Lonze named Superintendent, Board appoints District Administrators

During the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools’ Special Board of Education meeting on May 23, the Board voted to enter into contract negotiations with Dr. Michael Lonze to serve as the school district’s next Superintendent of Schools. 

Dr. Lonze has served Walled Lake Schools as Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources since joining the District in 2018. Dr. Lonze previously served in administrative and teaching positions with Fraser Public Schools, Birmingham Public Schools, and Oak Park Schools. 

“I am deeply honored and immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next Superintendent of Walled Lake Schools,” said Lonze. “I am eager to work with the Board of Education, our staff members, and the community to continue to foster a supportive environment for students and staff while maintaining focus on our District's goals. Together, we can uphold our standards of excellence and continue to empower our students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.”

The district’s current Superintendent of Schools, Dr. John Bernia, was recently appointed Superintendent of Schools by the Warren Consolidated School District. Dr. Bernia’s last day in Walled Lake will be June 30, 2024.  

Dr. Bernia celebrated Dr. Lonze’s new role within the district sharing, “As we look forward to the future of the District, there is no one better positioned than Dr. Lonze to lead the community forward. He has significant institutional knowledge, as well as deep care and commitment to students and their families.”

As part of last night’s meeting, the Board also approved the following administrative appointments to the district’s Cabinet and Executive Management teams:

• Chad Scaling was appointed to the position of Deputy Superintendent. Mr. Scaling has served as the district’s Executive Manager of Human Resources since 2023. Before joining Walled Lake Conoslidated Schools, Mr. Scaling served as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources with Brighton Area Schools. He also served in administrative and teaching positions with South Lyon Community Schools, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Crestwood School District, and Chelsea School District.
• Ali Hamka was appointed to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. Mr. Hamka has served as principal of Walled Lake Western High School since 2018. Before joining Walled Lake Consolidated Schools, Mr. Hamka served in administrative and teaching positions with Birmingham Public Schools and Rochester Community Schools. 
• Abbie Kidder was appointed to the position of Executive Manager of Human Resources. Mrs. Kidder served as principal of Loon Lake Elementary since 2018. Before joining Walled Lake Consolidated Schools, Mrs. Kidder served in administrative and teaching positions with Livonia Public Schools and Clearanceville Public Schools. 

“I am thrilled to welcome these three outstanding educators and leaders to our central office administrative team,” said Lonze. “Their dedication, expertise, and passion for student and staff success continue to make them invaluable assets to our community. With our Cabinet and Executive Management teams in place, we are excited to bring this school year to a successful conclusion and begin work on making the 2024-25 school year our best year yet.”

These administrative appointments are effective starting on July 1, 2024.