New superintendents start Friday in Ann Arbor and Lincoln schools

By Kyle Feldscher Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 5:58 a.m.

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

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.”