ALMER TWP. — Tuscola Technology Center Principal Todd Laventure is a well-traveled man.
And he’s about to add another destination to the list.
The 59-year-old educator has spent a great deal of his professional career in the Thumb. His next stop will see an increased cost of living, but a nearly-infinite amount of sunshine will help make up for it.
Laventure is heading to Los Angeles.
“My kids live out there,” Laventure said. “I went out and visited them last summer and I knew it was time (to move). This wasn’t part of any grand plan or anything, I just want to spend more time with my children.”
Laventure has a son and daughter, and they both live in L.A., where the winters are mild and the summers are not too hot. And sunshine graces the region year-round.
Laventure grew up in the metro Detroit city of Woodhaven. After spending eight years in the U.S. Army, he decided to attend college to study education. His teaching degree has taken him across the Thumb region, and across the country.
In 1996, he was hired as an instructor in the Caro Community Schools district. In the next 17 years, Laventure would be hired as a principal for Ubly schools, came back to Caro as an assistant principal, and then take a principal job with Unionville-Sebewaing Area schools.
He has spent the past six years with the Tuscola Intermediate School District, the last four years as Tech Center principal.
Laventure will remain in his position until the end of the 2022-23 school year.
“He’s leaving here on great terms and we’re sad to see him go,” said Tuscola ISD Superintendent Gene Pierce. “But it’s totally understandable when you have kids who live so far away.”
For four years, between leaving Caro and being hired by the ISD, Laventure headed east, taking jobs as a New York City school instructor and a principal in Charleston, South Carolina.
So Laventure has had a taste of working in an environment where there’s warm weather all year long.
“I went to South Carolina, and the guy who was hiring me said ‘You get paid in sunshine here,’” Laventure said.
The children of Laventure, who is divorced, are in the Hollywood movie business, he said.
“Right now, they’re just trying to get started,” he said. “They’ve got an agent and they’re writing scripts and hoping for the best.”
Once settled in Los Angeles, Laventure will seek employment.
“I’m looking for a principal job in education,” he said. “But I’m open to change as well. It’s a new opportunity. I’ve worked in a bunch of different places and never had a bad job. Never had a job I didn’t enjoy.”
While he looks forward to the 2,300-mile move, making the choice to head west wasn’t easy.
“It was a tough decision,” Laventure said. “This is a fantastic area and I’m going to miss it. I’ve got a lot of great memories of some very good people.”
Pierce said the ISD will soon announce it is searching for a new principal.
“We’re going to post the job opening and hire the best candidate,” he said. “Tech Center principal is a prime position in education. Our board is absolutely phenomenal and our staff is second to none.”
