Maleyko.

DEARBORN — Despite taking on the position of the new superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools less than a month ago, Glenn Maleyko has already outlined several unique initiatives he plans on pursuing for the benefit of the district’s nearly 20,000 students. 

According to the passionate longtime educator, more than 60 percent of students in the district are Arab Americans. 

The needs of students in the district are not new to Maleyko. He has dedicated his 20-year career in the district to serving Dearborn students. In 1995, he started working as a substitute teacher in the district. Since then, he has also worked as a teacher and Assistant Principal at Salina Elementary School, principal of Salina Intermediate School and DuVall Elementary School, director of human resources and executive director of staff and student services. 

“As a principal, I always thought at some point I would like to be superintendent,” he said. “It is just like when I got into teaching. I went into teaching because I wanted to work with students. I never said that I was going to be a principal.”

Maleyko said he loves working with students and bringing people together. It wasn’t until he earned his doctor of philosophy degree in educational leadership and policy studies from Wayne State University in 2011 that he knew he was ready to become a superintendent. 

He didn’t consider applying for the position as Dearborn superintendent until his predecessor, Brian Whiston, accepted a job as the state superintendent. 

For years, Dearborn has been at the forefront of ELL (English language learners) education. Still, Maleyko said there is room for improvement. According to Maleyko, ELL students comprise 49 percent of students in the district and ELL certified teachers account for 25 percent of the staff. To better serve the needs of those students, he wants to work with the union to increase the number of certified ELL teachers in the district to 49 percent. 

Maleyko is also interested in getting students involved in improving the quality of education through the development of a Secondary Student Advisory Council. 

“They can collect information at the schools, so they can bring issues forward,” he said. “It is just a way to understand what they think is important. Why not meet with the students and find out what their thoughts are, so you have a better understanding?”

Maleyko expects the feeder track restructuring will help accelerate student achievement and make the transitions from elementary, to middle school to high school easier for students. 

The Henry Ford Collegiate Academy is a partnership between the Dearborn Public Schools and Henry Ford College that allows students attending high school to earn both a high school diploma and a two year associate degree at no cost to parents or students. Maleyko wants to expand dual enrollment. 

He also wants to focus on growing opportunities for apprenticeship and skilled trades programs. 

“So what you are doing is giving people options,” he said. “There are high paying jobs out there and a need for them.”

Maleyko also discussed the district’s Special Education Co-teaching Model. It gives special education students the opportunity to have two teachers in a classroom. 

“It is different from the traditional model where you would have pulled the students out of special ed and they don’t interact in the classroom; so that is one model I want to enhance,” he said. 

Since 2012, nine Arab Americans from the Dearborn Public School District have been accepted to Harvard. Maleyko said much of the success of students in the district can be attributed to the fact that the community is so involved in their education.

“The community supports us,” he said. “We feel strongly about education. People here want to invest in education and the community. Education is tied to real estate. It is tied to the business community.”

He also said the district is looked at by others across the state.

“That is why it is such an honor to be superintendent,” he said.

Maleyko said one of the things that sets Dearborn apart from other districts is diversity.  The Arab American News interviewed him a day after his family attended an Eid dinner at Roman Village. Over the years, he has maintained a close relationship with the Arab community. As superintendent, he plans on expanding partnerships with community groups to meet the needs of students on an academic and a social level. 

“I have good relationships and I want to work with people,” he said. “If you have the trust, then you can get people behind you and really do some great things. There is a window of opportunity right now with me coming in as superintendent.”

Maleyko is married and has an 11-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son.