SAGINAW, OCTOBER 18, 2023 – The Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) is proud to announce that Dr. Jeffrey Collier, Superintendent of Saginaw ISD, has been named the 2024 Michigan Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators (MASA). This prestigious accolade was unveiled during a surprise presentation at the Saginaw ISD Board of Education meeting on Tuesday evening. Dr. Collier stated, “I am deeply humbled to be recognized by the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA) as the 2024 Michigan Superintendent of the Year. However, this recognition is a reflective testament of the transformative servant leadership provided to our community by the entire team of committed educators throughout Saginaw ISD. This award also indicates a sample representation of the incredible collective efforts of superintendents and thought partners throughout the State of Michigan who work to advance positive opportunities and outcomes for all students, regardless of zip code. Thank you to MASA for this honored recognition, and thank you to all who have provided support, trust, and belief in my collaborative styles of leadership and vision.”
Michigan’s Superintendent of the Year award is presented annually by MASA to a superintendent who has shown tremendous effort and dedication to enriching the lives of students and the community as a whole. After an open nomination and application process, the annual award winner is selected by a panel representing education stakeholders across the state. Collier received seven separate nominations for this year’s award, including testimonials from current staff, stakeholders, and previous colleagues and educators he has mentored. Dr. Collier is the first ISD Superintendent to receive this honor in the award’s history. “Dr. Collier's leadership has been transformative in our educational community,” said Mark Whelton, Bridgeport-Spaulding Community Schools Superintendent and award nominator. “He recognizes the critical role that local school districts play in the overall success of our educational system and goes above and beyond to offer support, guidance, and resources.”
“I’ve known Dr. Collier a long time, having worked with him as both a district leader and now in his current role, and can absolutely say that he truly is a transformational leader,” said MASA Executive Director Dr. Tina Kerr. “He has an innate ability to always work in true partnership with those around him, and his unwavering commitment to his team, the local school districts in Saginaw County, and public education across the state is evident and admirable. We are very proud to have Dr. Collier representing Michigan as this year’s Superintendent of the Year.”
Collier has more than 24 years of educational experience across multiple levels and districts. In July 2020, he was named the Superintendent of Saginaw ISD, which encompasses 12 local public school districts and five public school academies that serve approximately 26,000 students from birth to age 26. Prior to leading the ISD, Collier spent eight years as the Superintendent of the Au Gres-Sims School District. He was also a building principal at Tawas Area High School and a middle school assistant principal at Bay City Public Schools.
“He has been a supporter, confidant, friend, resource, and mentor,” said Chris Ming, Superintendent at Au Gres-Sims School District and one of Collier’s nominators. “Dr. Collier knows firsthand the demands of not just the superintendency, but also of having limited resources, human and otherwise, at your disposal in a small district, and he leads by example with his service mindset.”
Under Collier’s leadership, Saginaw County successfully passed a Special Education Millage in 2022 – the first time in 48 years that such a measure was approved. The millage was passed at the statutory maximum level for special education and is expected to be an investment of at least $88.5 million over the next decade for special education programs in school districts within the ISD. The millage has had a transformative effect on the ISD’s capacity to fund essential special education programs and provide increased supports for some of its most marginalized students across the county. In addition to Special Education, “Dr. Collier has an unwavering commitment to instruction and learning in Saginaw County that is nothing short of inspiring. His visionary leadership has paved the way for innovative programs and initiatives that profoundly impacted outcomes for all learners,” said Saginaw ISD Executive Director of Instructional Services Victor Bugni.
“Dr. Collier isn't just content with the status quo,” said Dr. Stephen Bielow, Superintendent at Bay City Public Schools and another of Collier’s nominators. “His reputation as a disruptor attests to his forward-thinking approach, prioritizing innovative leadership designs that break barriers. This ensures that institutions aren't just functioning under his guidance – they are thriving.”
