Finalists selected to be next Tecumseh Public Schools superintendent

David Panian, The Daily Telegram

TECUMSEH — A current superintendent and a central office administrator are the finalists for the Tecumseh Public Schools' top job.

Stephen Doerr, superintendent of East Jackson Community Schools, and Matt Hilton, executive director for elementary education at Ann Arbor Public Schools, will proceed to the next round of interviews, scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, during a special Tecumseh Board of Education meeting at the Tecumseh High School media center.

Following the interviews, the board of education will deliberate and discuss the candidates in an open session accessible to the public. The board will then select the next superintendent of Tecumseh Public Schools.

The selected candidate is anticipated to start their new role in June 2024.

The board invited Doerr and Hilton to return for second interviews after the first round of interviews on Saturday, a news release from the Tecumseh schools said. The other candidates interviewed Saturday were Tecumseh High School Principal Kimberly Irish and Milan High School Principal Aaron Shinn.

"The Board extends its gratitude to all candidates who participated in the interview process," the release said.

The interview schedule Tuesday is:

  • Doerr: 6 p.m.

  • Hilton: 7:30 p.m.

Before the start of the meeting, there will be an opportunity starting at 4 p.m. to meet the candidates in the high school media center.

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Doerr has been superintendent of the East Jackson schools since 2016. Previously, he was a school improvement and data consultant for the Jackson Intermediate School District from 2013-16. He also was a high school classroom teacher, athletic coach, science department chair, academic coach (Science Olympiad and FIRST Robotics) and school improvement leader from 1994-2013 for East Jackson schools. He has a master's degree from Michigan State University in instructional design and educational technology, according to his résumé.

Doerr successfully led East Jackson through four ballot initiatives — two operating millage renewals, one operating millage increase, and 1 capital improvement bond, his résumé says. He currently serves as the president of the Jackson County Superintendents Association.

Hilton has been executive director of elementary education in Ann Arbor since 2021. Previously, he was assistant principal and principal at Mitchell Elementary in Ann Arbor from 2014-21. He was also a reading specialist and Title I teacher in Ann Arbor from 2005-14. He was kindergarten through third grade literacy coach from 2003-05 and a classroom teacher from 2000-03 at Holland Public Schools. He has a master's degree from MSU in educational leadership, according to his résumé.

Current Superintendent Rick Hilderley is planning to retire at the end of this school year. Hilderley's last day in the office is expected to be June 7. He will then use up his remaining vacation time until his contract ends June 30.

— Contact reporter David Panian at dpanian@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @lenaweepanian.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Finalists selected to be next Tecumseh Public Schools superintendent

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