Common Man. Common Sense. Uncommon Possibilities.

Christopher John Praedel was born at Borgess Hospital, raised in Spring Valley neighborhood of Kalamazoo, and attended Kindergarten to College within the 60th District. As a young boy, Chris delivered papers to a three mile route throughout his neighborhood for the Kalamazoo Gazette. During his three years as a delivery boy, he developed a love for serving people and a love for discussing issues of the day with his customers. It was also during this time that Chris first immersed himself in leadership through the Boy Scouts, where he would eventually earn the rank of Eagle Scout at age 15 through Troop 205 (sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Kalamazoo). For six years, Chris served as a stock boy and cashier at Borgess Medical Center.

Chris attended elementary school at Spring Valley Elementary (K-6), middle school at Hillside Middle (7-8), and high school at Kalamazoo Center. He is immensely proud to be a product of the public education system and Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS).

Upon high school graduation, Chris went on to attend Western Michigan University (WMU), where he would study Business Management and Public Policy. At the conclusion of his freshman year, Chris was elected President of the Residence Hall Association. During his tenure as leader of the organization, the group was selected as Most Improved RHA in the Region (38 universities), Michigan RHA of the Year, he was selected as Michigan President of the Year, and was selected as Student Leader of the Year. The following year, Chris ran for student body president and was elected in a landslide by obtaining nearly 80% of the student vote. In this role, Chris represented the 25,000 students of campus and served as an intermediary between students, the administration, and community leaders. During his term, Chris developed and implemented Western Wednesdays to encourage the campus and community to sport school colors each Wednesday and to find way to enhance campus pride. His legacies extend beyond Western Wednesdays, Chris championed the largest expansion of the student activities resources in nearly two decades, fought for a non-denominational prayer reflection room, integrated an emphasis on philanthropic contributions, heavily lobbied the state legislature regarding potential cuts, worked on initiatives to recognize campus veterans and to prevent privatization of custodial services. Chris served on over a dozen campus and community councils and committees, reported regularly to the City Commission, and served on the Provost Search Committee. Besides addressing student issues and hosting events, Chris managed twelve cabinet members and five standing committees.

During his last year as a student, Chris developed an immense interest in educational policy at all levels. As a result of his passion, Chris worked with his counterpart at U of M to develop the Student Association of Michigan (SAM). This organization was created to fight to restore the depleted funding from higher education. The organization brought together all fifteen public universities to host one of the largest student rallies in recent history on the lawn of the State Capitol and to collaborate on future educational policy endeavors.

Upon graduation, Chris was selected as one of 4,000 people nation-wide to serve in a national service program called Teach for America. The organization serves some of the most under-resourced schools in the nation in both rural and inner-city settings. TFA Corp members are provided regional assignments and serve out a two-year national service commitment. Chris attended teaching institute in Los Angeles, CA, where he taught 2nd grade at ICEF Academy and received his intensive training. Upon completion of his teacher “boot camp” training, Chris was placed in the Southside of Chicago to work for Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Chris served out both years of his commitment at Paul Revere Elementary. His first year he provided strategic literacy to 2nd graders and taught technology courses to 4th to 8th graders. In his second year, he taught 30 third graders in his own self-contained classroom. During his two years, Chris received extensive professional development in the data, technology, and differentiation reforms taking place nationwide. Additionally, Chris plans to complete his Master’s Degree in Teaching in May of 2010.

Currently, Chris resides in the historic Stuart Neighborhood near beautiful downtown Kalamazoo. He enjoys the great outdoors, live music, theater, WMU sports, and traveling. He is a member of the WMU Alumni Association, the Kalamazoo Democratic Party, the Michigan Democratic Party, and attends Lutheran Church of Savior on ‘G’ Ave. Chris spent two years as a mentor for Big Brothers/Big Sisters and has raised funds (and taken the plunge) for the Special Olympics Polar Plunge for the past two years. Additionally, Chris has volunteered the last two campaign seasons to assist multiple candidates for Kalamazoo City Commission.

Currently, Chris resides in the historic Stuart Neighborhood near beautiful downtown Kalamazoo. He enjoys the great outdoors, live music, theater, WMU sports, and traveling. He is a member of the WMU Alumni Association, the Kalamazoo Democratic Party, the Michigan Democratic Party, and attends Lutheran Church of Savior on ‘G’ Ave. Chris spent two years as a mentor for Big Brothers/Big Sisters and has raised funds (and taken the plunge) for the Special Olympics Polar Plunge for the past two years. Additionally, Chris has volunteered the last two campaign seasons to assist multiple candidates for Kalamazoo City Commission.