VB School Board selects 6 candidates to interview for superintendent

The Van Buren School Board met on Monday to review applicants for the superintendent’s position.
The board felt the candidate pool was excellent with 32 applicants and decided to interview six candidates for the position.
The board is being assisted in the search process by MASB, Michigan Association of School Boards, with Dr. Rodney Green as the consultant.
The interviews will be held beginning at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, and on Wednesday, May 25, at the Belleville High School cafeteria. The public is encouraged to attend the interviews.
A second round of interviews is planned for May 31. Candidates and the times they will be interviewed are as follows:
Tuesday, May 24
6 p.m. — Peter Kudlak, assistant superintendent at Milan Area Schools since 2012. Previously, he was director of elementary education and elementary principal for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools for five years, elementary principal in Flat Rock for five years, and a teacher in Ypsilanti Public Schools for five years.
7 p.m. — Mark Kleinhans, Superintendent at Bedford Public Schools since 2013. Previously, he was superintendent at Montrose Community Schools for 11 years, middle school principal in Montrose for nine years, and an assistant principal, athletic director, and teacher for Alma Public Schools for seven years.
8 p.m. — Melody Strang, Director of Instructional Technology & Curriculum, Fenton Public Schools since 2011. She has been an educator for 21 years and previously, she was an elementary principal, early childhood director and teacher in Fenton. She also taught in Bendle.
Wednesday, May 25
6 p.m. — Josha Talison, Ed.D., superintendent at Beecher Community Schools since 2010. Previously, he was middle school principal in Southfield for five years, middle school principal in Oak Park for one year, and assistant principal in Rochester for four years. He has also been an adjunct professor for University of Michigan Flint.
7 p.m. — William Brown, assistant superintendent at Lenawee ISD since 2013. Previously, he was director of special services in Northville for one year, director of special services, principal, assistant principal and consultant in Milan for 15 years. He also was a special education teacher in Ohio.
8 p.m. — Terry George, high school turnaround principal at Hamtramck since 2014. Previously, he was director of pupil services in Hamtramck for five years and was middle school principal and assistant principal in Southfield. He also was a principal in private schools and was a teacher in Detroit and New York.
The board expects to appoint a new superintendent with a starting date of July 1.
NOTE: William Brown has accepted a position elsewhere and so has withdrawn from the running for VBPS superindendent. Therefore, Terry George, will be moved up to the 7 p.m., May 25, interview slot.