CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The Clintondale Community Schools Board of Education has narrowed its search for the district’s next superintendent, selecting six candidates to advance to the first round of interviews.
The board voted during a special meeting on Wednesday, July 29, to move forward with six applicants from a pool of 26 candidates who applied for the district’s top leadership position. The interviews are scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 4, and Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Clintondale Conference Center, 35200 Little Mack Ave. in Clinton Township.
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“We have reached an important point in the search for Clintondale’s next superintendent,” Board of Education President Jared Maynard said in a statement. “The Board is committed to a careful and deliberate process. We want our community to have an opportunity to learn more about the finalists and share their feedback.”
The candidates scheduled to interview include:
Tuesday, August 4, 2026:
- Shawn Shackelford, Director of Curriculum and Professional Development, Hamtramck Public Schools
- Sean Lively, Middle School Teacher, Van Dyke Public Schools
- Mark Whelton, former superintendent of Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District
Wednesday, August 5, 2026:
- Michael Carrauthers, Chief Academic Officer, Harper Woods Public Schools
- Brian Walmsley, former superintendent of Richmond Community Schools
- Kimberly Leverette, Superintendent of Pontiac School District
The first interview each evening begins at 6:30 p.m. and may last up to 80 minutes. Additional interviews will begin about 10 minutes after the previous interview concludes.
District officials said the first-round interviews will not be live-streamed to preserve the integrity of the selection process. Candidate resumes are available on the district’s superintendent search webpage.
John Silveri, regional president for Southeast Michigan with the Michigan Leadership Institute (MLI), which is coordinating the search, said the district received strong interest from candidates across Michigan and beyond.
“We were pleased by the depth and breadth of interest in the Clintondale superintendent position,” Silveri said. “We look forward to welcoming these candidates to share their perspectives, insights and experiences with the community.”
Following the first-round interviews, the Board of Education will select two finalists.
Videos of the finalist interviews will be posted online the morning of Thursday, Aug. 6, allowing community members to review the interviews and submit feedback through an online survey.
The finalists will return to Clintondale on Monday, August 10, for a public meet-and-greet beginning at 5:30 p.m. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., each candidate will deliver a presentation and participate in a second round of interviews.
The August 10th interviews will be live-streamed, and both paper and online surveys will be available for residents to provide feedback. District officials said community input will be considered before the Board of Education makes its final decision on Clintondale Community Schools’ next superintendent.