Local Superintendents among Romeo candidates

Capac and Yale top administrators to be interviewed

ROMEO — Like several other school districts in the area, the Romeo Community School district is searching for their next Superintendent and have narrowed the field to six candidates.

Among the candidates are two local top administrators, at Capac and Yale, along with the current Reese Supt. who was also among two finalists for the Almont position.

Dr. Amy Nelson, the Capac Supt. and Yale Supt. Kurt Sutton had interviews scheduled for this week. Also among the finalists is Jordan Ackerman of Reese, who was vying for the Almont position. The Almont board ultimately chose Cros-Lex Ass’t Supt. Kyle Wood over Ackerman, who is originally from Armada.

To add to the mix, the Armada district joined those schools looking for their next Supt. as of last week when their superintendent informed them he was retiring from the district.

Romeo Community Schools, established over 150 years ago, is a public school district in

Southeast Michigan that serves the Village of Romeo and portions of the following communities in Macomb and Oakland Counties: Addison Twp., Armada Twp., Bruce Twp., Oakland Charter Twp., Ray Twp., Shelby Charter Twp. and Washington Charter Twp.

The District serves 5,614 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. It is composed of an early childhood center, five elementary schools, a middle school, a high school (with separate 9th grade and 10-12th grade buildings), and the administration building.

The high school consists of four distinct academies: the 9th Grade Academy (9GA), the Academy of

Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation (BEI), the Academy of Design, Engineering and
Manufacturing (DEM), and the Academy of Health, Human and Public Service (HHP). There is also a Virtual Academy. Students select an Academy and career pathway that interests them.

With 596 dedicated employees, including 299 teachers and 32 administrative staff members,Romeo Community Schools maintains a strong student-centered focus.

The District operates on an annual budget of $84.6 million, with a foundation allowance of $10,050 per pupil and a

projected fund balance of $18.2 million (21.6% of expenditures), reflecting sound fiscal stewardship and financial stability.

Interviews for the Romeo superintendent position began Tuesday, June 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the 9th Grade Academy. 

Below are brief bios on each candidate.

Dr. Amy Nelson is currently Superintendent of Capac Community Schools in St. Clair County. Before stepping into administration she spent nine years as a classroom teacher at L’Anse Creuse Public Schools, one of the largest districts in Macomb County.

She then served as Elementary School Principal at Fitzgerald Public Schools before joining Capac as Curriculum Director, Interim Superintendent, and ultimately Superintendent. She holds an Ed.D and recently interviewed for the Richmond Superintendent position. Ultimately, another candidate was selected.

Kurt Sutton is currently Superintendent of Yale Public Schools in St. Clair County, a position he has held since 2021. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Alma College and began his career in the classroom, teaching elementary and middle school students at White Cloud Community Schools and then Richmond Community Schools, where he also coached basketball.

He moved into building administration at Richmond before serving as Principal of Armada Area Schools for nearly 15 years. He knows what it means to stay, to build, and to lead from within a community.

Under his leadership at Yale, two elementary schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education and M-STEP scores rank at the top of St. Clair County. That is a verifiable record of results built on a foundation that started in a classroom.

Jordan Ackerman is currently Superintendent of Reese Public Schools. Ackerman holds a degree in Secondary Education as well as an Ed.D. but reportedly never held a teaching certificate and has never led his own classroom.

The information was verified through the Michigan Department of Education’s certification database.

His employment history reflects a pattern of short stints, including just one year as a building principal in Armada before leaving education entirely for two years.   

He explained that departure, during an interview with the Almont Board of Education, saying he had been employed at Oxford Schools prior to the tragic mass shooting. 

He said he knew many of the students, including Tate Mayer who was one of four victims fatally shot.

Ackerman has been superintendent at Reese for just over a year. He was recently interviewed for the superintendent position at Almont Community Schools but ultimately another candidate was chosen over him.

Dr. Arthur Ebert is currently Superintendent of Sturgis Public Schools, a position he has held since 2018.

Before that he spent 17 years in teaching, coaching and administrative roles at West Bloomfield School District.

Dr. Eric Kausch is currently Principal of Carleton Middle School in Warren Consolidated Schools, one of the largest and most complex districts in Macomb County.

He began his career as a classroom teacher in 2003 and has spent his entire career in this region. He has been recognized for his support of MISD’s educator pipeline program and is deeply embedded in the Macomb County education community.

Joseph McDonald is currently Director of Secondary Education at Anchor Bay School District, spanning Macomb and St. Clair counties.

A Roseville High School graduate and Macomb County native, McDonald began his career in the classroom in 1999, teaching seventh grade near Saginaw before spending three years teaching eighth grade at South Lake Middle School.

In 2024 he was a finalist for the superintendent position at L’Anse Creuse Public Schools, one of the largest districts in Macomb County. Ultimately, another candidate was selected for the position.

Below is the full schedule. All interviews are open to the public:

Tuesday, June 23 — Dr. Amy Nelson and Jordan Ackerman, beginning at 5:30 p.m
Wednesday, June 24 — Dr. Eric Kausch and Dr. Arthur Ebert, beginning at 5:30 p.m
Thursday, June 25 — Joseph McDonald and Kurt Sutton, beginning at 5:30 p.m

Finalists will be selected at a Special Meeting on Friday, June 26. On June 30, the  board will host district tours, a Q&A session, and a meet and greet where community members can engage directly with the finalists.