LANSING – Dr. Sue C. Carnell will serve as interim state superintendent, State Board of Education President Dr. Pamela Pugh announced on September 9.
Dr. Carnell, chief deputy superintendent for the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) since 2021, will assume the interim role upon the retirement of Dr. Michael F. Rice from the state superintendency on Oct. 3. She will become the first Black woman to be state superintendent in Michigan.
The board last month selected Dr. Glenn Maleyko to be the next state superintendent. The board president is negotiating a contract with Dr. Maleyko, who is superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools. His start date has not been finalized.
Dr. Carnell has 40 years of experience in education and government. She was superintendent of Westwood Community School District, deputy superintendent of Detroit Public Schools and assistant director of special education and principal in Southgate Community School District. At MDE, she was former chief of staff for Dr. Rice and director of the former Office of School Excellence and the former Office of Community Services. She also served as education policy advisor for former Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm and worked as group executive for former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing.
“Dr. Carnell is just the right person to head MDE as we transition to a new state superintendent,” Dr. Pugh said. “Her experience in education and state government is invaluable and means we will not miss a beat as we continue to advance Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan and make continued improvements to public education.”
Dr. Carnell said: “I am honored to step into the role of interim state superintendent at the Michigan Department of Education. I am grateful for the trust and support of the State Board of Education during this transition and look forward to supporting the staff at MDE as we work with our education partners, the governor’s office, legislators and families to continue the momentum of improving outcomes for children.”
