Board names interim state superintendent as Maleyko contract talks continue

Michigan Department of Education chief deputy superintendent is named interim superintendent of the state agency
It’s unclear how long she will be in the role
The board is still negotiating with Dearborn Public Schools superintendent Glenn Maleyko to succeed Michael Rice

The State Board of Education is putting chief deputy superintendent Sue C. Carnell in temporary charge of the Michigan Department of Education while it waits for incoming state superintendent Glenn Maleyko to start.

In August the board chose Maleyko, currently head of Dearborn Public Schools, to succeed Michael Rice, who retires next month.

But as of Tuesday, it was still in contract talks with Maleyko, said President Pamela Pugh, D-Saginaw.

Rice’s last day is Oct. 3. Board members approved a motion Tuesday to name Carnell the interim superintendent effective Oct. 4, “until our next superintendent begins,” at pay consistent with what Rice is paid.

Rice’s salary is $264,244. Salary for the new job could be up to $272,000 plus a comprehensive state benefits package, according to a flyer outlining the position.

State Superintendent Michael Rice’s last day at the Michigan Department of Education is Oct. 3. (Courtesy photo)

The state superintendent is the leader of the Michigan Department of Education and a non-voting chair of the state board.

It’s unclear just how long Carnell would be in the role and what date Maleyko would start.

The board also approved a resolution allowing Pugh to finalize a contract with Maleyko and his lawyer.

Carnell is the former superintendent of Westwood Community District and held leadership roles in Detroit Public Schools and Southgate Community School District, according to an MDE news release. She previously was Rice’s chief of staff and was an education policy advisor for former Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

“I am honored to step into the role of interim state superintendent at the Michigan Department of Education,” Carnell said in a statement. “I am grateful for the trust and support of the State Board of Education during this transition and look forward to supporting the staff at MDE as we work with our education partners, the governor’s office, legislators, and families to continue the momentum of improving outcomes for children.”

Next steps for Michigan literacy

Earlier in the day, MDE officials also said they are working toward implementing aspects of the state’s new literacy laws.

These laws require schools to screen students for characteristics of dyslexia and teach literacy in ways supported by research by the 2027-2028 school year. MDE is responsible for developing a list of reliable tests schools can use and elementary curricula.

Rice is advocating for mandatory teacher training in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, often referred to as “LETRS.” The company Lexia runs the program.

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Michigan has dedicated $34 million for LETRS training and more than 5,000 educators have completed it so far. The board approved a resolution in 7-1 vote urging the Legislature to mandate K-5 educators complete LETRS training and provide funding for the initiative.

Board member Tom McMillin, R-Oakland Township, questioned why the state would favor one vendor over another and shared examples of trainings from other companies.

Board member Nikki Snyder, R-Goodrich, said districts still have local control when choosing which curriculum to adopt and that it’s important to question expertise since publishing companies have pushed teachers to not adopt certain literacy practices.

But she said it’s important to ensure that the state money aimed for students “doesn’t end up being eaten up by corporations.”

DeNesha Rawls-Smith, literacy unit manager at MDE, said the specific LETRS training is “agnostic” to curriculum.

“The difference is I can take my learning from LETRS and I can apply it to the literacy curriculum that my district is using,” Rawls-Smith said. “I’ll learn about the brain and how the brain reads. I’ll learn about why children have a difficulty creating those roadmaps in their brain.

Board member Tiffany Tilley, D-West Bloomfield, said change takes time, referring to the nearly 7,000 Michigan teachers currently in LETRS training.

“It takes two years for the training, it takes three years to master curriculum, we’re looking at five years already. We don’t have time to keep fiddling around and wasting. It’s not fair to our children in Michigan.”