Dear Saginaw ISD team,

Last July, construction commenced on the transformative capital renovation project of collaborative working spaces at Unity Hall and the Superintendent and Administration Offices at our Central Campus. In celebration, our new work environment at Central Campus was conceptually and meticulously designed to increase organizational leadership collaboration and simultaneously provide progressive and modern universal workspaces for individuals and teams throughout Saginaw ISD. 

This comprehensive renovation prompted the relocation of many personnel over the last eight months to temporary offices across five of our campuses throughout the county, including Jerome Preschool, Claytor Preschool, Brunkow Preschool, Millet Learning Center, and Transitions Center. With “one team, one ISD” sincerity, I wish to express again my gratitude to team members throughout Saginaw ISD who welcomed each other with grace, hospitality, and growth mindsets throughout the Central Campus construction transition. The manifested physical transformation of Central Campus represents yet another indicator of the positive evolution Saginaw ISD is demonstrating to multiply our abilities to serve, innovate, and empower.  

Yours in Education,
Dr. Jeffrey Collier

A feature that brings a variety of content providing an insight into my leadership philosophies that may include: wisdom tales, enlightening podcasts, thoughtful memes, inspiring leadership quotes, motivating videos, etc., all aimed at providing leadership reflections and opportunities to challenge our collaborative growth to serve, innovate, and empower.

Leadership Speech I Wish to Share

I was the featured general assembly speaker at the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators (MASA) Conference in Detroit, Michigan, on January 25, 2024. Here is the video of the leadership speech I shared with Michigan’s superintendents.

A Recognition of Gratitude and Humility

On February 15, I had the privilege to be recognized as the 2024 Michigan Superintendent of the Year, along with 49 other respective state superintendent award winners throughout the United States, at the national conference on education in San Diego, California. It was a fantastic honor to represent Saginaw, the Great Lakes Bay Region, and the state of Michigan and be recognized with my peers and contemporaries who are leading impactful positive change for students throughout our country.

Three Conference Presentations of Significance

I had the privilege of representing Saginaw ISD while presenting and supporting three different sessions at state and national conferences in the past two months. The first was in Orlando, Florida, on January 26 at the Future of Educational Technology Conference (FETC). While there, Deputy Superintendent Scott Sawyer and Chief of Staff Coty Kuschinsky co-presented with me a session to a national audience titled “Our Story: Empowering Tech-Infused Positive Storytelling for School Culture Transformation.” 

I was also invited to join Tyler Vawser from Apptegy and SchoolCEO in San Diego, California, to co-present at the National Conference on Education (NCE) a national presentation titled, "Reimagining School Marketing: The Power of Collective Authorship." Here is a written summary from a communication specialist who attended our session: https://nce.aasa.org/collective-authorship-school-marketing-storytelling-aasa/

Lastly, on March 8, I was able to support Chief of Staff Coty Kuschinsky at the Michigan School Public Relations Association (MSPRA) State Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as she delivered a featured presentation to first-line school administrators and communication specialists titled “Our Story: Revolutionizing School Communication by Empowering Collective Authorship."

Did you know that as an employee of Saginaw ISD, you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program? This federal program is designed to relieve the burden of student loans for individuals who dedicate their careers to public service.

If you've been faithfully making payments on your student loans, the PSLF program could offer you significant financial relief. Here's how it works: After making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying public employer, like Saginaw ISD, the remaining balance on your Direct Loans may be forgiven.

Moreover, recent changes have made it easier for public service workers, including our dedicated school employees, to benefit from this program. These changes include ensuring that more payments count towards the required 120, reviewing denied PSLF applications for errors, and simplifying the application process.

It's important to note that only payments made after October 1, 2007, qualify, and the program covers only loans you received under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. If you have loans under other federal student loan programs, you may consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to qualify for PSLF. To take full advantage of the PSLF, loan payers should consider which repayment plan they use with their service provider, as not all repayment plans qualify.

We encourage Saginaw ISD employees who believe they might be eligible or those seeking more information to visit the official PSLF website or contact their loan servicer. This program is a token of appreciation for your commitment to serving our community and shaping future generations. Don't miss the opportunity to lighten your financial load and potentially save thousands of dollars on your student loans!

Capturing "Our Story" in Saginaw ISD

At Saginaw ISD, every day is an opportunity to tell "Our Story," showcasing the life, achievements, and magic moments of awe within our workday while celebrating the overwhelming positivity of public education. Here's how we can find and capture these moments:

Finding the Story

Keep an eye out for those unique, impactful moments that truly represent the spirit of our district and community. Some examples include:

• Innovative Learning: A group of students collaborating on a robotics project, showing teamwork and problem-solving in action.

• Community Engagement: Students and teachers participating in a local clean-up, highlighting our commitment to the environment and community welfare.

• Artistic Endeavors: The focus and dedication of a student working on an art piece, capturing the essence of creativity and expression.

• Check out your team members' examples by keeping up with #OurStory and our Live Feed page!

Addressing Privacy Concerns

When capturing these stories, it's crucial to respect the privacy of our students. Ensure compliance with FERPA by:

• Double-check permissions in students' Skyward accounts or consult building media protocols.

• Opting for photos of students from behind or focusing on hands to maintain anonymity when necessary.

When You Miss the Photo Op

Not every moment can be captured in real-time, but the story can still be told through:

• Utilizing the Saginaw ISD logo or the district you are serving's logo to represent the district and its values.

• Selecting a relevant stock image that reflects the activity or event (ex: find an image of the outside of the building on Google)

Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) is thrilled to introduce Rodney Woods as the new Great Lakes Bay Early College (GLBEC) and Saginaw County Juvenile Detention Center (SCJDC) Program Director. 

Victor Bugni, Executive Director of Instructional Services, shared, "Saginaw ISD, in partnership with the Juvenile Detention Center, is thrilled to welcome Mr. Rodney Woods to our team. After meeting with Rodney, it was clear to us that he possesses the passion and dedication necessary to support all learners. We are confident that he will significantly contribute to supporting our students to become the best individuals they can be."

Saginaw Intermediate School District would like to congratulate Director of Human Resources Jennifer Grigg for completing the requirements to earn the Human Resources Specialist Certification (HRS) from the Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO) program. "Saginaw ISD would like to recognize Director of Human Resources, Jenn Grigg, for completing the Human Resources Specialist certification through MSBO, demonstrating her commitment to professional development and expertise in school human resources," said Andrea Wise, Executive Director of Human Resources. During these 5 years, Ms. Grigg must earn 90 hours of professional development hours to maintain and renew her certification. Ms. Grigg looks forward to the extended learning opportunity, stating, "The MSBO HRS Certification Program has contributed to my leadership development in providing expertise in Human Resources Administration in public education."

The Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) is delighted to announce the appointment of Jamie McGough as the new Human Resources Manager. During our regular board meeting, the Saginaw ISD Board of Education unanimously approved her promotion from Benefits Coordinator on February 20, 2024. "Jamie has been an essential part of our HR team, diligently serving as the Benefits Coordinator for the past three years. Her commitment to providing exemplary customer service and expertise has greatly enhanced the experiences of both our staff and local districts. It is truly an honor to recognize Jamie and celebrate her transition into her new role as HR Manager." said Andrea Wise, Executive Director of Human Resources.

For previous editions of the Superintendent Newsletter, please visit this page.