Grand Rapids Public Schools has chosen its new superintendent.
The school board voted Monday night to select Leadriane Roby, who is currently the Assistant Superintendent in Richfield, Minnesota.
The board says it chose Roby because it liked her experience as a teacher, and because she says she will do whatever she can to keep any financial strains on the district from affecting teachers and students in the classroom.
Kristian Grant, the school board president, says the board spent a lot of time searching for the right person for the job.
“Tonight, we walk away knowing there’s a lot more work to be done, but we’re headed in the right direction and I believe we have a superintendent that we’re excited about,” Grant said on Monday evening.
Roby has been Assistant Superintendent in Richfield since 2014. She received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Saint Mary’s of Minnesota, a K-12 Educational Licensure from Saint Mary’s of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in K-12 Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology from Western Michigan University.
You can view her full resume here.
John Helmholdt, the Executive Director of Communications & External Affairs for Grand Rapids Public Schools, said selecting Roby brings certainty and stability to the district.
“We now know what the future looks like. We know about our new leader. We got to see her in action and see her in front of different stakeholders,” Helmholdt said.
Helmholdt and several board members pointed out that Roby had more positive reviews from community stakeholders than any of the other candidates.
Helmholdt says next steps are reaching out to Roby and negotiating her contract.
