New Royal Oak Superintendent Discusses District, Community, Economy

Though , the newly appointed superintendent of the Royal Oak Neighborhood School District, has been visiting schools throughout the district for the past two months, his first official day on the job was Friday.

Lewis-Lakin replaces , who retired at the end of the 2011 school year. The new superintendent comes to Royal Oak from Washtenaw County's Manchester Community School District, where he had served as superintendent since 2007.

According to a Royal Oak Neighborhood School District press release, Lewis-Larkin shared these comments as he prepares for the 2011-12 school year:

State Test Scores

“The more time I’ve spent in Royal Oak, the more community members I’ve met, the more excited I am about the opportunity to serve as superintendent of the Royal Oak Neighborhood School District. The support of the Royal Oak community for its schools is solid. As I’ve examined the recently released state test scores for Royal Oak High School, I see evidence of student learning that is both strong and improving. The MME scores underscore that the Royal Oak schools are the best choice for Royal Oak families as well as families throughout south Oakland County who value student learning.”

The Community

“I believe that an excellent public school system is a vital component in a strong vibrant community. And, I believe that community support is critical for school success. The health of a community and its schools are inextricably linked.” 

Economic Challenges

“As is true for every public school in Michigan, there are challenges. As our state has struggled economically, education has suffered. There has been and will continue to be a need for shared sacrifice so that superior student learning can be maintained and strengthened.”