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GRPS schedules public interviews for two superintendent finalists

GRPS schedules public interviews for two superintendent finalists

Rule Changes Grand Rapids, MI local

Board names Allison Tingwall, a Chicago Public Schools executive, as GRPS's next superintendent, over district insider Kelly Greene.

October 28th, 2026: Board names Allison Tingwall superintendent

Overview

Updated Oct 29

The Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education chose Allison Tingwall as the district's next superintendent on Oct. 28, 2026. She is executive director of principal quality for Chicago Public Schools. Reports from MLive and Fox17 on Oct. 28 confirm the selection, which came after public interviews at GRPS University.

Tingwall succeeds Dr. Leadriane Roby, whose contract runs through June 30, 2027. The board picked an outside leader from a much larger system over Kelly Greene, a 20-year district insider. Reports reviewed do not yet give Tingwall's start date or how the handoff with Roby will work.

Why it matters

The next GRPS superintendent will steer West Michigan's largest school district, shaping academic programs and community trust for years.

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Key Indicators

2
Superintendent finalists
Board advanced Greene and Tingwall on Oct. 26; the board chose Tingwall on Oct. 28.
35
Applicants in search
Candidates who completed applications by the Oct. 4 deadline.
2,315
Individuals reached by search firm
Ray & Associates contacted educators across all 50 states.
25
Community engagement events
20 focus groups, four in-person town halls, one virtual town hall.

Voices

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People Involved

KG
Kelly Greene
Chief Area Instructional Leader, Grand Rapids Public Schools; superintendent finalist
Was a finalist; the board chose Allison Tingwall on Oct. 28, 2026.
 Allison Tingwall
Allison Tingwall
Executive Director of Principal Quality, Chicago Public Schools; superintendent finalist
Chosen as GRPS superintendent by the Board of Education on Oct. 28, 2026; start date not yet reported.
 Dr. Leadriane Roby
Dr. Leadriane Roby
Superintendent, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Contract runs through June 2027; the board named her successor, Allison Tingwall, on Oct. 28, 2026.
JR
José Rodriguez
President, GRPS Board of Education
Leading superintendent search process

Organizations Involved

Grand Rapids Public Schools
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Public school district
Named a new superintendent on Oct. 28, 2026, ending the search.

Largest and most diverse school district in West Michigan.
Ray & Associates
Ray & Associates
Search Firm
Completed the GRPS superintendent search, which ended with the board's selection on Oct. 28, 2026.

National executive search firm retained by the GRPS board.
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools
School district
Employer of finalist Allison Tingwall

School district employing finalist Allison Tingwall.

Timeline

February 2026 October 2026

9 events Latest: October 28th, 2026 · 2 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Board names Allison Tingwall superintendent

    Latest Selection

    After public interviews with both finalists, the GRPS Board of Education chose Tingwall. Kelly Greene was the other finalist.

  2. Public interviews scheduled

    Announcement

    GRPS confirms public interviews for both finalists at 5 p.m. Oct. 28 at GRPS University.

  3. Two finalists announced

    Selection

    Board votes to advance Kelly Greene and Allison Tingwall as finalists.

  4. Virtual screening interviews held

    Interview

    Search firm Ray & Associates conducts virtual screening interviews with semifinalists.

  5. Seventh semifinalist added

    Selection

    Seventh candidate joins after Michigan Association of School Boards conflict-of-interest guidance.

  6. Six semifinalists named

    Selection

    Board picks six candidates to advance from the applicant pool.

  7. Applications close

    Milestone

    Deadline passes for superintendent applications; 35 candidates completed the process.

  8. Community engagement begins

    Engagement

    GRPS holds 20 focus groups, five town halls, and an online survey through September.

  9. Search launched

    Announcement

    Board extends Roby's contract through June 2027 and announces the superintendent search.

Scenarios

1

Board Picks Greene as Next Superintendent

Possible Resolves by Dec 15, 2026

Discussed by: Community observers and GRPS staff familiar with Greene's record

The board did not pick Greene. It chose Allison Tingwall on Oct. 28, 2026. The scenario is kept for the record of the search. Greene's 20 years inside GRPS and her current role are the points that favored her as a finalist.

2

Board Selects Tingwall for Top Role

Possible Resolves by Dec 15, 2026

Discussed by: Education commentators citing Tingwall's Curie High School results

The board chose Tingwall on Oct. 28, 2026, seeking an outside leader from one of the nation's largest districts. She previously led Curie Metropolitan High School and now oversees principal quality across more than 520 Chicago schools.

3

Search Stalls Past Year-End

Unlikely Resolves by Jan 15, 2027

Discussed by: Board watchers noting the conflict-of-interest addition suggests process scrutiny

The interviews reveal concerns about one or both candidates, a finalist withdraws, or the board deadlocks. The district would then re-open the search or extend Roby's tenure. This outcome would delay the naming of a new leader beyond the current timeline.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

June 2007

Michelle Rhee Appointed DCPS Chancellor (2007)

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty appointed Michelle Rhee, a 37-year-old with no district leadership experience, to run Washington's troubled public schools. She closed schools, reorganized administration, and pushed a controversial teacher evaluation system tying tenure to test scores.

Then

Rhee's confrontational approach divided the city, and her fights with the teachers union contributed to Fenty's primary loss in 2010. She resigned that year.

Now

Her tenure became the national template for the debate over outside-led school reform versus community trust.

Why this matters now

Tingwall, like Rhee, would come from outside the district. Choosing her would echo the high-stakes, reform-minded outsider model; choosing Greene would reject it.

January 2014

Carmen Fariña Named NYC Schools Chancellor (2014)

Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Carmen Fariña, a 40-year veteran of New York City schools who rose from teacher to deputy chancellor, to lead the nation's largest school system. She had retired in 2006 after three decades in the classroom and central office.

Then

Fariña replaced confrontation with collaboration, emphasizing principal support and parent engagement during her four-year tenure.

Now

Her appointment showed that a large district could choose insider stability and relationship-building over outsider disruption.

Why this matters now

Greene, a GRPS lifer, resembles Fariña in profile. Selecting her would signal the board wants steady hands over a bold external reset.

Sources

(8)
+3
MLive Grand Rapids Public Schools WZZM 13 WOODTV.com FOX 17 Grand Rapids Public Schools Grand Rapids Public Schools MLive