LANSING - On behalf of the State Board of Education today, Board President Kathleen N. Straus announced that Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Jeremy Hughes, Ph.D., will be Acting Superintendent until the effective date of outgoing state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Watkins’ resignation in early March. If, by that time, a new Superintendent has not been named, the State Board will appoint an interim Superintendent.
Hughes has served in the capacity of Acting Superintendent in the past when Watkins had taken annual leave time; having the authority to speak on behalf of the Superintendent and approve documents as necessary.
“We have the utmost confidence in Jeremy to step in and lead the Department of Education during the transitional period between now and when the Board appoints a new Superintendent,” Straus said.
Hughes will continue his duties as Chief Academic Officer for the Michigan Department of Education, a position he has held since 2002. Prior to his role in state government, Hughes had been Superintendent at Haslett Public Schools (1979-89) and Dearborn Public Schools (1989-2002).
“The dedicated staff at the Department of Education is to be commended for its focus and commitment to the State Board’s goals of improving student achievement, particularly in our high priority schools,” Straus added. “We are very fortunate to have outstanding people working at the state level and the local school levels every day to provide quality learning environments for our children.”
The State Board will discuss the search process for the next Superintendent at its regularly-scheduled February 8 meeting in Lansing.
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