Meet the Criminal Justice Instructors
From left to right: Sean Burns, Colby Kempf, Gregg Isenhoff
Mr. Sean Burns
Sean Burns began teaching at the Tech Center in the fall of 2018. Mr. Burns retired from the FBI in 2017, with more than 31 years of federal service. He joined the FBI in 1991, where he investigated primarily gang, drug and violent crime cases. Mr. Burns was also selected to team leader positions in the FBI’s SWAT program. As an FBI Special Agent, he deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 and 2010 in support of the US global war on terrorism. In 2012, he was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent with supervisory responsibilities over West and Northern Michigan.
Mr. Burns is a Grand Rapids native. He graduated from Ottawa Hills High School and Alma College with majors in Biology and Chemistry. He earned his Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University in 2015, and is pursuing a second Master’s degree in Education. He has taught at the university level as a full-time professor and was a certified FBI instructor in several tactical disciplines.
Ms. Colby Kempf
Colby Kempf is a Michigan native. She was born in Marquette, but has lived in West Michigan most of her life. Ms. Kempf graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2001. She received her master’s degree in Career Tech Education from Western Michigan University in 2018.
Ms. Kempf began her law enforcement career as a Kentwood Police Officer in 2000. She served as a patrol officer until 2007, when she was promoted to work as an undercover narcotics detective on the Metropolitan Enforcement Team. She received numerous accolades during her career, including two certificates of appreciation for actions at the scene of a shooting of a fellow officer and for the recovery of a large volume of illegal drugs and guns. Ms. Kempf retired from the Kentwood Police Department in 2013 to pursue a career in teaching. She was a CTE Criminal Justice instructor in Ludington from 2013 until 2016 when she came to the Tech Center.
Mr. Gregg Isenhoff
Gregg Isenhoff graduated from Grandville High School, then Grand Rapids Community College and the police academy. In 1999, he became an officer with the Kentwood Police Department where he spent the majority of his law enforcement career. During that career, he was an instructor in several specialized areas, was part of the Metro Police Honor Guard and was a DARE officer. He also received an Excellence in Policing Award for the apprehension of an armed robber and a Certificate of Appreciation for professional actions at the shooting of another officer.
Mr. Isenhoff began teaching at KCTC in 2011, and retired early from the Police Department. Since then, he’s completed his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Ferris State University and a master’s in Teacher Leadership from Central Michigan University. He has also been head negotiator for the teacher’s union, an educational consultant helping new teachers with classroom management and curriculum development, and an adjunct professor for GVSU teaching Police Process.
