Decisions such as whether to implement an all-day kindergarten program and start an International Baccalaureate program are just some of the challenges facing Mary Marshall as the new superintendent of Dexter Community Schools.

In January, the board of education chose Marshall in a unanimous vote out of a field of 22 applicants. Board President Larry Cobler said Marshall's contract is still not complete, but her segue from interim superintendent to superintendent is going seamlessly.

Marshall said that her main goal as superintendent is to assure that the district is developing and delivering a curriculum that meets the changing needs of students.

"This is our core mission, and to accomplish this goal, we have to continually monitor and adjust to state and national standards, while promoting a sense of pride and belonging within our students, staff, and the community," Marshall said.

"It's a big job, and I have a desire to make our district stronger through structures that enhance our strengths but are also responsive to the changing world we live in. The accountability that we face from the state and national governments with the intention of improving the student experience can feel very faceless at times. By having a strong sense of who we are and where we need to go, I feel that my leadership can make a difference during these tough times."

Cobler has worked with Marshall for the last four years.

"I have seen her work very closely with community members and district staff, and I think she is very selfless and is willing to hear what other say," he said. "She knows the strategic direction the district has chosen and is committed to seeing it fulfilled. I think she will do an amazing job during these tough economic times."

Fifth-grade teacher Denise Dutcher, who worked with Marshall when she was principal at Dexter's Creekside Intermediate School, praised her leadership skills.

"Mary is an accomplished leader and outstanding mentor," said Dutcher. "She is intelligent, forward-thinking, compassionate, encouraging and funny. Mary embraces 'best practices' for the classroom, supports technology and encourages professional development for staff."

In making crucial decisions that face the district, Marshall said she'll take a pragmatic approach. She said she wants to learn more about what the research says about the benefits and possible disadvantages of all-day kindergarten. If such a program is developed, Marshall said it's critical that Dexter do a good job of developing it.

As for the International Baccalaureate program, it was her recommendation late last year that the district delay implementing it. She said there is a lot of research yet to be done to make sure starting the program at Dexter is the right decision. The program offers students a standardized curriculum and is aimed at helping students succeed in the interconnected, globalized world.

Since Marshall first started teaching in Dexter in 1993, the student population has doubled. Marshall said that people have moved to Dexter because they want a safe and supportive place to raise their kids, and many are willing to drive farther to work to maintain a home in the Dexter school district.

Marshall herself grew up not too far away, on the west side of Ann Arbor. She attended St. Thomas elementary and high schools and then earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree in education at Eastern Michigan University. She is currently working on a doctorate in education from Walden University.

The 52-year-old began her teaching career at Chappell Elementary School in Ypsilanti in the Fall of 1990. Three years later, she lost her job due to layoffs and became a substitute teacher in the Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Dexter schools. She was given a long-term position at Dexter High School and then hired to teach sixth grade. She served as assistant principal at the high school for one year, and then returned to sixth grade to teach for three years. When a principal's job opened, she applied and was hired in 1998. She spent a total of nine years as the principal of the fifth and sixth-grade school, which eventually was housed at Creekside, after a new high school was built.

Marshall served under four superintendents — John Hansen, Bill Spargur, Evelyn Shirk, and Rob Glass — all of whom she says taught her a lot. She became assistant superintendent and then interim superintendent when Glass left the district last spring.

"My years as a principal taught me to look at the operational side of the district.," she said. "I got to see the dedication of people like custodians and transportation folks,\ and to understand their roles and contributions to the whole system. I got involved in contract negotiations and gained greater exposure at the state level as well."

Marshall said some of the biggest challenges facing the district include reduced revenue and increased reporting and regulations.

"Our community should have high expectations for a return on investment of their tax dollars in providing an excellent education for our kids," said Marshall. "We have to keep focused on our core mission — student learning — while keeping the relationship side of the learning process strong, and while meeting all the mandates that come our way. Our greatest challenge is not to allow the business side of education to erode the magic that takes place in the classroom each day."

Lisa Carolin is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. To reach the news desk, call 734-623-2530. For more Dexter stories, visit our Dexter page.