Another GRPS Leader Out While District Maintains Confidentiality

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A second member of the administration team at Grand Rapids Public Schools has been placed on administrative leave for the remainder of the current school year.

In a letter to staff sent out on Friday, Superintendent Dr. Leadriane Roby announced Chief Area Instructional Leader of Southeast Quadrant Bridget Cheney was placed on administrative leave until June.

The leave is part of a "personnel matter" that Dr. Roby did not detail in the letter. Cheney is the second administrator to be placed on a leave that will last through the end of the school year.

Dr. Brandy Lovelady Mitchell, the district's deputy superintendent of preschool through 12th grade learning and leadership, was removed from her active duties on March 12.

It is not clear if there is any connection between Cheney and Mitchell's leaves.

District Maintains Transparency While Details Remain Private

Because this is a personnel matter, the district cannot comment further on the circumstances surrounding the leave, according to Superintendent Roby.

"Our district is committed to transparency, which is why we are sharing this information promptly with our staff. Because this is a personnel matter, the district cannot comment further on the circumstances surrounding the leave," Roby said.

GRPS confirmed that Cheney's leave is paid administrative leave.

Interim Coverage Arranged

The district has arranged for Maleika Joubert Brown to oversee the schools and programs under Cheney's supervision for the rest of the school year.

"We are grateful to have a dedicated and experienced leader ready to step in and provide stable guidance for our schools," Roby said.

Timeline of Administrative Changes

The last day of school for GRPS is June 3.

Earlier this month, Dr. Brandy Lovelady Mitchell, the deputy superintendent for Grand Rapids Public Schools, was put on administrative leave.

Mitchell had served as the district's deputy superintendent overseeing preschool through 12th grade learning and leadership.

The timing of these personnel decisions has raised questions among staff and community members, though the district has maintained that both situations are separate personnel matters being handled according to district policy.

What This Means for the District

Chief Area Instructional Leaders play a critical role in GRPS, responsible for:

• Directing instructional quality across schools
• Implementing strategic plans at the quadrant level
• Supervising school principals within their specific geographic area

The Southeast Quadrant includes several schools and serves a significant portion of the district's student population.

The district has not established a clear date that either Bridget Cheney or Dr. Brandy Lovelady Mitchell would return to work. Both remain on administrative leave through the end of the academic year.

Community Impact

These administrative changes come at a time when Grand Rapids Public Schools continues to navigate various challenges, including the recent installation of AI cameras on 135 school buses to catch illegal drivers passing stopped school buses, and ongoing discussions about school safety and operational improvements.

The district has not released additional details about either personnel matter beyond confirming that both individuals remain in paid administrative leave status through June 3.

Sources

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/grand-rapids-public-schools-administrator-204203896.html