MPS Board interviews three superintendent candidates

Three Midland Public Schools Superintendent candidates were interviewed publicly by the Board of Education during a special meeting held at the MPS Administrative Center on Monday, February 26th.

The nominees were Bay City Public Schools Chief Academic Officer Patrick Murray, MPS Interim Superintendent Penny Miller Nelson, and Rockford (Ill.) Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Antwan Reed.

The board limited each interview to 60 minutes, with 45 minutes for pre-written questions and 15 minutes for questions from the candidate and additional follow-up from the board.

At the end of the meeting, the board finalized the selection process and decided who would be selected for the final interview at a special meeting to be held in the Administration Center on Wednesday, February 28th at 5:30 p.m.

The board may re-interview all three candidates, or may remove candidates before the final interview.

Members of the public in attendance were also provided with a sheet where they could fill out a form to tell the board their impressions of the candidates. Those watching online were encouraged to email their opinions to the school board.

Mr. Murray highlighted his involvement in the development of Meridian Early College High School, work on the facilities and community involvement.

“There’s nothing wrong with being vulnerable,” he said.

When asked about the potential $300 million in bond support, Murray said there’s a rationale for it, but you’ll have to assess your needs yourself.

“It’s very easy to get carried away with your ideas,” Marie says. “I think we’re at a point now where we need someone with a level head to help the leadership team make those decisions.”

He said he had to face severe backlash after he began implementing an early secondary college program in Meridian. In his valedictorian speech, he said the proposed changes would ruin the school.

Mr Murray said parents were invited to the school and received training on how to access their grades and what differences to expect.

“Thanks to the funding and the excitement from teachers, we advertised to parents that it was going to be very different,” he said. “Every time you put a label on something and call it something new, it tends to get a little scary.”

Miller-Nelson, currently serving as interim superintendent, answered the board’s questions about communication issues, how MPS can ensure student success, the district’s culture, and provided specific examples. I was able to list.

Miller-Nelson emphasized “kindness in communication.” To achieve that, she said she will be “very clear and very direct” to ensure transparency and understanding.

“I think we could have done a better job of communicating with families and stakeholders, especially when incidents occur in the community,” she said. “We are pleased with the transparency this provides.”

In addition to the communiqué, Miller-Nelson also wants to implement a staff newsletter, she said. Doing so will recognize the fact that the district is one of the largest employers in the Midlands and create a better staff culture.

“Of all the strategies we can take to build connections and community, I believe communication is one of the best tools to strengthen our culture,” she said. said.

Regarding student success, Miller-Nelson said she wants to continue to “strengthen literacy” in the district and support teachers. Creating a district culture is part of supporting teachers, but she also wants to create a curriculum that is “coherent and aligned.”

Mr. Reed is originally from Chicago, where he began his career as an educator, focusing on creating a school environment that meets the needs of all students and allows them to see themselves “inside the curriculum.” Ta.

He said his philosophy was something he learned from coaching soccer to studying. Prior to his current position in Rockford, he also worked in South Bend, Indiana and West Allis, Wisconsin.

“Scholars in South Bend didn’t have that opportunity,” he said. “They were going through hardships, but many people were ignoring them. There were about six schools. My challenge was to relocate those schools.”

Parents have also become more involved in schools, he said, as schools have become more proactive about talking about their children.

For student success, he said he wants to make sure students have access to college as well as career technical education and project-based learning.

“We need to be really intentional about our district goals,” he said.

Reed said he wants “constant feedback” between principals and superintendents in holding staff accountable.

He also reflected on the fact that he paid attention to communication. He said over-communication can lead to expectations that the district cannot meet.

“Everything we communicate has to be followed up on,” Reed said.