Michael Lerchenfeldt
Summary
Accomplished educator and curriculum consultant with a robust background in K-12 literacy and communications. Proven success in designing data-informed interventions that enhance student comprehension and engagement. Published author with a focus on lean leadership, translating complex operational frameworks into effective educational strategies.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Journalist & Business Writer
Freelance
08.2020 - Current
- Research, pitch, and draft compelling editorial features, profiles, and deep-dives exploring regional business ecosystems, culinary developments, and community cultural shifts.
- Translate intricate operational systems and corporate narratives into highly readable, clear educational and marketing collateral for large corporate entities.
- Maintain rigid production deadlines while managing concurrent investigative projects, independent research phases, and source interviews.
- Regular contributor to prominent regional media outlets and entities, including Macomb Now Magazine, Rocket Mortgage, Hour Media, Edible WOW, and SEEN.
6th Grade English Language Arts Teacher
Chippewa Valley Schools
Clinton Township, Michigan
08.2008 - Current
- Deliver a comprehensive literacy and structural communications curriculum tailored to transitional middle school learners, cultivating core powers like critical text analysis, active listening, and collaboration.
- Design, scale, and manage a custom middle school communications curriculum, seamlessly combining foundational media literacy principles with core reading and technical writing skills.
- Utilize data-driven intervention protocols to target individualized reading gaps, successfully lifting class-wide comprehension scores across diverse student cohorts.
- Establish a controlled, low-stimulus studio classroom environment to optimize student focus, manage group dynamics efficiently, and reduce baseline environmental noise.
International Exchange Educator
Sunnyvale Primary School
Auckland, New Zealand
03.2008 - 04.2008
- Implemented international pedagogical best practices, enhancing cross-cultural literacy frameworks, collaborative structural layouts, and holistic student support strategies.
- Aligned core language arts methodologies with diverse curriculum mandates, broadening global professional perspective on educational instructional design.
Education
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) - Organizational Leadership, Systemic Literacy Frameworks, Continuous Improvement
Oakland University
Rochester, MI12-2025
Master of Education (M.Ed.) - Educational Leadership and Management
Saginaw Valley State University
Saginaw, MISkills
- Editorial Journalism
- Expository Writing
- Content Development
- Manuscript Editing
- Book Authorship
- Media Literacy
- Audience Engagement
- Advanced Communications
- Narrative Structure
Leadership & Fellowships
- America Achieves – Michigan Educator Voice Fellow, Served as a selective community activist and fellow, mobilizing educator perspectives to inform regional and state-level education policy. Partnered with national and local educational stakeholders to advocate for elevating and modernizing the teaching profession through systemic structural upgrades.
- Michigan Education Association – Digital Media Contributor, Developed and executed strategic online media work, digital content pieces, and communications assets to elevate educational standards and public advocacy initiatives.
Community Leadership
- Ministry Volunteer, Provide dedicated support to community outreach initiatives and parish ministries, cultivating spaces built on active listening, shared empathy, and spiritual growth.
- Youth Athletics Coach, Designed structured skill development frameworks and age-appropriate practice plans for youth soccer, football, basketball, and baseball teams, focusing on collaborative skills, resilience, and operational discipline.
Core Expertise
- Certified Six Sigma Lean Black Belt (Continuous Improvement & Process Optimization)
- Lean Leadership Frameworks & Organizational Efficiency (5 Whys, Workflow Auditing)
- Book Authorship, Manuscript Editing, & Long-Form Narrative Structure
- K-12 Instructional Design & Digital Curriculum Evaluation
- Expository Writing, Digital Content Creation, & Editorial Journalism
- Advanced Communications & Media Literacy Program Development
- Educational Policy Advocacy, Public Engagement, & Community Activism
Published Books
Co-Author and content architect of an original publication series dedicated to lean leadership principles, systemic efficiency, and continuous improvement frameworks. Translated complex organizational strategies, behavioral psychology, and lean workflows into highly readable, actionable instructional texts for professional leaders. Managed the end-to-end creative lifecycle, including comprehensive primary research, structural text layouts, rigorous self-editing, and manuscript production.
Timeline
Journalist & Business Writer
Freelance
08.2020 - Current
6th Grade English Language Arts Teacher
Chippewa Valley Schools
08.2008 - Current
International Exchange Educator
Sunnyvale Primary School
03.2008 - 04.2008
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) - Organizational Leadership, Systemic Literacy Frameworks, Continuous Improvement
Oakland University
Master of Education (M.Ed.) - Educational Leadership and Management
Saginaw Valley State University