{"id":70412,"date":"2025-12-11T16:44:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T21:44:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/?p=70412"},"modified":"2025-12-11T17:31:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:31:34","slug":"new-michigan-superintendent-aims-to-raise-test-scores-collaborate-with-whitmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/new-michigan-superintendent-aims-to-raise-test-scores-collaborate-with-whitmer\/","title":{"rendered":"New Michigan superintendent aims to raise test scores, collaborate with Whitmer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Superintendent Glenn Maleyko says he wants to work with lawmakers, the governor and school district leaders&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>He supports mandatory literacy training for teachers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>He says the state will not improve its absenteeism numbers without improving students\u2019 safety, health and wellness&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>LANSING \u2014 A few days into the job, new Michigan state superintendent Glenn Maleyko knows he\u2019ll have his share of challenges. Third grade reading scores in Michigan <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/m-step-results-third-grade-english-language-arts-reaches-new-low\/\">are at a new low<\/a>, absenteeism is improving but <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-k-12-crisis-state-slow-to-respond-as-kids-miss-school-scores-fall\/\">still higher than pre-pandemic<\/a> and parents <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/special-education-complaints-jump-in-michigan-as-odds-stacked-against-parents\/\">are calling for special education reform<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maleyko, who took the helm of the Michigan Department of Education Monday, said one of his top priorities is to promote collaboration with district leaders and elected officials to help students succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In an hour-long interview with Bridge Michigan, Maleyko, 52, said that a year from now, he hopes Michiganders will see he\u2019s visible and a team player. He wants the state\u2019s strategic education plan to be revisited. And he wants to see more improvement in test scores.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maleyko rose to the state\u2019s top education job <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/next-michigan-superintendent-vows-to-take-students-first-mission-statewide\/\">after decades of leadership in Dearborn Public Schools<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy overarching thing is we can have respectful dialogue, we can have differing opinions, but we need to work with different groups to support the students of Michigan. And so it&#8217;s going to be one of collaboration, working together, and always putting those students first.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/how-can-michigan-boost-and-keep-teacher-diversity-new-report-has-ideas\/\"><strong>Michigan needs to attract, retain more teachers of color, new report says<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/as-lansing-mulls-change-michigan-schools-face-uphill-fight-against-absenteeism\/\"><strong>As Lansing mulls change, Michigan schools face uphill fight against absenteeism<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-students-lag-in-reading-will-mandatory-teacher-training-help\/\"><strong>Michigan students lag in reading. Will mandatory teacher training help?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In Michigan, rather than being appointed by the governor, the state superintendent is chosen by an elected, partisan board of education. It\u2019s a structure that has drawn criticism from some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freep.com\/story\/news\/education\/2017\/03\/10\/michigan-education-commission-report\/99019162\/\">education<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/growingmichigan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023-12-14-GMTC-Final-Report-2.pdf\">groups<\/a>. But Maleyko said he wants to work closely with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who took away <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/gretchen-whitmer-creates-new-michigan-education-agency-pre-k-college\/?_gl=1*1861700*_gcl_au*MTUwNTA5MDQ0NS4xNzY0NzY5MDk2*_ga*MjA3NzQ4MjgxMS4xNzI1NDYyMTQy*_ga_SDMLQHFB10*czE3NjU0NzcwMzIkbzE1MjgkZzEkdDE3NjU0ODA3NTIkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_1E2G9MSHX5*czE3NjU0NzcwMzIkbzE1MzEkZzEkdDE3NjU0ODA3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_KX5CRZVP9F*czE3NjU0NzcwMzIkbzQ0MSRnMSR0MTc2NTQ4MDc1MSRqNjAkbDAkaDA.\">pre-K programming responsibilities<\/a> from MDE during his predecessor, Michael Rice\u2019s term. She <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/whitmer-launches-new-education-office-seeking-more-college-grads-michigan\/\">created<\/a> the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meantime, those running to <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/heres-how-governor-candidates-say-theyd-fix-michigan-education\/?_gl=1*1i46qh1*_gcl_au*MTUwNTA5MDQ0NS4xNzY0NzY5MDk2*_ga*MjA3NzQ4MjgxMS4xNzI1NDYyMTQy*_ga_SDMLQHFB10*czE3NjU0NzcwMzIkbzE1MjgkZzEkdDE3NjU0NzkwNDQkajM1JGwwJGgw*_ga_1E2G9MSHX5*czE3NjU0NzcwMzIkbzE1MzEkZzEkdDE3NjU0NzkwNDMkajM2JGwwJGgw*_ga_KX5CRZVP9F*czE3NjU0NzcwMzIkbzQ0MSRnMSR0MTc2NTQ3OTA0MyRqMzYkbDAkaDA.