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List of superintendents of Detroit Public Schools

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Detroit Public Schools Community District and the original Detroit Public Schools district (that existed before a 2016 reorganization) has been headed by a superintendent position that was first filled in 1856.

History of the office

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The first superintendent of Detroit Public Schools was appointed in 1856 by the Detroit Board of Education. The superintendent co-managed responsibility for the administration of the district alongside the elected members of the board. When legislation was passed in 1873 to allow the board to appoint a secretary and treasurer, the legislation permitted for superintendents to also serve simultaneously as board secretary so long as they did not receive additional compensation for doing so.[1]

In 1881, legislation was passed reorganizing the school board. This legislation made the superintendent the school district's executive officer. By 1900, the superintendent position had acquired substantial authority in the operations of schools, but the mayor of Detroit and Detroit City Council also effectively held significant control over how the school district was run. The school board was again reorganized in 1916 by legislation which also increased the power of the office of superintendent.[1]

From 1999 through 2005, the school district operated under state control, with the superintendent position becoming a state-appointed CEO role.

From 2009 until the district's reorganization in 2016, much of the district's administration was overseen by state-appointed emergency managers. After the reorganization, some administration was overseen by Steven Rhodes as transition manager.[2]

List of superintendents

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Name Tenure Citation
John F. Nichols 1856 [3]
Divie Bethune Duffield 1857 [3]
John M. B. Sill 1863 [4]
Duane Doty 1864—1875 [5]
John M. B. Sill 1875–September 1, 1886 [6][7]
William E. Robinson September 1, 1886–1897 [7][8]
Wales C. Martindale 1897–1912 [9]
Charles E. Chadsey 1912–1919 [10]
Frank Cody 1919–1942
Warren E. Bow 1942–1945 [11]
Arthur Dondineau 1945–1956 [12]
Samuel Miller Brownell 1956–1966 [13]
Norman Drachler 1966–1971 [14]
Charles J. Wolfe 1971–1975
Arthur Jefferson 1975–1989
(interim general superintendent Jul. 1–Nov. 4, 1975; permanent general superintendent Nov. 4, 1975–1989) 		[15][16]
John W. Porter 1989–1991 [17][18]
Deborah McGriff 1991–1993 [15][19]
David Snead December 1993–October 1997 [17][20]
Eddie L. Green April 1997–May 1999
(interim superintendent Apr. 1997–Apr. 1998; acting superintendent Apr. 1998–Nov. 1998; permanent superintendent Nov. 1998–Mar. 1999; acting CEO Mar. 1999–May 1999) 		[21]
David Adamy May 1999–2000 (CEO) [22][23]
Kenneth S. Burnley 2000– June 30, 2005 (CEO) [24][25][26]
William F. Coleman III July 2005–June 30, 2007
(CEO July 2005–Jan. 2006; interim superintendent Jan.–Mar. 2006; permenant superintendent Mar. 2006– Jun. 2007) 		[27][28]
Connie Calloway July 1, 2007–December 15, 2008 [29][30]
Teresa Gueyser December 15, 2008–July 1, 2010
(acting/interim superintendent December 15, 2008–August 14, 2009; permanent superintendent August 14, 2009–July 1, 2010) 		[30][31]
Karen Ridgeway 2011–15 [15][32]
Alycia Meriweather (interim) 2016–17 [32]
Nikolai Vitti 2017–present [32]

References

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  1. ^ a b "A History of the Relationship Between the Detroit Board of Education and the City of Detroit" (PDF). Citizens Research Council of Michigan (report prepared at request of New Detroit, Inc.). July 1990. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  2. ^ "Steven Rhodes". Detroit Regional Chamber. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Detroit Schools, 19th century". Detroit Historical Society. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Crossed Death's Threshold". Detroit Free Press. 7 April 1901. pp. B11. Retrieved 5 May 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Duane Doty Died In Pullman | Ann Arbor District Library". aadl.org. Ann Arbor Argus-Democrat. 1902. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  6. ^ Multiple sources:
  7. ^ a b Education, Detroit (Mich ) Board of (1886). Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
  8. ^ "William E. Robinson papers, 1886-1897". researchworks.oclc.org. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Attorney Dies in Car Crash". August 16, 1949. Retrieved 19 March 2025 – via Find A Grave.
  10. ^ Multiple sources:
  11. ^ "Past Presidents". Wayne State University. 23 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Educator Arthur Dondineau, 83, Dies". Detroit Free Press. 16 November 1968. p. 3.
  13. ^ Multiple sources:
  14. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (26 May 2000). "Norman Drachler; Detroit Schools Chief in '60s". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  15. ^ a b c Baker, Natasha S. (2017). "The Detroit Public School District: A Case Study Into Superintendents' Leadership From 1975 to 2015 (dissertation)" (PDF). University of Michigan–Dearborn. p. 57. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Jefferson's Decade of Excellence". The Sphynx (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity). 1 July 1986 – via Issuu.
  17. ^ a b "History of the DFT". dft231.mi.aft.org. Detroit Federation of Teachers. 24 July 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  18. ^
  19. ^ Bradley, Ann (20 October 1993). "Detroit Superintendent To Join Edison Project". Education Week. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  20. ^ Multiple sources:
  21. ^ "Eddie L. Green, Ed.D." Cranbrook Schools. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  22. ^ Lessenberry, Jack (June 16, 2016). "Legislators show little interest in saving Detroit schools". The Blade. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  23. ^ White, Kerry A. (19 May 1999). "Detroit Board Names Interim Schools Chief". Education Week. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  24. ^ The Detroit Free Press, July 3, 2010, Page 9A
  25. ^ New York Times – Detroit's Embattled School District to Be Shepherded by One of Its Graduates
  26. ^ Bradley, Ann (13 April 2005). "Superintendent of Detroit Schools Announces June Resignation". Education Week. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  27. ^ "Detroit Settles Lawsuit Brought by Former Superintendent William Coleman". American School & University. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  28. ^ "Coleman, William F., III | Encyclopedia.com". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  29. ^ Multiple sources:
  30. ^ a b Oosting, Jonathan (14 August 2009). "Detroit Public Schools Board Names Teresa Gueyser Superintendent". mlive. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  31. ^ Multiple sources:
  32. ^ a b c "Detroit Public Schools Community District, Michigan". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
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