After a year of superintendent turnover in almost one-third of Oakland County school districts, only one remains without a permanent person in charge and no apparent process underway to hire a replacement.

Nine out of 28 districts saw their superintendent move on, retire or had interim superintendents. Eight of the nine have either hired full-time successors or are in the process of hiring replacements. Even the Oakland ISD saw Wanda Cook-Robinson replaced as superintendent within days of announcing her retirement this summer.

But almost nine months later, Pontiac is still without a permanent replacement and has not announced plans to find and hire one.

Kelley Williams was placed on leave in January and Kimberly Leverette was named interim super

intendent. Based upon an Aug. 30 statement from the district, it appears that Williams’ time as superintendent is coming to an end.

“We are in the process of finalizing an operational review with Superintendent Kelley Williams and are cooperatively working out a smooth transition with her,” said Anisha Hannah, Pontiac’s school board president.. “The work that Interim Superintendent Kimberly Leverette has already contributed to the district has been outstanding. We are thrilled to have her lead Pontiac School District into the 2024-2025 school year.”

On Jan. 11, 2024 the district announced Williams has been placed on a leave until further notice.

Leverette said in a letter that the district “will not comment on personnel matters, therefore, no further comment will be made regarding Mrs. Williams’ leave.”

Williams served as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction before being named as interim superintendent to replace Brian Dougherty, who resigned from Pontiac schools in May 2013. One month later Williams was approved for the permanent position by the Pontiac school board.

Here is where the remainder of the districts stand with their superintendents:

BLOOMFIELD HILLS >>The school board selected Rick West to replace Pat Watson, who retired in July 2023 after parents and others called for his resignation over the district’s handling of a controversial diversity assembly.

West was deputy superintendent of the Troy School District before his selection in May.

Randy Liepa and Keith McDonald served as interim superintendents after Watson left.

FERNDALE >> Camille Hibbler was named the interim superintendent for the district following the Dec. 31, 2023 retirement of Superintendent Bobby Hayes Goodrum..The school board removed the interim title from HIbbler in March.

“It is with great excitement and eagerness that I embrace this opportunity to lead and make positive changes within our community,” Hibbler said in a statement after her selection. “I am eager to continue to collaborate with dedicated educators, parents and stakeholders to implement positive change and foster a nurturing environment for academic excellence.”

back in determining a permanent solution.”

Coffin, the former assistant superintendent of innovation and strategic initiatives, was named as interim on July 28 after Delgado accepted the position of deputy superintendent of the Oakland Schools Intermediate School District on July 9.

Coffin has been with the District since May 2020.

Delgado takes over for former Oakland ISD Deputy Superintendent Kenneth Gutman, who was named to succeed Wanda Cook-Robinson. She will retire Aug. 30; Gutman will take over on Aug. 31.

LAKE ORION >> Ben Kirby, who took over in July 2020, announced in March that he would take the same position in the Forest Hills Public School District in Grand Rapids. He started there July 1.

He began his career in the Ionia school district near Grand Rapids, where he grew up and worked in the district for 24 years.

On July 18 the Lake Orion school board selected Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Heidi Mercer to be the district’s new superintendent.

The 7-0 decision came after the board completed five first-round interviews.. Board members cited Mercer’s experience and familiarity with LOCS as a significant reason in forgoing finalist interviews.

Mercer had been in the district for 28 years and has served in a variety of roles, including the past 16 overseeing academics in the assistant superintendent position.

OXFORD >> Tanya Milligan was selected to take over as Oxford schools new superintendent in May after the district churned through four superintendents in just over two years.

Milligan, former executive director of K-12 learning of Columbus City Schools in Columbus, Ohio, took over on June 10 for Vicki Markavitch, whose interim superintendent contract expired on June 20.

Markavitch replaced Anita Qonja-Collins, former assistant superintendent of elementary instruction, who was named interim superintendent in November 2022.

Qonja-Collins replaced Ken Weaver, who took medical leave Nov. 22, 2022, and resigned Feb. 23, 2023.

Weaver was appointed as superintendent in March 2022, after former superintendent Tim Throne retired only months after the school shooting that saw four students shot to death and seven other people injured at Oxford High School.

ROCHESTER >> The Rochester school board chose Nicholas Russo as the district’s new superintendent in April.

He replaced former Superintendent Robert Shaner, who resigned in August 2023. Shaner served as the district’s superintendent for just over 10 years.

John Silveri was appointed interim superintendent after Shaner’s departure and remained in the position until Russo was chosen in April..

Russo was previously assistant superintendent of human resources in the Walled Lake Consolidated School District.

“It is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Russo said on his first official day as superintendent on July 1.

WALLED LAKE >> The district made quick work of replacing former Superintendent John Bernia, who started as the head of Warren Consolidated Schools on July 1.Michael Lonze was appointed in late May to replace him

Lonze has served as deputy superintendent and assistant superintendent of human resources in Walled Lake since 2018. He previously served in administrative and teaching positions with the Fraser ,Birmingham, and Oak Park school districts.

“I am deeply honored and immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next Superintendent of Walled Lake Schools,” said Lonze. “I am eager to work with the Board of Education, our staff members, and the community to continue to foster a supportive environment for students and staff while maintaining focus on our district’s goals.”

WATERFORD >> Superintendent Scott Lindberg announced is leaving the district on Dec. 31 after five years and the search for his replacement has already begun..

The Waterford school board is soliciting community input on the new superintendent. Residents of the district and parents are encouraged to participate in the process and can fill out a survey with their input at www.waterford.k12.mi.us.

“The Board of Education is excited to begin the search for the next superintendent of Waterford school district and hearing from our community is an important step in that process,” said Waterford School District Board of Education President Mike Ristich. “Participating in the input sessions or taking the survey is an opportunity for our community to help support the good work happening in our schools.”

Parents and community members are invited to share their perspectives at meetings to be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 4 and noon on Sept. 10 in room 103 at the Crary Campus.

OAKLAND ISD >> The countywide district didn’t take long to choose a successor to Superintendent Wanda Cook-Robinson, who announced her retirement in late August. She announced her plans in a letter to staff and the school board on April 2 and on April 3, Deputy Superintendent Kenneth Gutman was named to succeed her. He takes over on Aug. 31.