Meet the Principal
Welcome to Steele Elementary!
We have amazing students, tremendous teachers, and awesome ancillary staff at our school. Mr. Craig Kueffner is proud to lead this building, and everyone at Steele is committed to providing an outstanding educational experience and positive outcomes for your children.
Mr. Kueffner is a seasoned educational leader with over two decades of experience spanning classroom instruction, central office administration, and building-level leadership. The 2026-27 school year will be Mr. Kueffner’s third as Steele, and he directs all operations, budgeting, and instructional leadership for the 500-student Title I building. Mr. Kueffner’s leadership footprint at Mason Public Schools also includes an impactful tenure as the Director of Student Supports—where he spearheaded district-wide equity, mental health, and MTSS initiatives on the executive team—as well as five years as assistant principal and athletic director at Mason Middle School. Grounded by fifteen years of foundational experience as a secondary English and Language Arts teacher, primarily at Haslett Public Schools, Mr. Kueffner brings a deeply rooted, holistic commitment to fostering supportive, equitable, and high-achieving school communities.
Mr. Kueffner is a Michigan State University graduate, holding a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in K-12 Administration from the institution. He is also an avid Spartan fan, and he can often be found in East Lansing attending games or in Steele's hallways discussing the current state of the athletic program with fellow Spartans or even the occasional Wolverine.
Personally, Mr. Kueffner is a husband and father. His wife is also a veteran public educator who teaches in a neighboring district. Mr. Kueffner’s two children are both grown. His daughter recently graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and his son is in his second year at Michigan State. In his time away from the school, Mr. Kueffner loves to travel, read, follow college and pro sports, walk/hike, downhill ski, golf, play card & board games, and take the family boat out on the water. He is happiest when he gets to do these activities with his family.
Mason Public Schools strive to provide an exemplary learning community for every student, every day. Please reach out to Mr. Kueffner if you need anything over the course of the 2026-27 school year!
Please see below for additional information about Steele Elementary:
Calendar: You will want to look the calendar over very carefully and make note of important dates such as conferences, winter and spring breaks, and other days off. Please note the half days and late starts.
Contact Information: Each year we have families update contact information and reaffirm reviewing the student handbook, ethical use of technology, concussion awareness, video/photo consent, etc. This year we will require families to do so using Family Access. Our IT Department is working to update Family Access to include all the required forms. Families will be notified, via Skylert, to complete the process. Elementary report cards will now be posted to the student’s portfolio. All elementary families will need to be signed up for Skyward Family Access. For help with Skyward Family access, please contact Shannon Kesler at (517) 676-6516, option 1.
School Hours: Our school hours are 8:40 a.m.-3:47 p.m. As a reminder, classroom instruction begins promptly at 8:40. If you are transporting your child, rather than using the school bus, your child should arrive between 8:20 and 8:35. Students are expected to be on time for school. Any student arriving late to school is to report to the school office before proceeding to class so that their attendance can be recorded and lunch choice is taken. Students are engaged in meaningful activities right up to dismissal time at 3:47 p.m.
Early Pickups: Any efforts to avoid early pickup will be appreciated as well as being beneficial to your child. If you know ahead of time, such as in the case of a doctor's appointment, please notify the office personnel in writing, and we will share the information with the teacher. Please note that this will be recorded as an “Early Pickup” under attendance for your child. Feel free to contact our secretaries, Melissa Halstead and Kerri Petee, with any questions.
