SARA DOBBELAER
Richmond,Michigan
Summary
Dynamic, experienced and successful educational leader with a track record of developing students, staff, and families at all levels. Proven ability to drive systemic improvements and promote organizational excellence. Skilled in creating and implementing strategic visions that align with district priorities, inspire diverse stakeholders, and achieve measurable, impactful outcomes. Highly proficient in utilizing data-driven decision-making, including the integration of MICIP, to develop actionable strategies that address district needs and foster continuous improvement.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Superintendent of Schools
Memphis Community Schools
01.2022 - Current
- Analytical Insight: Leveraged data-driven decision-making to translate complex analytics into actionable strategies, ensuring clarity for stakeholders with diverse expertise. Tailored analyzed data to align with MICIP (Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process) and developed district-wide actionable steps to address identified needs. Established a cycle of constant assessment, data analysis, monitoring, and responsive adjustments to ensure the effectiveness of strategies and continuous improvement across the district.
- Adult Development and Coaching: Championed the growth of district personnel by designing and implementing individualized development plans, coaching cycles, and consistent one-on-one meetings. Modeled effective practices during professional development sessions, followed by debrief sessions to reflect, provide feedback, and refine strategies. Delivered tailored support to ensure sustained improvement and high performance across all staff levels.
- Advocacy: Championed personalized solutions to support educational success, ensuring every student and team member had access to the resources needed to thrive.
- Authentic Relationship Building: Cultivated trust with staff, families, and community partners through transparent communication and a commitment to equity, consistency, fairness, and professionalism.
- Bond Passage Success: Led the successful passage of multi-million-dollar bond initiatives by building community trust, engaging stakeholders, and creating transparent communication strategies. Oversaw the planning and execution of bond-funded projects to ensure accountability and long-term district improvements.
- Comprehensive System Development: Designed and implemented district-wide systems and procedures (including the first New Teacher Induction, Observation / Evaluation Cycles, all staff handbooks, ongoing feedback systems, a website that holds all systems shortcut to each employees' computers) to ensure consistency, efficiency, and clarity across all operational, instructional, and administrative processes.
- Effective Communication: Delivered tailored written and verbal communications that resonated with varied audiences, from board members to front-line educators.
- Entrepreneurial Problem-Solving: Navigated fast-paced environments with agility, addressing shifting priorities and complex challenges with innovative solutions, such as staffing shortages solutions, safety planning with Department of Homeland Security, and securing a $300,000 grant from Department of Justice to implement plans.
- Feedback-Driven Culture: Established a feedback-rich culture by implementing systems for continuous improvement, fostering open communication, and ensuring that constructive feedback drives growth at all levels.
- Goal-Setting and Alignment: Facilitated the creation of district-wide goals, aligning initiatives across departments to drive measurable improvements in student achievement, staff performance, and operational excellence.
- Grant Writing & Management: In response to identified needs, successfully wrote and have been awarded with over $700,000 in grants since 2022. Ensured compliance with federal, state and local programs through meticulous record-keeping and reporting in platforms like ASAP.Gov.
- Feedback-Driven Culture: Established a feedback-rich culture by implementing systems for continuous improvement, fostering open communication, and ensuring that constructive feedback drives growth at all levels.
- Project Management: Coordinated cross-functional teams to execute complex project plans, aligning objectives, milestones, and interdependencies for optimal outcomes.
- Program Oversight: Directed the implementation and quality assurance of programs, managing staff development, stakeholder engagement, and external partnerships with precision.
- Virtual Workplace Excellence: Mastered digital tools and platforms to foster seamless collaboration in remote and hybrid environments, contributing to a positive and productive team culture.
