States

Detroit Administrator Appointed as Interim Schools Superintendent

By Corey Mitchell — March 07, 2016 1 min read
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Alycia Meriweather, the Detroit school district’s executive curriculum director, will serve as the school system’s interim superintendent.

Meriweather will oversee all academics in the district, which has historically been one of the nation’s lowest performing. Detroit scores the worst among big-city school districts on the National Assessment of Educational Progress in math and reading.

Retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes, the district’s new state-appointed transitions manager, announced the hire Monday. Together, Rhodes and Meriweather will assume the duties of former emergency manager Darnell Earley, who resigned in February.

“I have been with Detroit public schools since I was a 4-year-old in the district’s Head Start program. I am a graduate of DPS and a lifelong resident of the city of Detroit. The success of DPS and its students is personal for me,” Meriweather said in a statement released by the district.

A former middle school science teacher, Meriweather began her career in the district in 1995. According to the release from the district, she did not initially seek the position; district teachers and residents urged Rhodes consider her for the opening.

While Meriweather oversees academics, Rhodes will focus on lobbying lawmakers to pass legislation proposed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder that would provide $715 million in new funding for the district, which could run out of money in April.

Rhodes did not establish a timeline for how long Meriweather will serve as superintendent. Detroit’s public schools have been under state control, and the leadership of emergency managers, since 2009.

A version of this news article first appeared in the District Dossier blog.