Farmington Board Welcomes New Principals, Elects New Officers

The (FPS) Board of Education approved the hiring and promotion of three new administrators during their Tuesday organizational meeting. But only one had a cheering squad.

Shawndra Hernton will be coming back to the district, where she worked as a teacher from 1997 to 2007 and as a principal at , until she was downsized as part of the restructuring that last year closed four elementary schools. Most recently, Hernton worked as a principal at Cass Elementary in Livonia, said Michele Harmala, assistant superintendent of student support services and organizational leadership.

At the July 19 board meeting, Harmala recommended that Hernton return to Farmington as principal next year.

And with that, a group of staffers from Beechview rose to their feet, started shaking white and purple pompons and burst into song to welcome her.

In addition to Hernton’s new job, Harmala presented for board approval Steve Vercellino, who will be the principal at next year. He’s worked for the district since 1991, and this year served as the interim principal at Forest. Harmala described him as “an absolute leader” with “tremendous wisdom.”

Jim Anderson has been a teacher and administrator with Farmington Public Schools since 2000. Harmala called him a dedicated, thoughtful, and passionate leader who has served as assistant principal at . Next year, he will be Power’s new principal.

The new director of special education will be Valerie Mierzwa. She’s worked with the district since 1990, and is “intelligent and sensible, and is always thinking about the multiplicity of issues that have the potential for interfering with student or staff success,” Harmala said. 

Harmala also recommended hiring Mary Loew-Glovak as the supervisor of special education services.

Even the board members took on some new job duties. Board members elected Sheilah Clay as president, Karen Bolsen as vice president, Priscilla Brouillette as secretary and Frank Reid as treasurer. Clay replaces 2010-2011 president Howard Wallach, who will continue to serve as trustee, along with Timothy Devine, who was appointed earlier this year, and Debby Brauer.

Clay was first appointed to the board in 2006 and elected in 2007. Her term expires in 2015. According to a press release issued by the district, she is the President and CEO of Neighborhood Service Organization located in Wayne and Oakland Counties and is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago-Detroit Branch. She and her husband have lived in Farmington Hills for 14 years; they have four children.