Mr. Paul Bodiya
Categories: Steering & Technical Committee
Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson
Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson, a lifelong educator, was appointed Superintendent of Oakland Schools in July 2015 after serving 14 months as the district’s Chief of Staff. Cook-Robinson supports the academic achievement of the 207,000 students in Oakland County’s 28 public school districts, charter schools and non-public schools. She is a former superintendent of Southfield Public Schools, where she oversaw increased student achievement, expanded opportunities for students and enhanced professional development. She was named 2013 “Michigan State Superintendent of the Year” by the Michigan Association of School Administrators. Cook-Robinson holds a Ph.D. in instructional technology and an Ed.S. in educational leadership from Wayne State University; a master’s degree in curriculum development and supervision from the University of Michigan; and a bachelor’s degree in special education from Michigan State University. She is the recipient of the 2017 Courage Award for Educational Excellence and Development from the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition.
Mr. Mark Cummins
Mr. Joe DeVault
Mr. Michael DeVault
Macomb Intermediate School District Superintendent Michael DeVault has been with the district since 1991. DeVault came to the district as Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Employee Relations, and became Superintendent in 1993. Before coming to the MISD, he held administrative positions in curriculum, special education, personnel, finance, operations and secondary school leadership with Utica Community Schools, Mason Schools and a district in the Kalamazoo area. Following his service in the military, DeVault started his career as a teacher and coach in the Port Huron Area. He received his bachelor’s degree in business and master’s degree in education from Western Michigan University.
Mr. Steve Ezikian
Steven Ezikian is Deputy Superintendent of the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency. Ezikian has spent 25 years on the business side of public education, 16 of those years at WCRESA. Prior to his work in public education, he spent 10 years as a certified public accountant, specializing in private industry and public sector clients. Ezikian is a graduate of the University of Michigan, serves on the Board of Directors of the Michigan School Business Officials, and is a standing member of the State of Michigan Accounting Manual Referent Group.
Dr. Lisa Hagel
Dr. Lisa Hagel, Superintendent of the Genesee Intermediate School District, has served more than 30 years in public education, including as a local district superintendent, elementary school principal and teacher, high school principal and curriculum director. Dr. Hagel has served in her current role since 2010. She is Past President of the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Districts Board of Directors, and was previously President of the Genesee County Superintendents Association. Dr. Hagel also previously served as Chair of the GenNET Governing Board, a consortium of Genesee County’s 21 public school districts and the intermediate district that provides state-of-the-art voice, video and data resources to all member districts. Dr. Hagel is a recipient of the Justus Prentice Award for being named National ISD Superintendent of the Year. In 2015, she was inducted into the Greater Flint Area Women’s Hall of Fame. Dr. Hagel serves on several local boards, including the Greater Flint Health Coalition, Flint Cultural Corporation Board, Genesee County Education Foundation, Genesys Healthcare System and the Mott Middle College Advisory Board. She volunteers with numerous community organizations, including Special Olympics, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Toys for Tots, and has coached several local sports teams. Dr. Hagel holds multiple degrees from Central Michigan University, the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. She earned her doctorate degree from Walden University.
Lisa Hansknecht
Lisa Hansknecht is Director of the Office of Government Relations and Pupil Services for Oakland Schools, lobbying on behalf of the intermediate district and its 28 constituent districts at the state and federal levels. A native Detroiter, Hansknecht’s public service career began as a college intern for a state representative. She later worked on constituent services relating to immigration issues for former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin. She worked in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1989 to 2007, eventually working as an education policy advisor. In 2007, Hansknecht was appointed Legislative Director for the Michigan Department of Education. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Michigan State University.
Mr. David Hecker
David Hecker is president of AFT Michigan, the state organization of the American Federation of Teachers. Hecker has also served as a vice president of the American Federation of Teachers since 2004. Hecker serves on the AFT’s Executive Committee, Michigan State AFL-CIO Executive Council, Education Alliance of Michigan board and New Detroit board. Additionally, he is chair of the Community in Schools Michigan and co-chair of the Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren.
Dr. Randy Liepa
Dr. Randy Liepa has dedicated nearly three decades to public education, and was appointed Superintendent of the Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency in August 2015. Wayne RESA is the largest education service agency in the state, providing leadership, programs and services to 33 public school districts and 111 public school academies in Wayne County. Prior to joining Wayne RESA, he worked at Livonia Public Schools, and was named the district’s superintendent in 2003. In 2014, he was honored as the Region 9 Superintendent of the Year in Michigan as well as Administrator of the Year for the Michigan PTSA. Liepa holds a Bachelor’s degree from Hillsdale College, a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Wayne State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University.