Lakeview Schools name alum Cindy Green as interim superintendent

Cindy Green was traversing the country.

The Battle Creek native was fresh off her retirement after 40 years in education, the past 17 as assistant superintendent at Kalamazoo Public Schools, when she embarked on a journey through California, Colorado, New York, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Now, she's returned home.

Green has been hired as the interim superintendent for Lakeview Schools, the K-12 district she graduated from in 1976. She will serve in that role until June 30, and is not seeking the permanent position.

"This is the only place that I would do this because I love the community that I grew up in," Green said. "I believe that my experience and background matched what was needed at this time. I have a lot of positive energy. I have experience dealing with transitions with superintendents in my former role, so I wanted to make sure I could bring support to staff, students and the community during this transition period of time."

Green is replacing Blake Prewitt, who in October announced that he had accepted a position as superintendent of Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA). Dr. Randall Davis and David Disler also applied for the interim superintendent position at Lakeview.

Lakeview Schools consists of four elementary schools — Minges Brook, Prairieview, Westlake and Riverside, — Lakeview Middle School, Lakeview High School and Lakeview Alternative High School. The district had an enrollment of 3,997 during the 2020-21 academic year.

At a Nov. 4 special meeting, the Lakeview Board of Education cited Green's experience in school leadership, curriculum and instruction, school safety, health, and educational equity as reasons for her selection.

"What set her apart was her experience and enthusiasm for Lakeview," said Board President Eric Greene. "She really connected with the board during that interview process and showed a lot of energy and optimism in getting through this interim period for the next six months. The board was very pleased with all of her responses."

The school board is being assisted in the search for its next superintendent by the Michigan Association of School Boards, which will facilitate community and staff input sessions and collect responses to an online survey available at surveymonkey.com/r/LakeviewSearch until Dec. 8.

The district will gather input via an in-person parent and community forum at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Lakeview High School. It will also host a Zoom meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 and another Zoom meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 9. The Lakeview Board of Education will additionally hold special meetings on Dec. 14 and 15 before interviews begin Feb. 23. The finalists' open house and interviews are scheduled for March 8.

"The board very much wants as much public input as possible," Greene said. "We take very seriously our role as listeners. We hope people participate in the survey and forums so we have a fresh set of data as we continue searching for our next superintendent."

Green takes over as the top administrator in the district amid added challenges in the educational field caused by the ongoing pandemic. Lakeview Schools is also finalizing plans for significant upgrades after the district passed a $47 million zero-increase bond last spring to modernize Lakeview Middle School along with other district-wide improvements.

"My priorities are supporting the staff, students and community for the transition and helping to celebrate what Lakeview does well and I do believe the bond is a big portion of this position," Green said. "To me, the hard part is already done, winning over the community to vote yes... This community is very supportive of students."

As far as what has changed since her days roaming the hallways as a student at Lakeview, Green noted the school has made big strides in diversity, equity and inclusion, saying, "I can see administrators and staff embracing the diversity and moving the district forward."

Green added, "Sometimes walking through the middle school, it feels like one of my former teachers is going to walk out. The office I have here used to be my fifth-grade classroom. A lot of warm feelings around, a lot of people I know. It's been very warm and welcoming."

Contact reporter Nick Buckley at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NicklJBuckley

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Lakeview Schools tabs alum Cindy Green as interim superintendent