Multiple School Districts Shake Up Leadership in Recent Weeks

A troubling pattern of superintendent resignations and administrative turmoil is unfolding across Grand Rapids area school districts, prompting questions about leadership stability and transparency in the region's education system.

Grand Rapids Public Schools is the latest district to announce significant leadership changes. Superintendent Leadriane Roby has recommended that the employment contract for Dr. Brandy Lovelady-Mitchell not be renewed beyond June 30, following the deputy superintendent's placement on administrative leave in early March through the end of the school year.

According to letters from Roby to the school board and Mitchell, the deputy superintendent of preschool through 12th grade learning and leadership is accused of creating a culture that devalued members of her staff.

The issues date back to a 2024 investigation that found Mitchell's leadership style and staff interactions had a detrimental impact. The investigation also determined her supervisory methods and management approach created a culture of devaluing employees.

Rather than terminating Dr. Mitchell at the time of the investigation, the district placed her on an improvement plan that included training and regular check-ins with Roby. Following the completion of the improvement plan, the district received further complaints, and Roby continued to have concerns regarding Dr. Mitchell.

Dr. Lovelady-Mitchell will have an opportunity to meet with the school board later this month to discuss her employment. Her contract runs through June 30.

This is not the first administrative shakeup at GRPS this month. Chief Area Instructional Leader for the Southeast Quadrant Bridget Cheney was placed on administrative leave on March 27 through the remainder of the school year. Roby said in a note to staff that this role is responsible for directing instructional quality, implementing strategic plans and supervising school principals within their specific geographic quadrant.

Maleika Joubert Brown will oversee the schools and programs under Cheney's supervision for the rest of the school year. Roby confirmed the leave is paid.

Crestwood School District Accepts Superintendent Resignation

In neighboring Crestwood, the Board of Education accepted the resignation of Superintendent Natasha Milazzo at a special meeting on March 31, formally effecting an abrupt change in leadership at the school district.

The vote to release Milazzo, which was unanimous, was accompanied by a vote to ratify an agreement between the Crestwood School District and an anonymous person identified only by the code #824839, pending solicitor review.

After accepting Milazzo's resignation and ratifying this agreement, the school board appointed Assistant to the Superintendent Kevin Seyer as acting superintendent. Seyer received an annual salary of $111,443 in the 2024-25 school year.

Crestwood officials remained loath to discuss what drove Milazzo's departure. During the public comment session of the special meeting, Crestwood school board solicitor Christopher Slusser advised members of the school board against answering any questions about the resignation.

Seyer and Crestwood Board of Education President Lauren McCurdy, speaking after the meeting, both declined to detail the circumstances that led to Milazzo's resignation. They similarly declined to disclose any settlement agreement attendant to Milazzo's departure or how much Crestwood will pay Milazzo in severance.

Alexandria School Board Begins Superintendent Search

The Alexandria School Board is on the hunt for a new superintendent following the resignation of Melanie Kay-Wyatt, Ed.D. on March 26. The board has begun searching for a replacement as it navigates this leadership transition.

Concerns About Transparency

The Crestwood Board of Education's decision to keep the terms of Milazzo's resignation confidential has attracted criticism. State Rep. Alec Ryncavage, R-119, announced that he had filed a Right to Know request seeking information about any settlement agreement Crestwood struck with Milazzo.

"Taxpayers should never be kept in the dark about how their money is being spent," Ryncavage said in a news release. "You do not get to spend taxpayer dollars in secret and then claim the public can't be told."

Crestwood Board President McCurdy, who is running as a Democratic candidate for the state House of Representatives in the 119th district, said she regretted that she could not provide more information to the public, but said she was bound by legal constraints.

"There's a lot of moving parts right now," McCurdy added regarding the transition.

The Crestwood Board of Education first hired Milazzo as superintendent in 2022. Her hire came the year after she had begun working in the school district as a human-resources specialist and several months after the school board had appointed her Crestwood business administrator and director of transportation.

Though she had no experience as an educator before coming to Crestwood, Milazzo worked as the business manager for the Weatherly Area School District.

Impact on Students and Staff

These leadership changes come at a critical time for schools across the region. The last day of school for GRPS is June 3, and districts are working to maintain stability for students and staff during these transitions.

GRPS Superintendent Roby emphasized the district's commitment to transparency, which is why they are sharing information promptly with their staff. However, because these are personnel matters, the district cannot comment further on the circumstances surrounding each leave.

As these districts navigate their leadership transitions, the education community watches closely to ensure that student learning and staff support remain priorities during this period of change.

The wave of resignations and administrative leaves across multiple districts in the region raises questions about what is driving these departures and how school boards are responding to leadership challenges in an increasingly complex education environment.