Greenwood Elementary Principal
Lakeview Public Schools
08.2015 - 12.2021
- Built trust and strong relationships with staff, students, families and the community;
- Created an enhanced learning environment; ultimately translating into a school of choice enrollment increase of 15% (based on enrollment numbers from 2014-2021)
- Provided instructional leadership to all staff members, translated into the largest achievement score gains for any elementary school in Macomb County (when comparing state standardized testing scores from the 2014 testing period to the 2019 testing period);
- Planed, organized, presented and implemented high-yield professional development to instructional staff (aligned in accordance with School Improvement Plan);
- Engaged in daily walk-throughs to enhance instruction and student learning with immediate, meaningful and impactful feedback through SIP aligned walk-through google forms;
- Developed a system for Instructional Rounds implementation;
- Observed and evaluated both instructional staff (using Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching) and paraprofessional staff (using district created framework) for approximately 40 employees;
- Exchanged open, transparent and productive dialogue throughout the entire observation cycle (goal setting meeting, pre/post observation meetings);
- Planed, organized and facilitated monthly Problem Solving Team meetings, Child Study meetings & Grade-level PLCs, (using the '4 Critical Questions of a PLC' as the framework model,) with individualized grade-level agendas based on NWEA MAP, MStep, DIBELS, AVMR, P.A.S.T;
- Phonemic awareness progress monitoring and other CBA measures);
- Monitored building-wide behavioral needs with the use of SWISS Management System, create monthly PBIS meeting agendas based on school-wide data;
- Collaboratively planned and implemented Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 PBIS plans in response to school-wide and individual student SWISS Management System data;
- Created systematic and structured responses to improving student achievement by collaboratively co-creating the district's MTSS Framework;
- Participated in relevant, impactful and evidence-based professional development trainings (CHAMPS, Capturing Kids Hearts, Kagan Cooperative Learning, Restorative Justice Practices, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention - CPI Certified, AVMR Intense Math Recovery, Wayne Callender Comprehensive MTSS Training, Tattum Reading Phonics, Macomb Dyslexia Network, Literacy Essentials, Heggerty Phonemic Awareness, Orthographic Mapping, Number Talks, MCIP Template Training, Title 1 Template Training, Achievement Gap Trap Training, etc.);
- Participated in multiple building and district-wide K-12 committees (BSIC, Problem Solving Team, DSIC, PBIS, New Teacher Induction, NCA Accreditation Team, K-12 Curriculum Committees, & MTSS Team);
- Prepared yearly School Improvement and Title-One Reports;
- Participated in collective bargaining negotiations;
- Participated in the Fifty-Four Million Dollar bond proposal project for Lakeview Public Schools (approved by voters 11-5-19);
- Communicated and responded to all school stakeholders in a professional, effective and timely manner via multiple communication mediums;
- Guest presenter at Wayne RESA (presentation titled, 'Raising Achievement with a Focus on CORE through Instructional Leadership');
- Guest presenter at the MASA 2019 Midwinter Conference Conference (presentation titled 'Climbing Mt. Achievement through Instructional Coaching');
Teacher, 5th Grade
Memphis Community Schools
12.2000 - 08.2015
- Built trust and cultivated a healthy, safe and productive classroom culture
- Implemented CHAMPS & RTC (Responsible Thinking Classroom) classroom management structures
- Planned, submitted, executed and delivered lesson plans in all core subjects areas
- Analyzed and responded to student data, reflective in small group guided lessons / instruction
- Communicated effectively and proactively with colleagues, students and families
- Administered district-wide assessments such as DIBELS etc
- Lead member Memphis Elementary's 'Student of the Month' program
- Participated in ongoing professional development, to deliver high-yield instructional practices to students
- Shared practices with colleagues during staff meetings
- Member of District School Improvement Team and Elementary Improvement Team
- Interim principal for Memphis Junior High School
Education
Education Specialist - Leadership
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI05.2011
Master - Art of Teaching
Marygrove College
Detroit, MI04.2002
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI12.1999
Skills
- Visionary Leadership: The ability to craft, communicate, and execute a strategic vision that aligns with district goals, inspires stakeholders, and drives organizational success
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: Expertise in analyzing complex data, tailoring it to district frameworks like MICIP, and translating insights into actionable strategies while continuously monitoring and adapting to evolving needs
- Collaborative Team Development: Proficiency in coaching, mentoring, and empowering staff through individualized development plans, modeling best practices, and fostering a culture of feedback and professional growth
- Systems and Process Optimization: Skill in designing and implementing district-wide systems and procedures, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and alignment with operational, instructional, and administrative priorities
- Labor relations: Negotiated and mediated labor agreements between management and union representatives, ensuring compliance with contractual terms, resolving disputes, and fostering positive employee relations to enhance productivity and workplace harmony
- Instructional leadership: Led the development and implementation of innovative instructional strategies, promoting teacher collaboration, professional development, and data-driven decision-making to enhance student outcomes and foster a culture of continuous improvement
Websites
Affiliations
- MASA
- MASB
- St. Clair County Superintendent's Association
Timeline
Superintendent of Schools
Memphis Community Schools
01.2022 - Current
Greenwood Elementary Principal
Lakeview Public Schools
08.2015 - 12.2021
Teacher, 5th Grade
Memphis Community Schools
12.2000 - 08.2015
Education Specialist - Leadership
Oakland University
Master - Art of Teaching
Marygrove College
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Wayne State University
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