Our community is made up of dynamic, accepting individuals. At Leelanau, our school culture is one that celebrates creativity, diversity and individuality. We believe that through variation comes beauty in a culture, and we practice that belief through our student programs and with our dorm and classroom faculty.

Meet some of our amazing faculty and staff:

Norm Wheeler English and Astronomy I am Norm Wheeler and this is my 29th year at Leelanau! I am currently the English and Astronomy instructor (also Physics and Earth Science back in the day), Director of Lanphier Observatory, Host of Beach Bards Bonfire, coach of Challenge Footsteps (used to coach Baseball), presenter of Senior class at Lawn & Tree, and designated hard question asker in staff meetings. There are many wonderful things about my job.
Some of my favorites are helping teenagers learn how to learn, working with such fine, committed educators, and being able to sit down on the beach at the observatory all day! There is so much variety and uniqueness in the students who come to Leelanau. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to help them grow while they’re here. Seeing how much most of them do grow is awesome. Outside of teaching, my hobbies include storytelling, spoken word performances, and playing folk cornet and jazz flugelhorn. The highlight of this past year for me was welcoming my grandson Martin Norman Ludden to the world. He is the most perfect child in the Universe!
Laura Hood Music and Senior Seminar Teacher Hello, I am Laura Hood. I have been a part of the Leelanau School community for 18 years. My family and I lived on campus in the residential houses for 11 years, and now we live on a farm in the center of Leelanau County. I am the Music teacher here at Leelanau, where I teach guitar classes for all levels of players. For students with some prior musical experience, we also have a Jazz band. Another of the many hats that I wear is that of an advisor for the senior class.
I help to guide them through the Senior Seminar class, I am on the team of college counselors, and I am lucky enough to go with the seniors on their Senior Leadership trips. My favorite thing about The Leelanau School is that I feel our community truly embraces the uniqueness of each individual, students and adults alike. We build on each person’s strengths and gifts, we laugh at people’s quirky sense of humor, and encourage learning in personal areas of passion. There is always something interesting happening. In fact my motto is “Never An Average Day”.
Rob Dymond Head of Pinebrook House Hi, My name is Rob Dymond and I am an alumnus of The Leelanau School. I graduated with the class of 2000. After Leelanau, I enrolled at Manchester College, located near Fort Wayne, Indiana, to study Elementary Education. I graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree. I knew that I wanted to work with youth but struggling to find the right fit. In the summer of 2010, I took a chance and applied for a position back at my alma mater. Two months later I became employed in the Residential Life department working in Kindel House.
After two years of employment with the school, I am now currently working as Pinebrook’s Head of House. This school has given me a new outlook on life on more than one occasion. With the many faculty that have guided me to become a successful, responsible, and respectful student, I am now in a position to repay my successors by passing on the same traditions and opportunities once given to me, to future generations of Leelanau students.
Joe Blondia Environmental Science Teacher, Director of Development Hello, my name is Joe Blondia. I have only been at Leelanau for 18 years, so I am the newest person in the science department. In my 18 years I have taught Field Biology, Biology, Environmental Science, Ornithology, Natural History, and Physics. I have lived in all of the houses on campus with the exception of Cochran. I have coached Baseball, Softball, Golf, Cross Country, Track, and Field and Stream, as well as spending time serving as Dean of Students and Athletic Director. I currently serve as the Director of Development.
When not working I love fishing, hiking, painting and cooking with my children. I teach at Leelanau because of where we get to teach (Most Beautiful Place in America), how we get to teach (experiential, hands on, and personalized), and who I get to teach (creative kids from all over the world). Throw in the fact that I teach WITH my best friends and it is hard to imagine a better educational environment. I married the History teacher 12 years ago, so the rest is...well...history.