Dexter Community Schools is pleased to announce that Wylie Elementary Principal Katie See has been honored by the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) as the Region 2 Principal Honoree of the year. Region 2 includes Livingston, Monroe and Washtenaw counties. Principals are nominated by their peers and selected by the Region’s executive board. According to their LinkedIn profile, MEMSPA is “dedicated to supporting principals in the delivery of quality educational experiences to the students of the State of Michigan by providing leadership, legislative advocacy, professional development and guidance.”
Mrs. See earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in K-12 Leadership, both from Michigan State University. She was an elementary teacher at East Lansing Public Schools and Dexter Community Schools for 24 years before moving to her current role. 2024 marks her tenth year as Wylie Principal.
Principal Honorees were recognized at the MEMSPA annual conference December 5th in Traverse City. While listing many examples of Mrs. See’s outstanding leadership, Region 2 President Emily Sickler had this to say about her exemplary work:
“Katie is dedicated to forging caring relationships and building connections with families and students. She listens to kids, families and staff to arrive at solutions while honoring all ideas. Empowering kids with choice is an essential value to Katie…
…Katie fosters shared leadership and collaboration amongst her staff. She empowers teachers to work together to identify the needs of their students and to use this information to make decisions and set goals. Teachers help to plan and facilitate meetings and professional development. Katie believes wholeheartedly that understanding others’ perspectives is vital to building relationships…
…Katie is remarkably persistent, as well. She commits to trying strategies with fidelity, but she also recognizes when it’s time to pivot and try something new…
…Those who know Katie recognize her as exceptional. As a school leader, she is an inspiring model of collaboration and care.”
DCS Superintendent Chris Timmis added: “Katie See is an incredible principal and educational leader…under her guidance, Wylie Elementary School has become a statewide leader in place-based learning where our students actively engage in our entire community as their classroom…this award is so well-deserved and we are fortunate to have Mrs. See at DCS.”
Two other Dexter Community Schools principals have also received this honor: Creekside Intermediate School Principal Tammy Reich in 2021 and then Cornerstone Elementary Principal Craig McCalla in 2012. Mr. McCalla is now DCS Principal for Operations.
PHOTO: L-R: MEMSPA President David Simpson, Katie See, and Executive Director Paul Liabenow (Courtesy of DCS)