\">replace Whitmer in 2027<\/a> have already made education an issue on the campaign trail. Among other proposals, some are calling for mandatory teacher training on literacy, firing principals who fail to turn around their schools, and returning to programs like grading schools on an A-F basis.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, President Donald Trump has vowed to dismantle the US Department of Education, already <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/education\/5613246-trump-education-department-mcmahon\/#:~:text=The%20department%20said%20it%20is%20moving%20six%20programs,get%20approval%20from%20Congress%20to%20move%20the%20initiatives.\">moving functions of the department<\/a> to other parts of the federal government.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Literacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2024, Michigan ranked <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-spent-big-fix-schools-result-worse-scores-and-plenty-blame\/?_gl=1*8o3y1u*_gcl_au*MTUwNTA5MDQ0NS4xNzY0NzY5MDk2*_ga*MjA3NzQ4MjgxMS4xNzI1NDYyMTQy*_ga_SDMLQHFB10*czE3NjU0NzcwMzIkbzE1MjgkZzEkdDE3NjU0NzkyNjIkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_1E2G9MSHX5*czE3NjU0NzcwMzIkbzE1MzEkZzEkdDE3NjU0NzkyNTQkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_KX5CRZVP9F*czE3NjU0NzcwMzIkbzQ0MSRnMSR0MTc2NTQ3OTI1NCRqNjAkbDAkaDA.\">44th in the nation for fourth grade reading<\/a> on a national test, the National Assessment of Educational Progress.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The state has tried several measures to tackle the problem, including providing funding for districts to purchase <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-awards-87-million-for-schools-to-buy-proven-literacy-materials\/\">vetted literacy curricula<\/a>, pay for student support materials and cover the cost of <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-students-lag-in-reading-will-mandatory-teacher-training-help\/\">teacher training to help build student literacy skills<\/a>. <s>&nbsp;<\/s><br><br>Lawmakers passed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chalkbeat.org\/detroit\/2024\/09\/25\/science-of-reading-bills-move-toward-vote-in-michigan-house\/\">two laws last year<\/a> aimed at screening students for characteristics of dyslexia and requiring schools to teach students reading in \u201cevidence-based\u201d ways. But the laws don\u2019t fully go into effect until the 2027-2028 school year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maleyko said the new literacy laws and teacher training efforts are \u201cgaining momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignright is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DJKK7mUvt_h\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DJKK7mUvt_h\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/blockquote><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cChange takes time. I mean, I always say \u2018it&#8217;s a marathon, not a sprint.\u2019 If we really want to make effective change, we are moving in that direction at MDE.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maleyko also said he supports mandating that teachers take a time-intensive training course called Lexia LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling). Both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/mde\/-\/media\/Project\/Websites\/mde\/top10\/2025-Legislative-Priority-Letter\/250115-2025-Legislative-Priorities-for-Education.pdf\">Rice<\/a>, the former MDE leader, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/mde\/-\/media\/Project\/Websites\/mde\/State-Board\/Resolutions\/2025\/FINAL---RESOLUTION---Mandated-LETRS-SOR-Equivalent-Training---Sept-2025.pdf?rev=ca40997a8546433eacb1e2c358f9f6d9\">State Board of Education<\/a> supported making the training required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The training focuses on how the brain learns to read, often referred to as the \u201cscience of reading.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think it&#8217;s important enough that I really reflected on it that I would say, \u2018Yes, I&#8217;m supporting a mandate,\u2019\u201d Maleyko said. \u201cBecause it&#8217;s about our students, and it&#8217;s about what&#8217;s needed to help improve our scores for the benefit of the student so that when they graduate, they&#8217;ll be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The state budget has $10 million for the training, but Maleyko said he wants to ensure school districts have the resources to hire substitutes while teachers take the training and that they work with unions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf teachers are working into the evening or on the weekends, we should compensate them. And if you do that, they&#8217;re gonna come into it on a positive,\u201d Maleyko said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some local districts have provided stipends for teachers to do the training on their own time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rice blamed <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-scores-fall-state-superintendent-blames-local-control-run-amok\/\">\u201clocal control\u201d for Michigan\u2019s literacy woes<\/a>. Maleyko said he is supportive of local control but MDE must lead and work together with other groups including intermediate school districts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said there also are areas where districts can work together, including sharing literacy coaches or sharing teacher training.