Addison Community Schools superintendent announces resignation, effective July 31

Brad Heineman, The Daily Telegram
·5 min read

ADDISON — Time is of the essence for Addison Community Schools to find an interim superintendent who can be in place by Aug. 1.

The Addison district and its board of education ran into a bit of a surprise this month when Superintendent Daniel Patterson, who was hired by the district in March 2022 and began in the role July 1, 2022, announced his resignation, with an effective date of Monday, July 31.

Daniel Patterson was selected as the next superintendent of Addison Community Schools in March 2022, and he officially began full-time work with the district July 1, 2022. After more than one year on the job, Patterson is resigning as superintendent, effective Monday, July 31, 2023.
Daniel Patterson was selected as the next superintendent of Addison Community Schools in March 2022, and he officially began full-time work with the district July 1, 2022. After more than one year on the job, Patterson is resigning as superintendent, effective Monday, July 31, 2023.

That gives the school board just two weeks' time to conduct a candidate search and find an interim superintendent who can fill that leadership role starting Aug. 1.

The first day of school at Addison Community Schools for the 2023-24 year is Aug. 28, with teacher development days scheduled for Aug. 23.

The school board held a special meeting Monday to discuss Patterson’s resignation and what steps they need to take next for the district. Patterson was not present for the meeting, neither were board secretary Kim Ford and trustee Lisa Houghton, who on July 15 submitted her letter of resignation as a school board member, citing family reasons.

According to board president Andrea Woodring, Patterson referenced his professional success and moving on to other opportunities in his resignation.

“When he signed on (as superintendent), he had never really supervised a group of people before and he feels like for his professional success that he would like to move on to something else,” Woodring said during Monday’s special meeting.

Prior to joining Addison, Patterson was the director of the department of assessment, research and evaluation for Dearborn Public Schools. He succeeded Steve Guerra, who retired June 30, 2022, after 13 years with the district — 11 of those as superintendent.

More: Addison Board of Education picks Daniel Patterson from Dearborn as superintendent

Patterson was chosen in March 2022 from a field of three finalists, which included Ben Gilpin, an elementary school principal at Jackson Western schools, and Jennifer Wonnell, assistant superintendent at Dundee Community Schools.

“My first emotion was sadness,” Woodring said, regarding the news of Patterson’s resignation. “It didn’t work out. (Patterson) really sold me (during the interview process) when he said he didn’t want to be a superintendent just anywhere, but that he wanted to be a superintendent in Addison. And that drove it home for me. He’s so incredibly smart. I’m thinking this just wasn’t the direction he was headed. He’s going to be outstanding wherever he goes. It’s a big loss for Addison.”

Daniel Patterson is pictured in March 2022 while interviewing for the open superintendent position at Addison Community Schools. He was selected as the next superintendent of Addison Community Schools last year, and he officially began full-time work with the district July 1, 2022. After more than one year on the job, Patterson is resigning as superintendent, effective Monday, July 31, 2023.

To right the ship and find the district its next leader, the board agreed to contract with Rodney Green, a search consultant with the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB). He assisted the district with its previous superintendent search that located Patterson and the other finalists.

Woodring said Green can begin immediate work on finding candidates who are available to serve in interim superintendent roles.

He will assist the board with guidance on who is available across the state to serve as superintendent, whether that be on an interim basis or a full-time role. He will also help the board to identify if any internal Addison schools' employees could fill either position.

The first available meeting between the board and Green is Thursday, July 27, at which time Green will present a list of possible interim candidates. Addison’s school board meets regularly on the fourth Monday of the month, meaning it will have two meetings next week. The regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 24.

Green will also assist the district with its full-time superintendent search process.

“Rod Green is familiar with our board. He’s spent time with us. He knows what we are about, and he’s been in here with us for the last several years,” said board treasurer Jennifer Frost. “I feel like he’s familiar enough with the entire process as well as our school district.”

Green will be “casting a broad net” for the superintendent candidates, Woodring said, and the district will “go from there.”

“I’m excited about getting the interim superintendent and getting that settled,” she said. “We’ll let the dust settle on that and then that will give us some time to find out who is going to fit here for success.”

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A set of fresh eyes from a potential interim candidate from outside of the district can be beneficial to the board, Woodring said.

“I want to know what they see and that will help us develop a strong and better search,” she said. “We are seasoned board members now. We were all green (during the last superintendent search), now I think we all know those questions we want to ask going forward.”

Regarding Houghton’s resignation from the board, her resignation will be discussed and voted on at the board’s July 24 meeting.

The board vacancy has been posted on the district’s website and the goal, Woodring said, is to keep the application window open through Wednesday, July 26. Then applications will be reviewed, and the board will decide who its newest board member will be at a later date.

The appointed person will fill the remaining term of Houghton’s vacated seat, which will expire Dec. 31, 2024. To be eligible, an applicant must be a registered voter in the Addison Community Schools district. Property ownership is not a requirement for candidacy.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Addison Community Schools superintendent resigns, effective July 31