1.School Visits Continue to be a main priority in my schedule. It has been a little more challenging in the month of January since I have attended professional development to enhance my leadership ability and other important meetings outside the district like the State of the State Address. However, the schools that I have visited since January 20 include Michael Berry/ACE/Magnet, Edsel Ford, Salina Intermediate, Salina Elementary, Cotter, Miller, Haigh, Lindbergh, Smith (2), Nowlin, Whitmore Bolles, Stout (2), and DuVall. I track my visits so that I can try to divide the amount of time that I spend in the different schools throughout the district.
2. Student Advisory Committee to the Superintendent. We had our 3rd meeting on January 20 at Bon Appetit Restaurant at the Berry Center. We had a great meeting with discussions regarding the recent Peace March that was held on January 18 along with with important issues on a national, state, and local level. We also enjoyed a delicious lunch that was prepared by the Berry Center Students.
3. State of the State Address: I went to Lansing on January 19 to attend receptions at the state of the state address in order to advocate for public education. Pictures were taken with State Superintendent Whiston, and Majority Leader Meekhof. I also attended with WCRESA superintendent Liepa and other Tri-county superintendents Rob Glass Bloomfield, Gary Niehaus Grosse pointe and Shawn Lewis-Laken Royal Oak. We are trying to restore categorical funding that was taken away in 2010.
4. Honors Choir at Stout on January 20: I addressed the Students and parents at Stout Middle School during the Honor’s Choir performance. The students and teachers did an outstanding job and I really enjoyed their performance. I also enjoyed socializing with many of Dearborn’s finest teachers, parents, and students. Video Clips can be found on my facebook page.
5. Monthly Meetings: On January 20th we held our monthly Superintendent-HR-Union Meetings with all union groups. The meetings start at 1pm with the DFSE president, at 2pm with the DFT president, 3pm with all union heads and representatives from other classified non-union employees, and then the ADSA at 4pm. In addition, individual/small group meetings were held with Members of the Board of Education during the week.
6. Rotary Meeting and Dr. Klee’s retirement: I attended the Dearborn Rotary meeting on January 21 in the presence of the District Governor Wayne Titus where Maysam Ali-Bazzi and Shannon Peterson were officially recognized as new members. I served as their sponsor. On the same day we held a retirement reception for Dr. Klee honoring her 30 plus years of service in the school district.
7. Rotary Meeting, Abbie Bazzi Meeting, Meetings at Haigh-Lindbergh, and the Exchange Club Meeting: On January 25 we had a meeting to prepare students from Dearborn that will be involved with the Rotary Youth Month in February. We also held public meetings at Haigh Elementary and Lindbergh Elementary for parents of students that are impacted by potential boundary changes. On January 26 I attended the Dearborn Exchange Club Weekly Meeting and then I went to a reception for a fellow Exchange Club Member Abbie Bazzi.
8. State Superintendent Conference: On January 27-29 I attended the State Superintendent Conference at the Renaissance Center in Detroit to Network with Superintendents from around the state along with attending sessions that helped to enhance my leadership ability and educational knowledge. Lloyd Carr was a very motivational opening speaker on Wednesday and other speakers during the week included Chris Wigent (MASA Executive Director) Mike Duggan (Mayor of Detroit), and Brian Whiston (State Superintendent).
9. Big Band Concert: On Saturday January 30 my family and I attended the Big Band Concert at the Performing Arts Center which is a Dearborn Rotary Fundraiser. The Dearborn High Band played and they did an outstanding job. Video Clips are available on my facebook page.
