Leading with an Equity-Based Strategic Plan

<p>Dr. Maxfield and Dr. Klein congratulated Dr. Dania Bazzi on being named 2022 Michigan Superintendent of the Year, by the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators. Mentioned in the nominating materials was the fact that her district earned the Equity Innovator Award for 2019.  Dr. Bazzi discussed the district’s commitment to equitable learning opportunities for all students, the current initiatives, the importance of teacher leadership, teacher recruitment and retention, equitable school funding, and concluded the conversation with advice for current superintendents and school leaders. </p><p>Her leadership journey included employment at Ford Motor Company as a project manager, followed by a teaching position at John Glenn High School in Westland. She pursued her doctorate and served as a School Improvement Consultant at Jackson County Intermediate School District; Director of Teaching and  Learning at Hamilton Community School;  Superintendent of Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools. Securing the superintendency in Ferndale “was like winning the lottery, having the same goals, values and really dedicated to always doing what's best for students.”</p><p>“We’ve been committed to really transformative change within the district, providing an equitable experience for every student within the district. We partnered with Great Lakes Equity, out of Indiana University, as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion. That partnership has really been so impactful to the Ferndale Public Schools, examining if our policies match our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, whether it is board policy; student codes of conduct; dress codes. Are these equitable policies that ensure all students have the ability to pursue their life's passion? “</p><p>“It catapulted us into creating an equity-based strategic plan.  To achieve the goals of our strategic plan there has to be equity that runs through the veins of each of those pillars of our strategic plan. The partnership with Great Lakes led to policy chan