Berkley School District Superintendent Honored By Kennedy Center

BERKLEY, MI — The Kennedy Center named Berkley School District Superintendent Dennis McDavid one of four winners of the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award. The announcement came Thursday, according to Berkley School District officials. The award comes with a $10,000 prize and winners are “showcased” on the the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards website.

McDavid was nominated by Ashley Maloff, a former student, who he met while teaching English at Berkley High School.

“He never once gave up on me and helped me to tackle each academic and personal obstacle I faced head on,” Maloff wrote in her recommendation. “He is a person who truly understands that some days are just more difficult than others. Mr. McDavid believed in me on days when I stopped believing in myself and reaffirmed my belief that I would achieve success.”

McDavid says he and his wife will use some of the money for fun and investments, and will also make donations to twelve area groups focused on education and music, including The Berkley Educational Foundation; Berkley’s orchestra, choral, drama and athletic boosters; the African-American Parent Network, and the Berkley robotics team, among others.

“I’m very honored and humbled to receive this recognition,” McDavid said in a statement. “I know how hard our teachers, administrators and staff work every day to lift up every child. In Berkley we pride ourselves on helping each student achieve personal excellence through meaningful relationships with our teachers and staff, so this recognition is especially gratifying,” he added.

McDavid began working in the Berkley School District in 2005, when he began teaching English at Berkley High School. McDavid became an educator after a 13-year private sector career that included positions with GMAC, Chevrolet and OnStar. As an English teacher, McDavid was named Teacher of the Year by the PTSA and was Berkley’s nominee for Oakland County Teacher of the Year. In 2007 he was asked to assume the duties of Principal at Berkley High School. McDavid served as principal at Berkley High from 2007-2009, before assuming the role of the Berkley School District’s director of schools and human resources. He began serving as superintendent in 2012.

Photo via Berkley School District.