has made a strong impact in a short amount of time as a K-12 school principal at Uplift Michigan Online School. Since he assumed the role in 2022, he has created a supportive, loving, and safe virtual learning environment focused on student growth and academic achievement and oversaw the largest graduating class in the school district’s five years of operation—advancing from 14 to 53 children. As principal, he serves his staff and students diligently, leads staff in an organized and strategic manner to raise student academic proficiency, oversees the students’ academic growth and their social and emotional well-being, sets a strategic plan for the school, and maintains strong communication with parents. As an administrator and student advocate, Mr. DeCou’s primary goal has been to provide an individualized education experience that helps students at every grade level achieve their greatest potential.

A passionate educator for more than a decade, Mr. DeCou was previously active as the director at Youth Advancement Academy from 2019 to 2022, regional director at Ombudsman Educational Services from 2019 to 2020, and the director of accreditation and school improvement at Uplift from 2018 to 2019. From 2014 to 2018, he excelled as an online history instructor and chairman of the school improvement team at Michigan Virtual Charter Academy, where he also served as a team member for a Title I, Title II, and 34A funding audit by the Michigan Department of Education and a champion teacher for the African-American Young Men of Promise Initiative. For six years, he served as a K-12 teacher for students across Michigan, after launching his career as a teacher of history and geography at Vincennes Lincoln High School in 2009, followed by an appointment as a long-term substitute for various schools.

Certified in professional teaching and school administration by the Michigan Department of Education, Mr. DeCou is equipped with a Bachelor of Arts in history and health education from Albion College, a Master of Arts in secondary education and teaching from Earlham College, and both a Master of Arts in school principalship and educational administration and supervision and an Education Specialist degree in administrative leadership from Central Michigan University. Considering himself a lifelong learner, he intends to obtain a doctorate degree from Central Michigan University and venture into collegiate-level instruction. As a testament to his achievements in his roles, he was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award in 2019 and nominated as Administrator of the Year in 2022.

Mr. DeCou has remained connected to his profession over the years as a member of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, Society of Collegiate Leadership and Achievement, and International Association of Computer Online Learners.