New superintendents start Friday in Ann Arbor and Lincoln schools
Two area school districts will be seeing new superintendents start work Friday as Ann Arbor Public Schools and Lincoln Consolidated Schools welcome their new leaders.
Patricia Green will be taking over as Ann Arbor superintendent from Robert Allen, who has filled the role on an interim basis since October. The position formerly was held by Todd Roberts, who left the district to take on a new position in North Carolina.
Green said in a letter to the school community she’s excited to work with community members and students alike to “create the best world in which our children can learn and grow.”
“Ann Arbor is a special community and I am enormously proud to join its heritage of excellence,” she wrote.
Patricia Green
Here are some stories from Patricia Green’s appointment as superintendent
- Ann Arbor school board selects Patricia Green as its next superintendent
- A Q&A with Patricia Green, Ann Arbor Public Schools’ new superintendent
- Superintendent hopeful Patricia Green talks strategic planning, community outreach in interview
- Here’s the price tag for Ann Arbor schools’ search for a new superintendent
Green was hired in early March by the Ann Arbor school board after two rounds of interviews. She was hired from a pool of six candidates brought forward by search firm Ray & Associates.
She’s coming to Ann Arbor from the North Allegheny School District in Pennsylvania, where she has been superintendent since 2002.
Ann Arbor is one of a few local school districts that have made major decisions on the superintendent position in the past year.
Willow Run Community Schools and Dexter Community Schools both hired their interim superintendents, Laura Lisiscki and Mary Marshall respectively, to the permanent position in the fall. Manchester Community Schools is searching for a new superintendent after Shawn Lewis-Lakin left the district.
Meanwhile, Lincoln will welcome Ellen Bonter as the replacement for Lynn Cleary, who retired this week.
Bonter will be coming to Lincoln from the Mason County Eastern School District, where she was superintendent for 5 years. Bonter has also been superintendent in the Vanderbilt Area Schools for 6 years.
Cleary said she knew Bonter would do a great job in her new role at Lincoln during her retirement ceremony on Monday.
“I want all of you to know I truly, truly, truly love Ellen Bonter,” Cleary said. “I think she’s going to be an absolute dream for the district. She’s very knowledgeable and I only wish I could work with her.”
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Basic Bob
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 : 12:37 a.m.
On Dr. Green's first day, she will undoubtedly take a vacation day and earn over $1000. Monday she will take a holiday and earn another grand. I am curious what day she will actually report to work. Maybe July 19? By then she will have made nearly $12000!
grye
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 7:36 p.m.
Senators and congressmen work even less. Suggest you start ragging on them too.
DonBee
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 2:14 p.m.
I wish both good luck. Lincoln is a school district that is struggling and will take a strong superintendent and a school board that is willing to dig in and make changes. More than likely merging Lincoln in with Ypsi and Willow Run is a long term good thing. Ann Arbor is a district that is going to find making labor contract changes and budgeting decisions hard to do. The Superintendent inherits a top heavy administration and costs that are out of balance for a district of its size. Having always had more money than anyone else, living within a budget will be tough. Add the very interested parents and you get a recipe for a long and hard summer. To both, good luck, I hope your focus is on what is BEST FOR THE CHILDREN.
snoopdog
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 12:22 p.m.
Good luck, you'll need it ! Good Day