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Absenteeism<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignright is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@bridge.michigan\/video\/7579020342065204493\" data-video-id=\"7579020342065204493\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\"> <section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@bridge.michigan\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@bridge.michigan?refer=embed\">@bridge.michigan<\/a> <p>Michigan continues to fall behind other states for reading. There\u2019s a lot of blame, and one easy explanation: Kids miss a ton of school, and the state doesn\u2019t do much to compel them to attend. Bridge\u2019s ongoing series on the state\u2019s education crisis continued with an investigation into how Michigan was slow to respond to an explosion of absenteeism made worse by the pandemic. Read the full series at the link in our bio. <a title=\"michigan\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/michigan?refer=embed\">#michigan<\/a> <a title=\"education\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/education?refer=embed\">#education<\/a> <a title=\"teachers\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/teachers?refer=embed\">#teachers<\/a> <a title=\"teachersoftiktok\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/teachersoftiktok?refer=embed\">#teachersoftiktok<\/a><\/p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c original sound - Bridge Michigan\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7579020463058242317?refer=embed\">\u266c original sound &#8211; Bridge Michigan<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Statewide, nearly 28% of students are chronically absent. Maleyko said he wants to see these numbers improve and that comes with ensuring the state meets goal three of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/mde\/-\/media\/Project\/Websites\/mde\/top10\/top_10_mi_strategic_ed_plan_promising_practices_1_pager.pdf?rev=10f3f05c8cb140989b91565cc9364ff8&amp;hash=08EF0354AD856A371B5D55C3E0C30C0B\">strategic plan<\/a>: \u201cImprove the health, safety, and wellness of all learners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf we don&#8217;t address goal three, we&#8217;re not going to get to the literacy piece or the mathematics because if students aren&#8217;t in school and they don&#8217;t have the instruction time with these high-quality teachers, then you&#8217;re at a loss.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>School districts can work with MDE on identifying students at risk of dropping out of high school and pairing them with to ensure they don\u2019t drop out. The process is called the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/mde\/services\/school-performance-supports\/early-warning\">Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System (EWIMS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By law, school districts or intermediate districts are to designate an attendance officer. But districts vary on when to involve the court system with student absenteeism problems. Maleyko did not list any specific legislative changes he would like to see on absenteeism.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Teacher workforce&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just 11.3% of <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/how-can-michigan-boost-and-keep-teacher-diversity-new-report-has-ideas\/\">teachers are people of color<\/a>, compared to about 37.7% of students in Michigan public schools, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/how-can-michigan-boost-and-keep-teacher-diversity-new-report-has-ideas\/\">new analysis<\/a> from EdTrust-Midwest, a school policy and advocacy organization.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignright is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@bridge.michigan\/video\/7579020658256989495\" data-video-id=\"7579020658256989495\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\"> <section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@bridge.michigan\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@bridge.michigan?refer=embed\">@bridge.michigan<\/a> <p>Michigan school teachers, principals and superintendents acknowledge that student\u00a0absenteeism\u00a0is an issue. Nearly 28% of students in Michigan K-12 schools are missing 10% or more of the school year. Bridge talked to more than 50 people to understand the problem and explore possible solutions. What can we do about it? Let us know what you think in the comments. Read the full series at the link in our bio. <a title=\"michigan\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/michigan?refer=embed\">#michigan<\/a> <a title=\"education\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/education?refer=embed\">#education<\/a> <a title=\"teachers\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/teachers?refer=embed\">#teachers<\/a> <a title=\"teachersoftiktok\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/teachersoftiktok?refer=embed\">#teachersoftiktok<\/a><\/p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c original sound - Bridge Michigan\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7579020768609815310?refer=embed\">\u266c