TCAPS Names Superintendent Finalists, Unveils Alternative Learning Plan

The Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) board has selected five finalists to interview for the position of superintendent, including one internal candidate – Associate Superintendent Jame McCall. The district has also released its plan for alternative learning for students for the rest of the 2019-20 school year, pivoting to virtual education to finish the semester while school buildings are closed by executive order.

Five superintendent finalists were selected by board members Monday to move to a first round of virtual interviews on Saturday, April 25 starting at 8am. Candidates will be interviewed publicly for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes each, after which board members will select two finalists to proceed to a final interview round. A total of 25 candidates applied for the position, including 13 out-of-state applicants. The five finalists invited for interviews include:

Rosalie Daca, Chief Academic Officer, Racine Unified School District, Racine, Wis.
Bio: Daca, who has 34 years of experience as an educator and describes herself as a “servant leader,” has been with Racine since 2013. She previously served as a principal of an International Baccalaureate school, as a middle school assistant principal, and as a math teacher. She holds a Master’s degree in Education in Educational Leadership and a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from the University of South Florida, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education from Florida State University. Daca is pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University.
Key Cover Letter Quote: “My mission is to make school a place where all students can perform at their highest ability through an atmosphere that welcomes expression and enhances student confidence.”

Dr. Mark Daniel, Superintendent, McLean County Unit District #5 in Normal, Ill.
Bio: An educator for almost three decades, Daniel is finishing a five-year stint as head of McLean County’s largest school district in Illinois. He previously served as superintendent of Dowagiac Union Schools in Michigan and has been a principal, assistant principal, and teacher. Daniel holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Indiana State University, a Master of Arts in Secondary Education Administration from Indiana University Purdue University – Fort Wayne, a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Business from Bowling Green University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Marketing from the University of Toledo, Ohio.
Key Cover Letter Quote: “I strongly believe when stakeholders have increased leadership and ownership, initiatives evolve that are effective, efficient, and longstanding.”

Jame McCall, Associate Superintendent, Traverse City Area Public Schools, Traverse City, Mich.
Bio: McCall – who was a finalist during TCAPS’ last superintendent search in 2019 – has previous experience as a central office administrator, building principal, math and reading specialist, and teacher. She has a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University. McCall also completed post-graduate coursework in special education, school law, school finance, and leadership.
Key Cover Letter Quote: “My interpersonal skills, which have served this district well in the most challenging of situations, will continue to be an asset to this district as I serve as superintendent.”

Dina Rocheleau, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Ferndale Public Schools, Ferndale, Mich.
Bio: Prior to her current role at Ferndale Public Schools, Rocheleau was an elementary principal at Roosevelt Primary School and previously served as an assistant principal, achievement specialist, and teacher. She has been an early childhood special education consultant and an adjunct professor at Easter Michigan University. Rocheleau holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Capella University, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, and a Bachelor of Science in Learning Disabilities from the University of South Florida.
Key Cover Letter Quote: “TCAPS and the community deserve a leader who permeates composure and has extensive background in leveraging equitable educational opportunities to improve life for all.”

Dr. John VanWagoner, Superintendent of Alpena Public Schools in Alpena, Mich.
Bio: In addition to serving as superintendent of Alpena Public Schools, VanWagoner has worked in education for over two decades as a teacher, school administrator, instructional specialist, high school redesign manager, legislative liaison for the Michigan Department of Education, and associate superintendent. He holds a Ph.D. and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University, as well as a Master of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, History from Saginaw Valley State University.
Key Cover Letter Quote: “I believe in bringing community stakeholders together toward a common vision, thinking out of the box, and creating lasting relationships.”

Consulting firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA) is helping lead the superintendent search. Senior Associate Dr. James Morse told board members Monday to “keep an open mind” during interviews and to look for a candidate who’s poised to not only lead TCAPS now but over the next 5-10 years. “What do you see the challenges for the next five years for TCAPS?” Morse said. “We want to see if this person would be a fit for meeting the challenges. Will they have the skills and the aptitude and the intelligence to be able to help you lead in that area?”

HYA will conduct “extensive background checks” on the two candidates who are advanced to final interviews, Morse said – though it’s uncertain whether those interviews will occur in person or virtually. TCAPS has traditionally held “fit to district” in-depth tours with superintendent finalists in which candidates visit schools, meet with teachers and staff, and get a close-up look at the district. Board President Sue Kelly acknowledged the status of district meetings in May is “fluid,” with the structure of the final interviews – slated for May 11 and 12 – still undetermined.

In other TCAPS news, district leaders have released a state-mandated alternative learning plan for students to finish the rest of the semester remotely due to the closure of K-12 school buildings in Michigan. Online learning will be primarily facilitated through Google Classroom, according to the plan. All students in grades 6-12 already have school-issued Chromebooks, and elementary school families will have the option to check out Chromebooks if needed. Hard copies of classwork will be available to students lacking online connectivity.

Grading will be on a credit/incomplete basis for K-8 students, while high school students who receive an incomplete will be able to make up work over the summer or the first part of the 2020-21 school year. Seniors at risk of failing a course must be given an opportunity to show their mastery of the material and earn credit, according to state rules. Key events like prom and graduation have been cancelled for the time being. A detailed learning plan for each grade level will distributed to parents. TCAPS estimates implementation of the alternative learning plan will begin with students on April 20.

Pictured (top row, left to right): TCAPS logo, Rosalie Daca, Dr. Mark Daniel; (bottom row, left to right): Jame McCall, Dina Rocheleau, Dr. John VanWagoner