On Monday night, the Pontiac school board unanimously voted to appoint an interim superintendent.
Jennifer Dean, current data and assessment coordinator, was approved 7-0 as interim superintendent after Kimberly Leverette took a leave of absence.
President Kevin Gross, Vice President Marcus Terry, Secretary Jennifer Dooley, Treasurer ShaQuana Davis-Smith and Trustees Tanisha Miller, Troy Kraft and Marcus Bowman all voted in favor.
Dean has been with the district for over two decades serving in both classroom and administrative roles.
“Myself and Vice President Terry, will be meeting with her as we do regularly on Wednesdays with the superintendent to discuss any questions or other concerns that the board may have,” said Gross. “She’ll meet with the board sometime soon. She has agreed to do so if the board agreed to appoint her.”
According to Gross, Dean will be paid a pro-rated daily rate “consistent with the district applicable policies and practices for interim superintendents’ positions” while she is in the interim position.
“This board will return at a later time to discuss compensation as the attorneys will meet with the HR interim director until her return to the district to determine what numbers she will present to this board,” said Gross.
According to the district, Leverette’s leave became effective Friday, Aug. 14, but did not provide a statement or reason for her going on leave.
Leverette’s request for leave became official on Aug. 14 and the district gave no reason for her request.
photo PSD
photo courtesy PSD
According to 2025 data from the district, Leverette earned base gross pay of $189,447 as part of a compensation package totaling $299,864.
“We were able to discuss this matter as an entire board, and we came to a consensus. And the decision is that we’re going to go this direction,” said Gross. “We’re going to move forward.”
“Jennifer Dean has served the Pontiac School District for many years and has worked under several previous superintendents,” former board President Gill Garrett wrote in an Instagram post. “Her institutional knowledge and experience make her well positioned to work collaboratively with the board of education and district leadership to provide stability, continuity, and focus during this transition.”
The vote on an interim superintendent comes only weeks after the resignation of board President Anisha Hannah.
At a June 8 meeting she announced she was stepping down as president.
“I am exploring career opportunities that will prevent me from effectively fulfilling my duties and the expectations of a trustee at the level that our students, our families, and our community deserves,” she said. “I have submitted my formal resignation letter to the board trustees, which outlines my gratitude for our time together, and it has surely been a pleasure to serve the Pontiac community in this manner.”
Hannah’s term was set to end in December. Vice President Kenyatta Bowman also resigned earlier this year.