Three Dexter Community Schools board members earned awards from the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) in 2020 for their efforts to improve their leadership skills,
demonstrating their commitment to student achievement and their own continuous improvement. Awards are earned for classes completed in MASB’s leadership training program, as well as for conference attendance, years of service, and leadership activities.
Board Vice President Mara Greatorex (elected 2018) earned two awards: the Certified Board Member Award, and the Award of Merit. To do so, she completed all nine 100-level board member classes, as well as forty-five education credits.
Board President Dr. Julie Schumaker (elected 2003) and former Trustee Barbara Read (2013-2020) earned the Master Board Member Award, which recognizes board members who have completed levels 1, 2 and 3; a total of nine advanced (200- or 300-Level) CBA classes and minimum of 368 education credits.
MASB training and professional development helps board members to keep pace with the fast-moving and complex changes in public education. Last year, more than 1,300 school board members statewide participated in MASB’s professional development program for elected school leaders. The hours devoted to this training are above and beyond the time members spend at their local meetings, events, and reviewing policies and board packets.
Superintendent Dr. Christopher Timmis noted, “Dexter has a history of long-serving and dedicated board members who work diligently to ensure that Dexter students receive an excellent, well-rounded education and that District staff and administration are good stewards of public funds and public trust. They truly strive to keep the best interests of Dexter students and staff foremost in their words and actions.”
“I’ve worked with school boards and public schools for more than 19 years and am always in awe of the commitment of so many members,” said MASB Executive Director Don Wotruba, CAE. “Schools are under exceptional pressure to be innovative and reinvent the way they deliver education. Training equips them with the tools necessary to make the best decisions for Michigan’s schoolchildren. The time they spend being servant leaders and honing their skills is second to none.”
Greatorex, who was elected to the Board of Education in 2018, has BA in Telecommunications from Michigan State University. She has two children attending Dexter High School. She has served on the board of E4DS, was active with the Cornerstone Parent Teacher Group (CPTG) Leadership Team, and coached girls at Wylie, Creekside, and Mill Creek for Girls on the Run (GOTR) for 7 years. Additionally, she has served on her neighborhood Homeowner Association Board. Greatorex is currently a fitness instructor at the Dexter Wellness Center, Mitten Fitness, and Crossfit Joust in Ann Arbor.
Dr. Schumaker, who was elected to the Dexter Board of Education in 2003, has two children who are Dexter graduates. She has a PhD from The University of Michigan in Educational Foundations and Policy and a MA in Guidance and Counseling. Dr. Schumaker has more than 30 years of experience serving as a consultant to educational and non-profit organizations. From 1994-2014, Schumaker was president of Evaluation Associates whose organizational mission was to strengthen the programs and organizational effectiveness of non-profit organizations through the use of strategic planning, research and evaluation. She has been actively involved in the Dexter community helping to create the Dexter Community Fund, a local community endowment fund, and serving as Chair since 2015. Additionally, she has served on the board of E4DS, and has been an active member of the Dexter Rotary Club serving as President in 2017-18. She is currently serving as Asst. Governor in Rotary District 6380.
A full overview of the individual and whole board training levels can be viewed HERE
