Birmingham school board selects Troy deputy superintendent to lead district

After a national search, the Birmingham Public Schools Board of Education has looked to the east for its next executive leader.

The board voted unanimously at a special meeting Dec. 13 to make Mark Dziatczak, deputy superintendent for teaching and learning for the Troy School District, its preferred candidate for the superintendent job to lead the district in 2019.

Board members all had positive things to say about Dziatczak, including his out-of-the-box ideas and his approach to leadership.

"Overwhelmingly, the common theme with him was collaboration," board Secretary Adrienne Young said. "He really nailed it with having people be heard, having people be a factor in his decision-making. He also showed a willingness to make tough decisions and get tough feedback.

"It's without hesitation that, when it comes time to vote, my preference is for Mr. Dziatczak."

Dziatczak was selected over fellow finalist Christopher Delgado, who currently serves as deputy superintendent for the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools district. The two men interviewed this past week again with the board and other interested stakeholders in the district.

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The board will officially offer a contract at its next regular meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the BPS administration offices, 31301 Evergreen in Beverly Hills.

The unanimous vote was 6-0, with Trustee Jessica Thomas absent from the meeting. Board President Kimberly Whitman said while Thomas was unable to attend and vote, Thomas had told her Dziatczak was her preference to be selected.

It was a sentiment that was reflected throughout the special meeting, which took less than an hour.

"As much as I saw so many strengths in Dr. Delgado, I feel very firm, I feel very proud, that I will mention Mark Dziatczak to move forward," board Vice President Lori Ajlouny said.

Once a contract is offered, it will mark the end of a several-month process after the retirement of Daniel Nerad earlier this summer. The board has met several times since Nerad's departure to select a search firm, review candidates and whittle the number of finalists down from five to two earlier this fall.

There's no word on when specifically Dziatczak would begin his tenure in the Birmingham district, which includes all or parts of several communities, including Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farm, Franklin, Troy, Southfield and West Bloomfield. The district is currently being run by interim superintendent John Silveri, who was brought in after Nerad left.

In a portion of his application released by the school district after the board's vote, Dziatczak wrote that a school district's success comes "with a harmonious and productive relationship between the Board of Education and superintendent."

“Mutual expectations are created, followed and leveraged to conduct the policy and procedure work of the district, which forms the structure within which staff can act and students can flourish," he wrote. "Upon this solid foundation, the superintendent works collaboratively with students, parents, staff and community members to refine the mission, vision, values and goals of the district, which are designed to empower students to positively impact their world during their transition from young learners to adult citizens."

Contact David Veselenak at dveselenak@hometownlife.com or 734-678-6728. Follow him on Twitter @davidveselenak.