Brian Whiston, who led Michigan’s department of education since 2015, died May 7. He was 56.
“He has been a visionary leader in education at the state and national levels and an important member of the CCSSO family,” said Carissa Moffat Miller, the executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers. “During his time as the state superintendent in Michigan, he forged a new strategic vision for the state and worked to create a better path for all students throughout Michigan schools.”
Whiston announced in January that he had cancer. He previously served as the superintendent of the Dearborn public schools and as a lobbyist for the Oakland County Intermediate school district.
As state superintendent, Whiston helped devise a set of strategies designed to make Michigan a top 10 education state in 10 years. He also revised the state’s testing system and led an effort last year to keep the state from closing 38 low-performing schools.
