WAY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- District Pupil Accounting Specialist
Job Titles:
- President of the Board
- Principal at REAL School
Dave Strudwick is Principal at REAL School; an innovative new school in Budapest. He's worked as a teacher and leader in mainstream and specialist settings in the UK, US and China. He's been a Headteacher and co-founded three schools, including the UK's first trauma informed school, for at risk youth, School for Inspiring Talents. At Blackawton Primary the curriculum was judged outstanding by Ofsted. He has a passion for developing deeper and purposeful digital learning. In Plymouth the school was referred to as a beacon of hope by the Edge Foundation for its project-based approach and recognized in the Parliamentary Review. He also co-created the world's youngest published scientists - Blackawton Bees and the I, scientist programme at the National Science Museum in London.
Bio
Isaiah Pettway is a careered educator serving in K-12 public education for over 14 years. Having served as an English teacher, Instructional Coach, Assistant School Leader, School Leader, and District Superintendent, Isaiah brings a wealth of experience and knowledge. He has committed his career to creating pathways for students through education, and working to ensure that all students are given access to a quality education. He holds a Bachelor's of Arts degree in English and Secondary Education, and a Masters of Public Administration with a focus in Educational Leadership, all from the University of Michigan.
Bio
John E. Taylor is an experienced supplier diversity and supply chain professional with 42 years of demonstrated success working in the automotive industry. An acknowledged leader in the Supplier Diversity field, for 14 years JT led the award-winning Delphi diversity process - championing corporate enterprise engagement in the inclusion and development of Minority, Women and Veteran owned business. Since 201 7 through JTDS, JT has continued his passion for diversity with the goal & commitment to be a solution provider/resource to his corporate community assisting in diversity program development, mentoring and diverse spend improvement and through the mentoring and business development for the diverse supplier community.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director of the WAY Program
- Superintendent at W - a - Y Academies
Madeline Black, the Executive Director of the WAY Program, is celebrated for her innovative leadership and dedication to youth education. She is the founder of Capacity Builders Global, empowering educational organizations in Taylor, Michigan, and globally to achieve their fullest potential through creative and effective strategies.
Previously, as Superintendent at W-A-Y Academies, Madeline led vital initiatives enhancing student growth and staff development, ensuring students across Detroit, Flint, and Michigan received quality education and positive outcomes. She efficiently managed multiple districts, bolstering programs, budgeting, and leading recruitment and marketing to uplift the WAY Program.
Her global influence was particularly notable during her tenure as an Educational Consultant for Centric's Learning and other prestigious professional development entities. Madeline provided significant professional development support, specializing in Project-Based Learning, System Design and Implementation, Leadership Coaching, Technology Integration, Esports Design, Learner Progression, Competency Modeling, and community engagement and unification. Her work extended internationally, impacting education systems in China, Brazil, and Canada, and was crucial in providing ESL support to students pursuing an American diploma, underlining her extensive international educational influence.
Madeline's commitment to fostering safe, nurturing learning environments has been a consistent theme throughout her career, ensuring students engage deeply with their education.
Her career in educational leadership started in Michigan as the Director of School Partnerships, where she delivered curriculum and operational support to various districts, enhancing online and blended learning and maintaining compliance with state regulations.
Madeline's academic background is robust, holding an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and an M.Ed. Her dedication to equity and justice is further evidenced by her Leading for Equity and Justice certification.
Bio
Mark's over twenty year career in Information Technology experience includes, but not limited to, Network LAN WAN implementation, Management of technical department personnel. Technical Lead for the installation of a multi campus Windows and Apple server farm. The development Lead of new data center operations and security procedures.
Bio
Michelle Sarkody has been with WAY Program since 2010. She is currently serving as the Director of Compliance and Accountability for WAY Program.
A few of Mrs. Sarkody's responsibilities include completion and submission of numerous state and federal forms on behalf of the Academy sites Michelle also assists with WAY partner sites with the same task, ensuring compliance documents are completed, submitted, and uploaded to the Academy site authorizers, handles pupil accounting for Academy site locations, REP reporting, MCIR reporting and much more.
Bio
Sherry Ann Lynem is a seasoned veteran with 26 years public school finance experience, with 15 of those years being served as a Finance Administrator.
She is currently employed as the Director of Finance for Hamtramck Public Schools, a Cabinet level position reporting directly to the Superintendent for the entire financial operations of the district. In addition to the responsibility for budget development and management, she has a key role in school district planning and analysis of current programs, support systems and operations.
When Sherry came to Hamtramck Public Schools the district was in a $6.5 million deficit and their projection was for the deficit to climb to $8.2 million. With state take over looming, she quickly sprang to into action, reviewing their budget and identifying areas for reducing spending and reallocating revenues. She assembled a team to meet with the State Assistant Superintendent and pitched a viable deficit elimination, just in the nick of time. Within four short years the district was out of deficit and today enjoys a fund balance surplus that is well above the recommended best practices percentage and much higher than the state average and peer member districts.
Because of Sherry's professionalism, and financial and administrative acumen, she rose to a level of trust and respect so high that the Board of Education unanimously voted to appoint her as Interim-Superintendent during a time when the Superintendent went on an emergency leave of absence.
She holds a Bachelors in Business Administration (Accounting) from Wayne State University, and 15 credits toward her Masters. She is a 20+ year member of Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO) and has earned her Chief Financial Officer (CFO) certification through that organization. She is a Trustee on board of the Wayne County School Business Officials(WCSBO), a Trustee on the Metropolitan Association for Improved School Legislation's (MAISL) Trust Board and Workers Compensation Board.
She began her public school finance career in 1996 as the Accountant for Inkster Public Schools. She quickly gained knowledge and experience in school finance and was hired as the Finance Manager for Walled Lake Schools. She then worked for Westwood Community Schools as the Business Manager until she joined Hamtramck Public Schools in June 2011.
When not working she enjoys spending time with her familywhich includes her husband and her loyal and faithful companion Zeus (9 year old German Shepherd), and her doors are always open for visits from her grandchildren. As a person who believes in service to others, she is extremely proud to be the mother of a firefighter and a police officer.
She possesses a high degree of honesty, integrity and character,has demonstrated skills as a high-energy, committed administrative leader with strong interpersonal skills, and an exceptional ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Job Titles:
- Director of Charter Schools
Trena Braswell is an experienced educator with 25 years in education, with experience as a paraprofessional, an Elementary classroom teacher, Middle and High School classroom teacher, Instructional Coach, Data Manager, and Assistant School Leader. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in IntegratingTechnology in the Classroom, and is currently completing a Master of Arts in K-12 Administration from Eastern Michigan University. Her passion is for providing quality instructional practices for teachers that lead to quality outcomes for students.