Dirk Weeldreyer, former Fennville Public Schools superintendent, was recently named the interim superintendent for Caledonia Public Schools.
Weeldreyer taught at Jenison High School for 16 years before serving five years as principal at Martin Middle/High School. He then served as Fennville superintendent for nine years until he retired Sept. 1. He now serves as the executive director of of the School Equity Caucus, an organization of 200 Michigan school districts advocating for equitable resources for all Michigan children.
“Caledonia is an outstanding school district,” Weeldreyer said. “It has fantastic staff and a committed community and that makes it a very attractive place. I wanted to help them out during this time, when they need to make a transition and find the the right leader to carry the district forward.”
Superintendent Randy Rodriguez resigned in January after the board voted to not renew his contract, which was set to expire at the end of June. At that time, the board appointed Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Caniff to serve as interim superintendent.
Weeldreyer previously served as president of Region 3 of the Michigan Association of School Administrators, a region comprising 13 counties throughout West Michigan. He was instrumental in the formation and governance of the Reading Now Network, a regional early literacy collaborative involving over 100 school districts.
Board President Marcy White said she is pleased to welcome Weeldreyer and is looking forward to working with him. “His experience and personal qualities will serve the district well during this period as the board moves forward in the search for our next leader.”
Weeldreyer will serve in the role until a new superintendent is hired and in place. The board is currently reviewing proposals from multiple superintendent search firms, with the search process anticipated to begin within the next two weeks, according to a statement from White. The input of staff, parents and community stakeholders will be sought during the superintendent search and selection process, which will continue through the spring. The board is targeting an anticipated start date for the next superintendent of July 1.
