This week, the Michigan State Board of Education selected the seven semifinalists for the next superintendent of public instruction. The field of 53 candidates for the position came from Michigan, eight other states, and Washington, D.C. In April, Superintendent Dr. Michigan Rice announced he was retiring on October 3.
The semifinalists are:
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- Thomas Ahart, a coach to superintendents and other educators, and a former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa.
- Lisa Coons, former Virginia state superintendent of public instruction.
- Glenn Maleyko, superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools.
- Paul Salah, superintendent of Huron Valley Schools.
- John R. Severson, executive director of the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators and former Muskegon Area Intermediate School District superintendent.
- Christopher J. Timmis, superintendent of Dexter Community Schools.
- Judy Walton, superintendent and curriculum director for Harrison Community Schools.
Superintendent Selection Schedule:
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- The State Board of Education plans to schedule interviews with the candidate for public meetings next week on August 18 and 19.
- After that round of interviews, they tentatively plan to select finalists to interview the week of August 25, with the goal of selecting the preferred candidate by August 26.
- Once selected, contract negotiations would commence, and a deep background check would be conducted.
- The formal appointment would occur at the State Board of Education meeting on September 9.
The State Board of Education was established by the 1963 State Constitution. The eight members of the board serve eight-year terms.
