Dr. Michael Rice
State Superintendent
Michigan Department of Education
Dr. Michael F. Rice was appointed Michigan’s 45th superintendent of public instruction by Michigan’s State Board of Education in May 2019. He officially began his work as state superintendent on August 1, 2019.
Dr. Rice came to the Michigan Department of Education after serving 17 years as a local district superintendent: 12 years as superintendent in Kalamazoo, Michigan and 5 as superintendent in Clifton, New Jersey.
During his tenure in Kalamazoo, the community passed all ten education-related ballot initiatives, and the district began full-day pre-school, quintupled the number of full-day kindergarten students, and improved student achievement in all board strategic plan areas of reading, writing, math, Advanced Placement, and graduation rates. The district also built its first three new schools in over a third of a century, started an English-Spanish dual language school, began two new alternative programs, and started a mentoring program that served more than 1,400 students.
During his tenure in Clifton, the community passed eight education-related ballot initiatives. The district began and implemented full-day kindergarten in all of its schools; opened its first new school in 42 years; built an extension and an annex for the high school, at 3400 students the largest on a single campus in New Jersey; and created dual enrollment programs for children at Clifton High School to attend Passaic County Community College and Montclair State University. Student achievement rose in all board strategic plan areas.
Dr. Rice began his career in public education in the Washington, D.C. Public Schools, where he taught high school French, and founded and coached an award-winning speech and debate program. He graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with honors and from New York University with a master’s degree and doctoral degree in public administration, also with honors.
His most rewarding work remains his mentoring and teaching of, and informal discussions with, school children– which he continues to do as Michigan’s state superintendent.
Shelly Proebstle
Literacy Manager
Michigan Department of Education
Shelly Proebstle is a Literacy Manager for the Michigan Department of Education. Before her work at MDE, she taught for 25 years in elementary classrooms of 3 different districts. She then became a Literacy Coach supporting teacher practices and systems work with administrators.
Julie Brehmer
Literacy Consultant
Michigan Department of Education
Julie Brehmer is a Literacy Consultant with the Michigan Department of Education. She is currently working on the Michigan Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant, as well as several other literacy projects. Prior to joining MDE, Julie worked as a Special Education Teacher and Teacher Consultant for 14 years. Her work included teaching students ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade, co-taught in middle school classrooms across a variety of content areas, and worked closely with all IEP team members throughout the special education evaluation process. She is completing her Ph.D. in Special Education with a Specialization in Language and Literacy at Michigan State University.
Shanon Everett
Early Literacy and Family Engagement Consultant
Michigan Department of Education
Mrs. Everett is the Early Literacy and Family Engagement Consultant at the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Office of Great Start/Early Childhood Development and Family Education. Mrs. Everett has an extensive early childhood background and experiences in programs such as Head Start, Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), Great Start Collaborative (GSC), and Parents as Teachers. She has served as a program director, classroom teacher, home visitor and early childhood specialist.
Mary Head
Consultant
Michigan Department of Education
Mary Head is a proud University of Michigan graduate and has been an Analyst at the Michigan Department of Education for 15 years. She works closely with the African American Student Initiative, Visual Performing & Applied Arts and the Michigan Merit Curriculum.
Melissa Manko
MDE-Literacy Consultant
Michigan Department of Education
Melissa C. Manko, MA has 25 years in education- with work in special education/learning disabilities, general education, educational technology, public and private Montessori, early childhood, school improvement teams, PBIS/MTSS ISD coaching and service as a local education foundation board member before joining the Michigan Department of Education literacy team in 2019.
Scott Martin
Education Consultant
Michigan Department of Education
Scott is a consultant who supports Family Engagement, Health and PE, and Chronic Absenteeism. He was a former educator and principal for 19 years.
Katy Piotrowski
Literacy Consultant
Michigan Department of Education
Katy Piotrowski, M.A. is a literacy consultant for the Michigan Department of Education. Prior to becoming an MDE consultant, she taught elementary school, and middle school reading and writing, for nearly 20 years. In addition, Katy has a B.A. in Elementary Education, and an M.A. in Curriculum Design and Development, and English. Katy believes in being the change you wish to see in the world.