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GRPS schedules public interviews for two superintendent finalists

GRPS schedules public interviews for two superintendent finalists

Rule Changes Grand Rapids, MI local

District insider Kelly Greene faces Chicago's Allison Tingwall in Wednesday's public interviews.

Today: Public interviews scheduled

Overview

Updated 8 hours ago

Grand Rapids Public Schools will publicly interview two superintendent finalists at 5 p.m. Wednesday at GRPS University on Fuller Avenue. The board chose Kelly Greene, a 20-year district administrator, and Allison Tingwall, a Chicago Public Schools executive, from 35 applicants.

The winner succeeds Dr. Leadriane Roby, whose contract runs through June 2027. The choice sets the direction for West Michigan's largest school district. It tests whether the board favors insider continuity or outside perspective from a much bigger system.

Why it matters

The next GRPS superintendent will steer West Michigan's largest school district, shaping academic programs and community trust for years.

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Key Indicators

2
Superintendent finalists
Board advanced Greene and Tingwall on Oct. 26.
35
Applicants in search
Candidates who completed applications by the Oct. 4 deadline.
2,315
Individuals reached by search firm
Ray & Associates contacted educators across all 50 states.
25
Community engagement events
20 focus groups, four in-person town halls, one virtual town hall.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

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People Involved

KG
Kelly Greene
Chief Area Instructional Leader, Grand Rapids Public Schools; superintendent finalist
Finalist in GRPS superintendent search
AT
Allison Tingwall
Executive Director of Principal Quality, Chicago Public Schools; superintendent finalist
Finalist in GRPS superintendent search
 Dr. Leadriane Roby
Dr. Leadriane Roby
Superintendent, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Contract extended through June 2027; will depart after successor is named
 José Rodriguez
José Rodriguez
President, GRPS Board of Education
Leading superintendent search process

Organizations Involved

Grand Rapids Public Schools
Grand Rapids Public Schools
School District
Conducting superintendent search

Largest and most diverse school district in West Michigan.
RA
Ray & Associates
Search Firm
Managing GRPS superintendent search

National executive search firm retained by the GRPS board.
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools
School District
Employer of finalist Allison Tingwall

School district employing finalist Allison Tingwall.

Timeline

February 2026 October 2026

8 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Public interviews scheduled

    Today Announcement

    GRPS confirms public interviews for both finalists at 5 p.m. Oct. 28 at GRPS University.

  2. Two finalists announced

    Selection

    Board votes to advance Kelly Greene and Allison Tingwall as finalists.

  3. Virtual screening interviews held

    Interview

    Search firm Ray & Associates conducts virtual screening interviews with semifinalists.

  4. Seventh semifinalist added

    Selection

    Seventh candidate joins after Michigan Association of School Boards conflict-of-interest guidance.

  5. Six semifinalists named

    Selection

    Board picks six candidates to advance from the applicant pool.

  6. Applications close

    Milestone

    Deadline passes for superintendent applications; 35 candidates completed the process.

  7. Community engagement begins

    Engagement

    GRPS holds 20 focus groups, five town halls, and an online survey through September.

  8. Search launched

    Announcement

    Board extends Roby's contract through June 2027 and announces the superintendent search.

Scenarios

1

Board Picks Greene as Next Superintendent

Possible Resolves by Dec 15, 2026

Discussed by: Community observers and GRPS staff familiar with Greene's record

The board selects Greene, valuing her 20 years inside GRPS, existing relationships with principals and staff, and knowledge of the district's strategic plan. Her internal experience could smooth the transition as Roby departs in June 2027. Greene has already helped move a school off the state's lowest-performing list.

2

Board Selects Tingwall for Top Role

Possible Resolves by Dec 15, 2026

Discussed by: Education commentators citing Tingwall's Curie High School results

The board chooses Tingwall, seeking fresh leadership from one of the nation's largest districts. Her record at Curie High School, where discipline incidents fell and college enrollment rose, could appeal to a board wanting reform momentum. She would arrive with experience managing hundreds of school leaders.

3

Search Stalls Past Year-End

Unlikely Resolves by Jan 15, 2027

Discussed by: Board watchers noting the conflict-of-interest addition suggests process scrutiny

The interviews reveal concerns about one or both candidates, a finalist withdraws, or the board deadlocks. The district would then re-open the search or extend Roby's tenure. This outcome would delay the naming of a new leader beyond the current timeline.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

June 2007

Michelle Rhee Appointed DCPS Chancellor (2007)

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty appointed Michelle Rhee, a 37-year-old with no district leadership experience, to run Washington's troubled public schools. She closed schools, reorganized administration, and pushed a controversial teacher evaluation system tying tenure to test scores.

Then

Rhee's confrontational approach divided the city, and her fights with the teachers union contributed to Fenty's primary loss in 2010. She resigned that year.

Now

Her tenure became the national template for the debate over outside-led school reform versus community trust.

Why this matters now

Tingwall, like Rhee, would come from outside the district. Choosing her would echo the high-stakes, reform-minded outsider model; choosing Greene would reject it.

January 2014

Carmen Fariña Named NYC Schools Chancellor (2014)

Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Carmen Fariña, a 40-year veteran of New York City schools who rose from teacher to deputy chancellor, to lead the nation's largest school system. She had retired in 2006 after three decades in the classroom and central office.

Then

Fariña replaced confrontation with collaboration, emphasizing principal support and parent engagement during her four-year tenure.

Now

Her appointment showed that a large district could choose insider stability and relationship-building over outsider disruption.

Why this matters now

Greene, a GRPS lifer, resembles Fariña in profile. Selecting her would signal the board wants steady hands over a bold external reset.

Sources

(4)
+2
MLive Grand Rapids Public Schools Grand Rapids Public Schools Grand Rapids Public Schools