GERALD D. DAWKINS, Ed.D.

Dr. Gerald D. Dawkins has served as superintendent of the Saginaw Public Schools, a 13,000-student school district in Saginaw, MI, since July 1, 2001. A native of Spartanburg, SC, Dr. Dawkins spent most of his professional career in the Grand Rapids Public Schools, serving in a variety of assignments from teacher to deputy superintendent in the 33,000-student district.

Dr. Dawkins has earned high marks for his performance from the Saginaw News, parents, students and community groups. He has received an outstanding evaluation from the Saginaw Board of Education for six consecutive years.

Accomplishments during his tenure as superintendent include:

 

	90% of all schools achieved AYP over the last four years
	Created Superintendent target schools to focus on lowest achieving students
	Created and opened the following schools and programs to offer choices for parents and provide unique learning experiences for students: Arthur Eddy Academy, a K-8 MicroSociety School, single gender elementary schools, Zilwaukee International Academy, and Loomis Math, Science and Technology Academy
	Commissioned a middle school study that will result in restructured middle schools beginning 2008-09
	Developed and implemented required summer school with a focus on reading and mathematics
	Instituted a new budgeting process that ties funding to school quality and academic achievement
	Implemented parent portal for all parents so that parents are able to check their students’ progress online 24 hours a day
	Instituted required orientation sessions for all parents
	Led a successful millage renewal effort that resulted in a 90% "yes" vote
	Led a successful campaign that resulted in a $70 million facilities bond program

Dr. Dawkins’ honors and awards include the Champion of Justice Award from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for his "overwhelming concern for the young people of Saginaw" and his commitment to the Saginaw community. He also received the Digital Divide Award from the Saginaw Branch NAACP. He was appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and currently serves as chairman of the Michigan State Teachers Tenure Commission.

Dr. Dawkins believes that public education is still the great equalizer in America. He believes schools are often the first, last and best hope for the children and, to that end, students are his first and last priority.

He is a graduate of Knoxville College in Knoxville, TN, where he earned a bachelor of arts in social science. He holds a master of arts in counseling and personnel from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI, and received his doctoral degree in administration and supervision from Wayne State University in Detroit.

Dr. Dawkins, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and his wife, Gwen, a high school counselor, have two daughters - Kanika, an Alabama A&M graduate, and Kamaria, a Western Michigan University graduate.

 

PERCY A. MACK, Ph.D.

Dr. Percy A. Mack is a native of Savannah, GA, and has served as superintendent of Dayton Public Schools, a 17,000-student district in Dayton, Ohio, since 2002.

Prior to his service in Dayton, he was an assistant superintendent in the DeKalb County School System, a 98,000-student district in Decatur, GA. Prior to this post, he also served as an area executive director, a coordinator of personnel, a high school principal and assistant principal, a teacher and a coach in Decatur. Dr. Mack began his teaching career in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System.

His most significant accomplishments as superintendent include:

	Implementing a focus on improving student achievement that led to Dayton Public Schools moving from Academic Emergency to Continuous Improvement status in just four years, a two-level jump in the state ratings
	Leading the Dayton Public Schools in the passage of a November 2002 bond issue funding the local share of a $630 million project to rebuild or renovate 34 neighborhood schools. The issue was approved by an unprecedented margin - 64 percent of district voters.
	Driving a focus on literacy and managed instruction including directed efforts to curb truancy which resulted in significant increases in the graduation and attendance rates
	Developing an Academic Magnet Academy, an Early College Academy with the University of Dayton, single-gender schools (Charity Earley Academy for Girls and the Dayton Prep Boys Academy)

Dr. Mack has taken an active role in the Dayton community.  He is a member of the Dayton Rotary Club, and he has been appointed to sit on the Board of Directors for the National Conference for Community and Justice, Antioch College, the National Council of Ex-Offenders, the Montgomery County Combined Health District Commission and the Boonshoft Museum of Natural History.

Mack’s professional recognitions include being the national winner of the National Association of Black School Educators’ 2006 Superintendent of the Year award.  Other awards include a National Partners-in-Education State Award with IBM, Principal of the Year - Area IV DeKalb County, BASA Technology Administrator of the Year finalist, and the National Black Caucus Congressional TEC Champion Leadership Award. 

His civic awards include the VFW Post 4706 Voice of Democracy Award, New Birth Baptist Role Model for Youth Award, American Business Women’s Association Education Award, the Dayton Chapter SCLC-Martin Luther King, Jr. Education Leadership Award, the Dayton Parity-Top Ten African American Males Award, The Dayton Urban League Excellence in Education Award and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Citizen of the Year Award by the Mu Chi Chapter and the Fourth District which includes Ohio and West Virginia, The Dayton Business Journal’s Influential Educator Recognition and the AFL-CIO Regional Labor Council Community Service Award.

Mack holds a Ph.D. in administration and supervision and an Ed.S. in administration and supervision from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. He also holds an M.Ed. in social science education from the University of Georgia in Athens, GA, as well as a bachelor of science in social science education from Savannah State University in Savannah, GA.

Dr. Mack and his wife, Carolyn, also a career educator currently serving as a curriculum specialist, have three adult daughters, all college graduates working in the education field. Two daughters, Alethea and Megan, are in Atlanta, and daughter, Karla, is in Savannah.

 

DR. CRAIG WITHERSPOON, Ed.D.

Dr. Craig Witherspoon has served as superintendent of the Edgecombe County Public Schools in Tarboro, NC, since August 2006. The district has 15 schools and serves approximately 7,600 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The staff is comprised of approximately 1,000 employees including more than 500 full-time teachers and 180 teacher assistants.

Dr. Witherspoon began his career in education as an instrumental music teacher with the Virginia Beach City Public Schools in Virginia Beach, VA. He also served as an assistant principal in Virginia Beach. He worked as a middle and high school principal in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, NC and as an instructional improvement officer/assistant superintendent for high schools in the Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, NC.

A native of eastern North Carolina, Dr. Witherspoon has a bachelor of music education from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, a master of science in education from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, and an education specialist and education doctorate from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Dr. Witherspoon is an energetic and focused leader who is a strong advocate for all children and the mission of public education. Dr. Witherspoon is a dedicated educator who recognizes the power of a quality public education in the lives of children. He is a firm believer that with high expectations and support, all students can experience success in school. Moreover, he believes that public schools can provide a solid foundation to prepare students for the demands and challenges of the 21st century world we live in today.

Significant accomplishments during his tenure as superintendent include:

	Restoring the district’s fund balance in one year while increasing student achievement through evaluating program and department effectiveness and focusing on improving student achievement
	Implementing data driven strategies to monitor and target areas for district improvement
	Addressing instruction and student management by implementing district-wide programming that has increased communications and collaboration among schools
	Enhancing alternative programming which has reduced the dropout rate and increased the graduation rate

Dr. Witherspoon is a member of the North Carolina and American Associations of School Administrators, Phi Delta Kappa, and the North Carolina and National Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. He was recently elected to the North Carolina ASCD Board of Directors. He has served as an adjunct professor for Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, and as a facilitator for University of Phoenix Online. In addition, Dr. Witherspoon has presented at regional and state conferences and is a published author. Topics include instructional leadership, the principalship, school finance, and school culture and climate.

His board memberships include the Boys and Girls Club of Nash and Edgecombe Counties and the Down East Partnership for Children.

Dr. Witherspoon and his wife, Monique, an administrator in the Charlotte-Mecklenberg school district, have one son, Cameron, who is 8 years old.