CALEDONIA, MI - The Caledonia School Board voted unanimously Wednesday, May 16, to select Dedrick Martin as its next superintendent.
Martin is the School Reform Officer and director of Partnership Districts for the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). He started that job in February.
Prior to joining the state, Martin had been superintendent at St. Johns Public Schools in Clinton County since 2013, and before that, he was superintendent at Ypsilanti Public Schools four four years.
The school board made a site visit to the St. John's district on Tuesday, May 15.
Randy Rodriguez, superintendent since 2012, resigned Jan. 15, effective immediately, from the 4,862-student district. He cited the need to clear a path for new leadership.
"It was clear Dr. Martin was an incredible fit for the candidate profile we developed," Caledonia School Board President Marcy White said.
"He made an excellent impression on those he met with during the process, and his experience and training clearly demonstrate his preparation to successfully lead our district."
Dirk Weeldreyer, former superintendent of Fennville, has served as interim superintendent since February.
The school board, which voted 7-0, will soon be entering into contract negotiations with Martin. White told Martin of the board's offer via speakerphone during Wednesday's special board meeting.
"I am just honored for the opportunity to serve the students and the community of Caledonia,'' Martin told MLive Thursday, May 17.
"It is a great and growing school district. I think they will find me to be a collaborative, thoughtful, and reflective leader with the best intent for the students in Caledonia."
Martin, a married father of two, said his decision to leave MDE is driven solely by the appeal of the school district and the opportunity to be closer to family. He said his wife grew up in the Kentwood area.
Caledonia has a graduation rate of 95 percent, 68.1 percent of its third graders were proficient in English Language Arts and 66.8 percent in math on the state standardized test, the M-STEP, and the average SAT score is 1,084 out of 1,600, according to the most recent state data.
"There was tremendous input and support from their staff, students, parents and community members,'' said White, about Martin's selection.
MDE announced in October that Martin had been tapped to help turn around the state's lowest performing schools. He replaced Natasha Baker.
As director of the new Office of Partnership Districts, Martin was tasked with working with State Superintendent Brian Whiston, who recently died from cancer, and schools statewide operating under state partnership agreements.
Martin did inform state officials he was pursuing the Caledonia job.
"Dr. Martin has played a key role in advancing our work to support Partnership Districts across the state,'' according to a statement from the Michigan Department of Education.
"While he will be missed, he has laid a solid foundation to get districts building partnerships in their communities - coordinated and focused on improving the academic achievement in their most struggling schools. This will help Michigan become a Top 10 education state in 10 years.''
In the statement, officials say there is still work Martin would like to complete before moving on to Caledonia, and they appreciate his commitment to complete the Partnership Agreements for the next set of 21 identified Partnership Districts.
"We thank Dr. Martin for his work here and wish him well in leading Caledonia Community Schools."
Of the 29 applicants submitted to the school board by consultant Gary Rider, four candidates were interviewed.
Martin was among two finalists named last week. However, Scott Smith, assistant superintendent for Human Resources for Hudsonville Public School, withdrew.
"The unanimous decision to offer the job to Dr. Martin is the result of several months of work by the board,'' White said.
"We are all anxious to welcome the Martin family to the Caledonia community."
Martin earned his doctorate degree in educational leadership from Michigan State University. His master's degree in educational leadership is from the University of Houston. He received a bachelor's degree in special education and psychology from Grand Valley State University.
He started his career as a special education teacher and building principal in Texas. Prior to coming to Michigan, he worked in Illinois as the executive director for equity and achievement at the Champaign Community Unit School District #4.