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 Superintendent
Search Draws Diverse Pool
Gongwer News Service, April 18, 2005
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Though only
about half of those who applied allowed release of their names,
the applicants for superintendent of public instruction
represent a wide range of experiences and ages. But those
applicants would have to withstand Governor Jennifer Granholm's
nomination of Michael Flanagan.
State Board of Education President Kathleen Straus (D-Bloomfield
Hills) promised a thorough review of all 29 candidates, 17 of
whom have requested their names not be made public unless they
are selected for an interview.
"We have some quality people who have applied to be the next
State Superintendent," said State Board President Kathleen N.
Straus. "This is an extremely important position and the State
Board will be thorough and diligent in selecting the person who
best meets the criteria approved by the Board and the Governor."
Mr. Flanagan, whose application came in on the April 8 deadline
and was accompanied by a letter from Ms. Granholm naming him as
her candidate, remains the person to beat for the post. In
addition to the governor's backing and his year as her education
advisor, Mr. Flanagan has also been superintendent for both a
school district (Farmington/Farmington Hills) and an
intermediate school district (Wayne Regional Education Service
Agency).
The expected top contender to Mr. Flanagan is Jeremy Hughes, who
currently holds the post on an acting basis. Mr. Hughes was
chief academic officer under former Superintendent Tom Watkins
from October 2002 until Mr. Watkins left in February. Prior to
that, he headed the Office of Education Assessment and the
Michigan Merit Award when the program was in the Department of
Treasury. He has also served as superintendent of Dearborn
Public Schools and Haslett Public Schools.
But Mr. Flanagan and Mr. Hughes are vying with other
superintendents, principals and teachers for the state's top
education post.
One of those they face has experience in the race. Thomas
Jandris of Cassopolis was one of the finalists when the board
selected Mr. Watkins. He is currently CEO of Progress Education
Corporation, an education technology company spun off from Edmin
Incorporated of San Diego, California, where he was president
during his last shot at superintendent. He also held posts with
the Education Commission of the States as well as being
principal at various schools around Illinois.
Larry Latimore of Detroit plans to retire as principal of
Northwestern High School (Detroit Public Schools) in July,
having started in that post in September 1997 and having worked
most of his career in the school district.
John Hunt of Apollo Beach, Florida, has been an education
professor at various universities, most recently the University
of South Florida, since 1984. Before that he was superintendent
at a number of school districts including the Jefferson County
Board of Education in Alabama and the Paradise Valley Unified
School District Number 69 in Phoenix, Arizona. He holds a
master's in education and a doctorate in education
administration from Harvard and boasts a long list of
publications.
Willie Davis Jr. of Lansing has 20 years teaching at levels
ranging from preschool to university as well as 10 years as a
public health consultant for the Department of Community Health.
He holds a doctorate in comparative and international education
from Michigan State University, a master's degree in educational
leadership from Wayne State University and a bachelor's degree
from Grand Valley State University.
Gregory Gunn of Detroit has taught since 1989, including time in
Detroit Public Schools, the Detroit Academy and most recently
Our Lady of Loretto Catholic School. He expects to earn his
master's degree in education technology from Central Michigan
University in August 2006.
Among the most unusual teaching experience is Jeffrey Hubbard of
Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Mr. Hubbard, a lieutenant colonel
in the U.S. Air Force, teaches F-16 fighter pilots as well as
serving as deputy inspector general. But his background is in
chemistry, with a master's degree in safety and systems
management from the University of Southern California in 1987
and a bachelor's degree in chemical/petroleum refining
engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1983.
Robert Paul of Chicago holds a bachelor's degree in business
administration and education from Loras College in Dubuque,
Iowa, but has since concentrated on law and health. He is
currently chief safety officer for the Mount Sinai Health System
in Chicago, where he has been for a year since ending his
private law practice in Mishicot, Wisconsin. He was also
director of regulatory compliance and quality assurance for
Baxter Healthcare Corporation.
The pool includes two candidates with a law
enforcement/education background, having worked in youth
training facilities. Zipporah Chisnell-Busu of Ann Arbor
currently works as a youth specialist at the Department of
Humans Services' Adrian Training School, where she started last
year, but she has worked at the Maxey Training School since
1994. Ms. Chisnell-Busu expects to earn her master's degree in
career and technical education from Ferris State University next
month.
Eugene Willis Jr. of Bolivar, Missouri expects to earn his
master's degree in education from Southwest Baptist University
in July, having most recently worked as a juvenile facility
counselor at the Greenville Hills Academy in Greenville,
Florida. Mr. Willis worked in various establishments as a
bouncer and promoter between 2000 and August 2004. But he has
some of the communications skills the board may be seeking,
having worked as a telemarketer from 1999-2000.
Only one of the applicants appeared to have no connection to
education other than having a degree. Rhonda Ceane of University
Center plans to graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in
mechanical engineering from Saginaw Valley State University. Her
minor in management is expected to be completed in August. While
she has experience working for the state, having interned with
the Department of Transportation for the past several summers,
she has no experience in teaching or administration.
Ms. Ceane would bring a variety of other skills to the post,
however, with her interests in cooking, camping, cross-stitching
and "watching chick-flick/light hearted movies".
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