Grand Rapids School Board Selects Candidates To Interview For Superintendent

  • The Grand Rapids Times
  • March 15th, 2019

The Grand Rapids School Board met on March 11 to review applicants for the superintendent position. The Board felt the candidate pool was excellent with 30 applicants and determined to interview five candidates for the position. The Board is being assisted in the search process by MASB, Michigan Association of School Boards.

The first round of interviews will be held on Saturday March 16 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at 1331 Franklin St. SE in the auditorium. The public is encouraged to attend the interviews, and doors will open at 8:30 a.m. A second round of interviews is planned for March 25.

Candidates and the times they will be interviewed are as follows: Saturday March 16 9:00 a.m. Dr. Aaron Johnson, Associate Superintendent for Instruction at Farmington Public Schools since 2014. He has a Bachelor of Science in English Education from Wayne State University, a Master of Education from Wayne State University, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Wayne State University. Previously, he was Director of Secondary Instruction for Grosse Pointe Public Schools 2012-2014. He was Harrison High School Principal in Farmington for four years, Assistant Principal for four years, and taught in the classroom for five years in Detroit.

10:10 a.m. Dr. Adrian Talley, Director of Community Schools for Prince George's County Public Schools since 2018. He has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from University of Virginia, Master of Arts in High Education Administration from Boston College, and an Ed.D. in Administration and Policy from George Washington University. Previously, he served as Executive Director for Student Services in the same district for three years. He was Principal Deputy Director and Associate Director of Education for the Department of Defense Schools for three years. He worked as Associate Superintendent for one year, Community Superintendent for five years, Director of School Performance for one year, and school principal for three years for Montgomery County Schools. He taught in the classroom for twelve years in Virginia and Maryland.

11:20 a.m. Dr. Devon Horton, Chief of Schools in Jefferson County, Kentucky since 2018. He has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Jackson State University, Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Chicago State University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Chicago State University. Previously, he was Deputy Superintendent in East St. Louis for four years. He also served as a Principal for three years, Assistant Principal for one year, and taught in the classroom for ten years in Chicago Public Schools.

1:00 p.m., Dr. Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, Founding Director EquiVisble and former superintendent in Albany, New York from 2012 to 2016. She has a Bachelor of Music Education from Grand Valley State University, a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Choral Music from Calvin College, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Kent State University. Previously, she served as Deputy Superintendent in Patterson, New Jersey for two years; Executive Director in Eden Prairie Minnesota for one year; Chief Academic Officer in Racine Wisconsin for two years; Assistant Superintendent and Director of Achievement in Washtenaw ISD for three years; and Associate and Assistant Director in Ohio Department of Education for three years. She taught music in Northview and East Grand Rapids for ten years.

2:10 p.m. Dr. Darrell L. Williams, Assistant Superintendent for Beloit Schools in Wisconsin since 2015. He has a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Rust College, a Master of Arts in Administrative Leadership and Supervision from Marian University, and a Ph.D. in Administration and Supervision from University of Wisconsin. Previously, he served in Milwaukee Public Schools as a Turnaround Principal for four years, Principal for twelve years, Assistant Principal for three years, and teacher in the classroom for three years.

The Board expects to appoint a new superintendent to begin July 1, 2019.