Superintendent Randy Liepa of RESA in Wayne County, Michigan, Honored as a NASBE Policy Leader of the Year

Alexandria, Va.—The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is pleased to honor Dr. Randy Liepa, superintendent of Michigan’s Wayne Regional Education Service Agency (RESA), as a 2019 Policy Leader of the Year. The award is given annually to a national or state policymaker in recognition of their contributions to education.

Superintendent of Wayne RESA since 2015, Liepa previously was superintendent of Livonia Public Schools for 12 years, an assistant superintendent, and an adjunct professor at Wayne State University. At RESA, he leads an organization that provides services and support to improve student achievement and maximize economies of scale in staff development, purchasing, and administrative service at Wayne County’s 33 school districts and public school academies.

“Much of his effort has focused on working with local school systems to use federal dollars for the lowest achieving schools in Wayne County,” said Lupe Ramos-Montigny of the Michigan State Board of Education, who nominated Liepa. “He helped repurpose grant funding at the intermediate school district to ensure that there are staff available to help build a comprehensive system of support for local districts based on their needs.”

Liepa built relationships with major public education stakeholders in Detroit and across the state during his 31-year career. He has supported the Detroit Public Schools Community District by advocating for debt relief and its rebirth as a locally controlled district.

“This award is an incredible honor for me and represents something much bigger than myself,” Liepa said. “Developing an effective, supported education system is a comprehensive task, which I could not do without the countless number of stakeholders and community members who constantly come together to improve the education of Michigan’s children.”

“The Policy Leader of the Year award is the highest honor that state board of education members can bestow,” said NASBE President and CEO Robert Hull. “Dr. Liepa’s long-standing dedication to education embodies the spirit of this award. The communities of Wayne RESA, Metro Detroit, and Michigan as a whole are better off because of his persistent efforts to improving student achievement and school district success.”

The 2019 Policy Leader of the Year Award will be presented to Dr. Randy Liepa on Thursday, October 17, 2019, at NASBE’s national conference in Omaha, Nebraska.

For 60 years, NASBE has served as the only membership organization for state boards of education. A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, NASBE elevates state board members’ voices in national and state policymaking, facilitates the exchange of informed ideas, and supports members in advancing equity and excellence in public education for students of all races, genders, and circumstances. Learn more at www.nasbe.org.

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