MDE TEAM

Dr. Michael F. Rice was appointed Michigan’s 45th superintendent of public instruction by Michigan’s State Board of Education in May 2019. He officially began his work as state superintendent on August 1, 2019.

Dr. Rice came to the Michigan Department of Education after serving 17 years as a local district superintendent: 12 years as superintendent in Kalamazoo, Michigan and 5 as superintendent in Clifton, New Jersey.

During his tenure in Kalamazoo, the community passed all ten education-related ballot initiatives, and the district began full-day pre-school, quintupled the number of full-day kindergarten students, and improved student achievement in all board strategic plan areas of reading, writing, math, Advanced Placement, and graduation rates. The district also built its first three new schools in over a third of a century, started an English-Spanish dual language school, began two new alternative programs, and started a mentoring program that served more than 1,400 students.

During his tenure in Clifton, the community passed eight education-related ballot initiatives. The district began and implemented full-day kindergarten in all of its schools; opened its first new school in 42 years; built an extension and an annex for the high school, at 3400 students the largest on a single campus in New Jersey; and created dual enrollment programs for children at Clifton High School to attend Passaic County Community College and Montclair State University. Student achievement rose in all board strategic plan areas.

Dr. Rice began his career in public education in the Washington, D.C. Public Schools, where he taught high school French, and founded and coached an award-winning speech and debate program. He graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with honors and from New York University with a master’s degree and doctoral degree in public administration, also with honors.

His most rewarding work remains his mentoring and teaching of, and informal discussions with, school children– which he continues to do as Michigan’s state superintendent.

Brandy Bugni, Ed.D. is the Literacy Manager at the Michigan Department of Education. Brandy’s tenure at MDE includes serving as a Literacy Consultant and a State Transformation Specialist to improve education infrastructure in Michigan for effective implementation of initiatives and policies. As Literacy Manager, Brandy coordinates literacy work within the department and with partners in the state to help align programs, policy, and funding.

Prior to working at MDE Brandy taught third and fourth grade. Brandy holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lamar University where she completed her dissertation on teacher leaders’ growth in the essential elements of cultural proficiency. She earned a Masters in Curriculum & Teaching and a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Michigan State University.

Julie Brehmer is a Literacy Consultant with the Michigan Department of Education. She is currently working on the Michigan Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant, as well as several other literacy projects. Prior to joining MDE, Julie worked as a Special Education Teacher and Teacher Consultant for 14 years. Her work included teaching students ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade, co-taught in middle school classrooms across a variety of content areas, and worked closely with all IEP team members throughout the special education evaluation process. She is completing her Ph.D. in Special Education with a Specialization in Language and Literacy at Michigan State University.

Mrs. Everett is the Early Literacy and Family Engagement Consultant at the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Office of Great Start/Early Childhood Development and Family Education. Mrs. Everett has an extensive early childhood background and experiences in programs such as Head Start, Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), Great Start Collaborative (GSC), and Parents as Teachers. She has served as a program director, classroom teacher, home visitor and early childhood specialist.

Melissa C. Manko, MA has 25 years in education- with work in special education/learning disabilities, general education, educational technology, public and private Montessori, early childhood, school improvement teams, PBIS/MTSS ISD coaching and service as a local education foundation board member before joining the Michigan Department of Education literacy team in 2019.

Katy Piotrowski, M.A. is a literacy consultant for the Michigan Department of Education. Prior to becoming an MDE consultant, she taught elementary school, and middle school reading and writing, for nearly 20 years. In addition, Katy has an M.A. in Curriculum Design and Development, and English. Katy believes in being the change you wish to see in the world.

Shelly Proebstle is a Literacy Consultant for the Michigan Department of Education. Currently, she is working on the Michigan Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant along with other related projects. Before her work at MDE, she taught for 25 years in elementary classrooms of 3 different districts. She then became a Literacy Coach supporting teacher practices and systems work with administrators.