Meet Our Staff

Meet Our Instructors 

My name is Leslie Kirschenbauer and I am a Health Career Foundations instructor. I just completed my first year of teaching and my background is in Occupational Therapy. I obtained my bachelors degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology from Grand Valley State University in 2009. I then obtained my masters degree in Occupational Therapy from Grand Valley in 2011. My healthcare experience includes working in Muskegon, MI as an OT and therapy director in skilled nursing care as well as being the primary OT for the lakeshore territory at a home health care agency. I have worked primarily with adults and older adults in these settings. As an Occupational Therapist, I enjoyed getting to know my patients and their families and walking along side them in their recovery journey to health and wellness. 

I love my job as a health career foundations instructor because of the students I get to interact with on a daily basis. Each student brings their own, interesting story and getting to know each person that makes up my class is my favorite part of being an instructor. I also get to share my passion for health and wellness with students that are curious, engaged, and interested. I enjoy sharing my stories and experiences from working in healthcare with students as well as being able to  creatively expose them to new and interesting concepts in health and science. 

My husband and I have been married since 2016 and we have 2 little boys that keep us very busy. We love spending time outside as a family, cooking, antiquing, and taking on weekend warrior remodeling projects on our home! The phrase I embrace day to day is, "Be the change you want to see in the world" (Ghandi)

My name is Hailey Kane and I have the privilege of teaching Health Career Foundations at KCTC. My healthcare background is in Occupational Therapy.   I have experience working in a variety of healthcare settings including long term care, hospital acute care and inpatient rehabilitation.  Prior to becoming an Occupational Therapist, I worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). I  received my Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from Saginaw Valley State University in 2009 and my teaching certificate from Wayne State University in 2019. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge of healthcare and the human body with my students.  I enjoy guiding my students as they explore different aspects of healthcare and discover what interests them most.  My favorite part of  teaching is helping students figure out what college or career pathway they plan to pursue and helping them develop the skills needed to be successful.  is helping students figure out what college or career pathway they plan to pursue and helping them develop the skills needed to be successful.  

Outside of teaching, I am married  and have 2 young daughters who keep me on my toes. I enjoy spending time with family, being outdoors and learning new things. 

My name is Beth O'Donnell. I have been a Physical Therapist for over 30 years and worked in the schools for more than 15 of those years. I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Grand Valley State University, as well as my Master of Science in Physical Therapy degree. Since then, I have received my teaching certificate in Career and Technical Education from Western Michigan University. I have taught at Baker College in their Physical Therapist Assistant Program and at Ferris State University as well. In my clinical career as a physical therapist, I have worked in a variety of health care settings, including but not limited to Mary Free Bed-Inpatient Neuro, home care, inpatient acute care, including neuro, general medical, ICU, Burn Unit, and Oncology & in Pediatrics.  Recently, I went back to school to obtain my licensure and certification to become a Medical Massage Therapist. I have worked for Kent ISD since 2010 as a PT and started teaching at KCTC as a Health Career Foundations Instructor in 2017. I love helping the juniors discern their next steps and figure out the path they want to take toward their goals. I also treasure when they finally understand all that they CAN do when they put their minds to it and work hard to achieve their goals!

As a Health Careers Instructor at Kent Career Technical Center (KCTC), I have the privilege of helping students explore the many opportunities available within the healthcare field. With more than a decade of experience as a registered nurse and healthcare professional, I bring real-world clinical knowledge, leadership experience, and a passion for mentoring future healthcare providers to the classroom.

KCTC provides students with opportunities to learn beyond traditional coursework. Through hands-on labs, clinical skill development, community partnerships, and career exploration experiences, students gain valuable insight into the healthcare profession while building the technical and professional skills employers seek.

My greatest passion is helping students recognize their potential, develop confidence in their abilities, and discover meaningful pathways into healthcare careers. Whether students pursue college, certification programs, or direct entry into the workforce, I am committed to helping them build a strong foundation for future success.

I am Nicole Vandawater. I’m honored to teach Health Career Foundations at KCTC, where I help students explore and prepare for meaningful futures in healthcare. 

Before stepping into the classroom, I worked as a bedside Registered Nurse for 10 years and spent 2 years as a nurse technician before that. Those experiences allow me to bring a wealth of knowledge, real-world examples, and up-to-date stories to my students, helping them connect classroom learning with the realities of healthcare. 

As a former KCTC student myself, I know firsthand the impact this program can have, and I’m excited to now guide students through the same journey that launched my own career. After graduating from KCTC, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Valley State University in 2016.  I am currently pursuing a master's degree in education at Western Michigan University.

I'm passionate about inspiring and educating the next generation of healthcare professionals, knowing they will play a vital role in shaping the future of our healthcare system.

Outside of school, my husband and I are raising our two energetic children, Owen and Alaina. As a family, we love spending time outdoors and finding new adventures together.