Collier’s work has also focused on addressing the critical educator shortage. He was one of 12 founding members of the Talent Together program – a collaborative consortium that aims to attract and train future educators by pooling resources and expertise – and currently sits on the organization’s Governing Board. Collier and his team also pioneered the creation of the first Teacher Apprenticeship program in Michigan to provide aspiring teachers with hands-on classroom experience while earning a stipend. In working on this issue statewide, Dr. Collier also prioritized creating an environment at Saginaw ISD where both staff and students can flourish. This emphasis on fostering a conducive atmosphere as a cornerstone of employee attraction and retention has spurred numerous organizational capital improvement projects. "Jeff's involvement in various campus capital projects, including the renovation of the Millet Learning Center and the Transition Center project, highlights his dedication to providing state-of-the-art facilities that foster collaborative leadership and adaptability in a post-Covid educational landscape," remarked Saginaw ISD Deputy Superintendent Scott Sawyer.
Effective communication is also a large part of Collier’s leadership. This past year, he led his team to launch the "Our Story" program, which aims to capture the “magic moments of awe” happening every day in education but that are not often shared. “One of the standout qualities of Dr. Collier is his earnest dedication to enhancing school communications. Under his leadership, we have experienced a transformative approach to how we tell “Our Story” both within our district and to our larger community with transparency, authenticity, and collective authorship,” said Saginaw ISD Chief of Staff and Communications Supervisor Coty Kuschinsky. The campaign has shared over 1,500 positive narratives from more than 100 individuals since January.
Beyond his role at Saginaw ISD, Collier also serves on various boards, including the Saginaw County Board of Public Health, Saginaw Community Foundation, and Saginaw Valley State University's (SVSU) External Advisory Board, SET SEG Foundation, Hartley Foundation Board, and SVSU’s Board of Fellows. “Dr. Collier's commitment to cooperation among neighboring ISDs and school districts has promoted knowledge sharing and best practices, ultimately benefiting students throughout the region,” said Ruth Coppens, Saginaw ISD Board President and one of Collier’s nominators. “His leadership has not only elevated Saginaw ISD but has also had a ripple effect on the entire educational landscape.”
Collier is a lifelong learner with a rigorous educational background. He most recently earned his Doctor of Education degree in November of 2021 from Central Michigan University. He also holds both an Education Specialist and Master of Education degrees from Saginaw Valley State University. He began his post-secondary education at Delta College, earning an Associate of Arts degree before transferring to Michigan State University to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
In addition to the surprise presentation at Tuesday’s board meeting, Collier will be formally recognized at MASA’s 2024 Midwinter Conference in January in Detroit, Michigan. A $1,000 student scholarship will also be presented and donated to Saginaw ISD in his honor by this year’s Michigan award sponsor, Williams & Company.
As Michigan’s 2024 Superintendent of the Year, Collier is now in the running for the national Superintendent of the Year award from the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). AASA will convene a Blue-Ribbon Selection Committee to select four national finalists in December. In January, the four finalists will participate in a national briefing and interviews at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.. The National Superintendent of the Year will be announced in February at the AASA National Conference on Education in San Diego, California, where all State Superintendents of the Year will also be honored.
ABOUT SAGINAW INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) is an educational service agency that provides effective and innovative leadership, services, resources, and programs throughout Saginaw County. Saginaw ISD provides career and technical education, early childhood, finance, human resources, instruction, pupil accounting, special education, technology, and transportation services. In addition, Saginaw ISD operates multiple educational programs to meet the unique needs of students ages birth to 26 across Saginaw County, including: Hartley Outdoor Education Center, Head Start/Early Head Start and Great Start to Readiness Programs, Great Lakes Bay Early College, Saginaw County Juvenile Detention Center School, and Special Education Center Programs.
Saginaw ISD serves 12 local school districts, five public school academies, and 22 non-public schools, with a total enrollment of approximately 26,000 students. Public school districts supported include: Birch Run Area Schools, Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District, Carrollton Public Schools, Chesaning Union Schools, Frankenmuth School District, Freeland Community School District, Hemlock Public School District, Merrill Community Schools, Saginaw Public School District, Saginaw Township Community Schools, St. Charles Community Schools, and Swan Valley School District.
MEDIA CONTACT
For further inquiries, you may contact Chief of Staff Coty Kuschinsky at ckuschinsky@sisd.cc