Michigan superintendent finalists picked. Can they boost reading scores?

State Board of Education selects three finalists for state superintendent post
Each candidate said they support Michigan’s new literacy laws
Candidates emphasized the importance of teacher training and support

The Michigan Board of Education narrowed the list of candidates to replace Michael Rice as state superintendent down to three on Tuesday, including two who lead local school districts in Michigan and a former Virginia state superintendent.

Board members picked former Virginia state superintendent Lisa Coons, Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Glenn Maleyko and Harrison Community Schools Superintendent Judy Walton as finalists.

The finalists are aiming to succeed Rice, who has been the state superintendent since 2019. He plans to retire in October.

The State Board of Education is made up of six Democrats and two Republicans, elected statewide. The state superintendent is the leader of the Michigan Department of Education and the nonvoting chair for the state board.

Board members asked several questions of each candidate, including how they would build trust among stakeholders, implement the state’s new literacy laws and navigate politically tense situations.

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The board interviewed four other candidates: consultant and coach Thomas Ahart; Christopher Timmis, superintendent of Dexter Community Schools; Paul Salah, superintendent of Huron Valley Schools and John Severson, executive director of the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators.

Two Republican board members pushed to make Timmis a finalist, with board member Tom McMillin calling him a “change agent.” Ultimately, the board decided to only move three candidates forward as finalists.

Who are the finalists?

Lisa Coons is the former Virginia superintendent of public instruction, where she led the department from April 2023 to March 2025. She previously was the chief academic officer at the Tennessee Department of Education.

Glenn Maleyko is the superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools and has been since 2015. He previously was a director, principal, assistant principal, teacher and substitute teacher in the district.

Judy Walton is superintendent and curriculum director of Harrison Community Schools. She joined the district in 2022 and was previously an administrator in Forest Hills Public Schools.

You can watch the interviews of each of the candidates here.

What would candidates do about literacy?

As Bridge recently reported, despite a large boost in state spending, Michigan children are lagging in reading compared to their peers in every other Midwest state, as measured by a national test often called the nation’s report card. There are poorer states where students fare better, as well as states that spend less money and get far better results. Most have recovered quicker from pandemic learning loss than Michigan.

Michigan leaders have provided millions for teacher training, deployed literacy coaches to school districts across the state and passed new laws aimed at ensuring students are taught how to read in evidence-based ways.

The laws will require schools to screen students for characteristics of dyslexia, and provide evidence-based literacy instruction. Plus, educator preparation programs will be required to train future teachers on dyslexia and other items.

Lisa Coons:

Coons called the literacy laws “one of the most exciting things about Michigan.”

She praised the laws’ wide reach from teacher training to screeners to detect student literacy skills and drew from her experience in Tennessee.

She said Michigan intermediate school districts can “provide cohesive, deep support” on the literacy laws. Plus, she said having screeners to detect student literacy skills means the state can understand if teachers are changing their practices and if schools are intervening quickly to ensure students are on grade level by third grade.

Glenn Maleyko:

Maleyko said his large district can afford literary coaches but intermediate school districts can support smaller districts with coaching.

“I think we all have to be on the same page in supporting the law,” Maleyko said, adding it will “benefit the students.”

Michigan lawmakers passed a literacy law in 2016 that included holding back third grade students who were significantly behind in reading scores. The Democratic-led Legislature repealed that in 2023, and Maleyko said he did not support the retention portion of the law. He said he thinks the intermediate school districts have a place to lead in implementing the new literacy laws.

It took the state several years to get the laws passed. Board president Pamela Pugh, D-Saginaw, asked Maleyko about his role in opposing the laws when he was with the Michigan Association of Superintendent and Administrators.

Maleyko said group members were concerned about whether there was enough funding for districts to follow the new requirements and that superintendents support teaching training for strong literacy instruction.

Judy Walton:

Walton said she is supportive of the law and is excited that her district is receiving $135,000 in literacy funds.

“You can have great resources but if that teacher doesn’t get learning around how to best deploy those resources in the classroom, it won’t really make a difference.”

She said MDE can work with the Legislature to ensure that there is funding for teacher training. Walton, who is also the district curriculum director, said the state should look into potentially mandating specific literacy resources for schools.

What are the next steps?

The board will conduct public interviews for all three candidates Tuesday.

“The board is tentatively planning to select its preferred candidate following the last finalist interview and then offer the position to that person, pending contract negotiations,” according to an MDE news release.

The new superintendent would start Oct. 4. The successful candidate would earn $272,000 a year plus benefits.