Our "Employee Spotlight" series aims to showcase the unique personalities, talents, and stories that contribute to the success of Lansing USD469. This section celebrates the incredible individuals who make our Lansing USD469 community thrive.
Michael Basler (Coach Baz), Social Studies Teacher- Government & APGOV (LHS-Social Studies Department Chair) Head Baseball Coach
Question: How long have you worked in Lansing USD469?
Answer: Fall of 2013-Current
Question: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the role you have within the school district?
Answer: I was born in Alexandria, Virginia, while my father was serving in the Honor Guard at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. We moved to Kansas City, Kansas, when I was 5, and I grew up in “the Dotte.” I graduated from Washington High School in 1990 and attended Ottawa University on a baseball scholarship. After my college eligibility was up, I served as a student assistant at Ottawa.
I graduated in the spring of 1996 and completed my student teaching at Piper High School that fall while also beginning my college coaching career at KCKCC. I worked at KCKCC from 1996 as an instructor and assistant baseball and basketball coach. I attended Central Michigan University for graduate school and earned my master’s degree in Education/Coaching.
In the fall of 2004, I was hired as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Saint Mary. While at USM, I taught various courses and served as sports information director and assistant athletic director. I joined USD 469 in the fall of 2013 and also worked as an assistant basketball and baseball coach. I was on the coaching staff for the 2014 Lansing basketball team that went 25–0 and won the 5A state championship. I have coached baseball, basketball, and football in the district and have taught world history, American history, government, and AP Government.
I have been married for 27 years to my college sweetheart. We have two children, Bradi (Lansing Class of 2019) and Peyton (Lansing Class of 2021), both Lansing graduates.
Question: What do you enjoy most about your role and the work you do in the school district?
Answer: The opportunity to work with people that share a passion & love for learning and teaching their contents. I've been blessed to work alongside some really talented educators, and this has provided me the chance to learn & grow as an educator.
Question: When you're not working, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?
Answer: I enjoy spending time with my wife, kids, and puppy. I’m a baseball and basketball junkie, and I love the Chiefs and Jayhawks. I’m also a history and trivia nut, a Star Wars nerd, and I enjoy golfing with my daughter. I like watching several Paramount+ series on TV. In the summer, we spend time in Estes Park, Colorado, at our family property.
Question: What is something unusual about you that most people don't know?
Answer: I’m very artistic and took multiple art classes in high school, including watercolor, drawing, colored pencils, ceramics, oil painting, and stained glass. My art teachers helped me explore the possibility of earning an art scholarship for college, but I wanted to be a college athlete. My favorite class was stained glass, and I still have several pieces I made.
Question: Could you share a particularly heartwarming or memorable experience you've had while working with students or colleagues?
Answer: In the last few years at Lansing USD 469, I’ve been fortunate to have Jim Peters sub in my classes from time to time. Mr. Peters was my middle school geography teacher in KCK at Eisenhower Middle School, and my love of geography trivia started in his classroom. He even took our middle school students on a trip to Washington, D.C., when I was in sixth grade.
His classes were engaging, fun, and rigorous all at the same time. There’s no doubt he’s on my “Mt. Rushmore” of teachers, and he has influenced me as an educator more than he probably realizes.
The most recent time he subbed in my class, he left me a photo—a copy of an old school Polaroid—from our middle school geography class. Thank you, Mr. Peters. You’re the best!
Question: What piece of advice would you like to offer to students to help them succeed and make the most of their educational journey?
Answer: I tell my classes all the time to "CHASE YOUR CONTENT CURIOSITY." If you have a desire to know something and learn about it........follow it.