original sound &#8211; Bridge Michigan<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Maleyko said he supports teacher diversity and \u201cgrow your own\u201d programs where local school districts cover the cost of teacher training of current staff members like paraprofessionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Districts need to vet applicants\u2019 qualifications, Maleyko said, \u201cbut if you can then hire people from diverse cultures that reflect the students that they serve, it is such a positive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Special education\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The federal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/laws-and-policy\/individuals-disabilities\/idea\">Individuals with Disabilities Education Act<\/a> is now 50 years old but school groups and state leaders have repeatedly said the federal government has not fully funded its obligations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI&#8217;m prioritizing special ed. I think it&#8217;s important. We need to do it for the students. But funding too.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maleyko said he has spoken to US Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, and Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, about the need for federal funding.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the meantime, though, he praised Michigan\u2019s efforts to have students with disabilities in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org\/lre-placement\/\">least restrictive environment<\/a>, where students are not segregated based on their disability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said a co-teaching model where students with disabilities are taught by a special education teacher and general education teacher can increase student graduation rates and other outcomes. Still, he said funding must increase.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where do we go from here?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2026, Michigan voters will elect a new governor, Legislature, and some members of Congress.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maleyko plans to do a statewide listening tour.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe need to have students\u2019 voice at the table. We need to have everyone and we need to be unified together with the ability for local control and for differing opinions in a respectful manner.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnd then you know what? Let&#8217;s all get behind collaboration and working together so society is successful. Students are successful. Michigan is successful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a wide-ranging interview with Bridge, new State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko says the state is building momentum on literacy and should do more on funding. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":581,"featured_media":70414,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2025-12-11T21:44:40Z","apple_news_api_id":"d31705b5-118f-49e0-8d01-50747b702f3f","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2025-12-11T22:31:39Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAg==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/A0xcFtRGPSeCNAVB0e3AvPw","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[2454],"tags":[4328,1510],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[2475],"class_list":["post-70412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-talent-education","tag-top-of-homepage","tag-michigan-k-12-schools","entry"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - 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Maleyko is the new leader of the department and stressed the importance of collaboration (Isabel Lohman\/Bridge Michigan)"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/new-michigan-superintendent-aims-to-raise-test-scores-collaborate-with-whitmer\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"New Michigan superintendent aims to raise test scores, collaborate with Whitmer"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/","name":"Bridge Michigan","description":"Michigan\u2019s nonpartisan, nonprofit news source","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/#organization","name":"Bridge Michigan","url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/logo-500.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/logo-500.svg","width":500,"height":188,"caption":"Bridge Michigan"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BridgeMichigan\/","https:\/\/x.com\/bridgemichigan","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bridge.michigan","https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/bridgemi.com","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@bridge.michigan"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/#\/schema\/person\/11c180026f82614f93c19d9f138d3e0b","name":"Isabel Lohman","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/59a1c89874d2a10a4d68e7d2928bf9fa","url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/isabel3-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/isabel3-96x96.jpg","caption":"Isabel Lohman"},"description":"Isabel reports on early childhood, K-12 and higher education for Bridge Michigan. 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