Rochester Community Schools Appoints John Silveri as Interim Superintendent
(RCS, Aug. 22, 2023)
ROCHESTER, Mich. – John Silveri was appointed as interim superintendent by the Board of Education of the Rochester Community School District during the regular board meeting on Monday, which was broadcast live to the public. A start date will be determined once the hiring process is completed.
John Silveri’s career in public education includes service to several Metropolitan Detroit area school districts as a teacher, counselor, principal, human resources director, assistant superintendent and superintendent, as well as a consultant for the Michigan Leadership Institute.
“Mr. Silveri is highly regarded and well respected in the field,” said RCS Board President Michelle Bueltel. “When I spoke with numerous individuals who have worked with him and know him well, some very consistent themes emerged. He is a person of immense integrity, which will undoubtedly influence and guide his decisions for the betterment of our students, staff, and families. His calm and levelheaded demeanor and ability to take action and achieve results will be crucial in maintaining a steady course for our district during this transitional period.”
President Bueltel initiated the process for locating an interim superintendent candidate after receiving emails or having discussions with other board colleagues. Follow-on conversations with leaders from the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) and Oakland Schools, as well as board members from other districts, indicated that an interim search is different from a permanent superintendent search.
“I found that in general, interim superintendents do not ‘interview’ or compete against other candidates for a position in public. In almost all cases, interim candidates are identified by the president of the board or another trustee and that single candidate is brought to the board for approval,” said Bueltel. “I felt I had approval from a majority of the board to work on identifying a candidate.”
After talking with Silveri, his former colleagues, and other individuals in the field of education, Bueltel contacted the district’s attorney to draft a contract. At Monday’s board meeting, she emphasized that the appointment of Silveri would be the decision of the entire board.
“To be clear, it is the board’s decision whether to appoint Mr. Silveri to the position of interim superintendent. During this process, I had only good intentions. I was focused on finding a candidate that I thought would best serve the board, district and community and be able to bring them to the board such that an interim would be in place when our school year began.”
Mr. Silveri holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Central Michigan University, a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Eastern Michigan University, and an education specialist degree in administration from Wayne State University. He is a graduate of the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators (MASA) Courageous Journey Program and the Michigan Leadership Institute Superintendent Preparation Series Academy.
“We look forward to working with Mr. Silveri as we continue our commitment to providing the best teaching and learning environment possible for our school community,” said Debi Fragomeni, deputy superintendent for teaching and learning.
Mr. Silveri is a member of the greater Rochester community and has lived in the area for the past 15 years.
“It is an honor to be asked to serve my community as interim superintendent,” said Mr. Silveri. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the dedicated members of the Rochester Community Schools staff and the entire school community in the best interests of our students.”
Learn more about Rochester Community Schools at https://www.rochester.k12.mi.us/
