New State Superintendent Pledges to Work with Variety of Partners to Put Students First

Dr. Glenn Maleyko Outlines Priorities, Including Literacy and Renewing Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan

LANSING – Dr. Glenn Maleyko called for unified state leadership to put students first during today’s State Board of Education meeting, the day after becoming Michigan’s superintendent of public instruction.

Maleyko said he wants to update and strengthen Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan by engaging and collaborating with the State Board of Education, department staff, students, parents, families, educators, business partners, the Governor’s Office, legislators, education associations, union leadership, and all school stakeholders. Improving student literacy is the top priority, he said.

“We are at an important moment for public education—a moment that calls for collaboration, listening and shared purpose,” Maleyko said. “I accepted this role because I believe every child in Michigan deserves a world-class education—no matter their background, ZIP code or circumstance. The mission that guides me is simple: Students First. This work is not about politics, titles or positions. It is about unifying behind the principles of public education and ensuring that every child in every community has the opportunity to succeed.”

The State Board of Education on Aug. 26 selected Maleyko, who was then superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools, to be state superintendent.

“I'm excited to work with our new state superintendent,” said State Board President Dr. Pamela Pugh. “We stand on the common ground of putting students first and making Michigan a Top 10 state for education.” 

Maleyko has 30 years of experience in Dearborn Public Schools—the state’s third largest school district by enrollment—as a central office administrator, building principal and teacher. He had been Dearborn superintendent since 2015.

His priorities as state superintendent include:

• Renewing the Top 10 Strategic Education Plan. Maleyko would like to update and strengthen the plan through robust statewide stakeholder engagement.
• Improving student literacy (connected to Goal 2 of the Top 10 Strategic Education Plan) by building upon new measures that are already being implemented under laws for which the Michigan Department of Education and State Board of Education advocated. The new literacy/dyslexia laws signed in fall 2024 strengthen early literacy materials, professional development and coaching and require dyslexia screening and intervention. The department led the push to provide Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) science of literacy professional development for educators, which Maleyko wants to be mandatory.
• Further improving student health, safety and wellness (connected to Goal 3 of the Top 10 Strategic Education Plan), including increasing mental health supports and reducing chronic absenteeism.
• Strengthening student pathways to academic and career goals and postsecondary readiness (connected to Goal 4-6 of the Top 10 Strategic Education Plan). That includes expanding dual enrollment, early college, Career and Technical Education, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs, many of which are already at record-high levels, and increasing graduation rates, which are also at an historic high.
• Providing adequate and equitable school funding (connected to Goal 8 of the Top 10 Strategic Education Plan). Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature have significantly improved the adequacy and equity of school funding in recent years, but Maleyko wants funding to align with the levels recommended by a Michigan School Finance Research Collaborative study, which found Michigan still underfunds public education by billions of dollars. Maleyko wants a strong emphasis on at-risk categorical funding and on providing resources to English language learners and students who receive special education services, consistent with high-achieving states.
• Strengthening the educator workforce (connected to Goal 7 of the Top 10 Strategic Education Plan) by investing in teachers and support staff, improving mentoring and growing the educator pipeline.

“In the coming months I will launch a Statewide Listening Tour,” Maleyko said. “I will visit schools across Michigan, meet with educators, students, families, support staff, school board members and community partners, and attend events across every region. This Listening Tour, with support from the State Board of Education and Michigan Department of Education staff, will directly inform a major statewide initiative: the renewal and enhancement of the Top 10 Strategic Education Plan through broad stakeholder engagement. High-achieving states build strategies through deep listening—and we will do the same. As Wayne Gretzky said: ‘I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.’ Our Listening Tour will help Michigan skate toward the future of education.”

Maleyko is succeeding Dr. Michael F. Rice, who in 2020 led the last major revamping of the plan. Rice retired from the state superintendency in October. Dr. Sue C. Carnell, who served as interim state superintendent, will remain with the department as chief deputy superintendent.

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