Following a second round of interviews, the Board of Education voted 7-0 in selecting candidate Dr. Andrea Tuttle as the next Superintendent.
The decision was made during the Dec. 12 board meeting when both superintendent candidates, AJ Staniszewski and Tuttle, completed their second round interviews. Tuttle is currently the Superintendent at Owosso Public Schools for the past 14 years.
“I think I would be an advantage to the district and I could help the district,” Tuttle said. “We could make progress and I hope that (residents) see that, and if not, that’s okay as well. I want the best for you and for us.”
In a district wide survey,over 800 responses showed the top qualities wanted in a superintendent is someone with experience.
At the board meeting all of the board members acknowledged experience when giving reasons why they chose Tuttle, including Board President Ahmed Ismail.
“Beyond her 14 years experience in Owosso, what I saw when listening and talking to her is that she is pragmatic, she’s no nonsense, she’s proactive, she’s driven and she has humility,” Ismail said during the Dec. 12 meeting. “Those are things I look for in a leader, and I am glad that I can see we are all supportive of her.”
AJ Staniszewski, the second finalist, is a South alumnus who currently serves as a Middle School Director in the Mapleton School District located in Denver, Co. Although not selected, all board members, including Trustee Lisa Pappas, recognized they would love to work with him in the future.
“The job of the superintendent is a very involved one and there are a lot of facets that he hasn’t had that experience yet, so I think it’s not his time,” Pappas said during the Dec. 12 meeting. “I would love to see him come back home and find a spot for him somewhere and watch him grow. If we can make that happen at any point I would be highly supportive of that.”
The school district has many challenges including decreasing enrollment and budget issues, something Dr. Tuttle will have to face.
To Elly Beckerman ’25 these issues are something that should be addressed and not ignored.
“In a superintendent, I am looking for someone with experience and someone who has confidence,” Beckerman said. “Someone with motivation to take action; someone who has a plan for our district; someone who talks to students and teachers. At the end of the day, they are the ones being affected, not the people on the school board.”
During her interviews, Dr. Tuttle prided herself on her ability to communicate with the community as well as her ability to recognize financial issues within her district. In her time as superintendent at Owosso Public Schools, Tuttle brought the district from a $6 million deficit to a 16 percent positive fund balance.
“I recognize that I would be the face of your district and my presence and accessibility to parents and student community members is of utmost importance and where I glean the most for this district,” Dr. Tuttle said during her first interview on Dec. 9.
The district has made no announcement on when Tuttle will begin, but students are already looking forward to having her as superintendent.
“Dr. Tuttle is hopefully going to bring more involvement within the community and I hope she becomes the voice of the people,” Beckerman said.
