HPS superintendent will remain on leave, said board president

Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed will remain on leave until further notice, said HPS Board President Salah Hadwan in a recent press release. The reason for her continued leave was not explained. File photo

By Charles Sercombe
The job status of Hamtramck Public School District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has been partially explained.
In a letter to HPS families and students, Board President Salah Hadwan explained that Ahmed, who had been on a medical leave and was scheduled to return to her job on Jan. 10, is still on leave.
In a letter dated Jan. 24 and posted on the district’s Facebook page, Hadwan said Ahmed will continue on leave “until further notice.”
In her place, Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi has assumed the duties of superintendent. Nagi is the district’s English Language Director.
Hadwan and school officials have not said why Ahmed continues to be on leave.
Ahmed took a medical leave last October, as did Michelle Imbrunone, the district’s head of Human Resources.
Hadwan did not mention the status of Imbrunone.
The issue of Ahmed’s status was challenged during this month’s school board meeting when local activist Bill Meyer questioned where she was.
“Why is there no discussion? Where is our superintendent. … Is it a secret?” he asked.
He did not get a response.
Ahmed, the district’s first Yemeni-American to be appointed to that position almost two years ago, and Imbrunone came under heavy criticism from both teachers and administrators over their management style.
A wave of experienced teachers and staff have resigned during their tenure, which has created a critical shortage of staff members.
Here is Hadwan’s Jan. 24 statement:
“Thank you for your continued patience and commitment to Hamtramck Public Schools during these difficult times. We know it certainly has not been easy, especially these past several weeks, but through your support, we have overcome many obstacles to provide the high-quality education the community’s children deserve. I’m writing to you today to provide a brief update on the district’s leadership.
“As you may recall, Mrs. Ahmed went on leave earlier this school year. As we begin the second half of the school year, we wanted to inform you that Mr. Nagi will continue to serve as Interim Superintendent, as Mrs. Ahmed remains on leave until further notice.
“Mr. Nagi will receive additional support from the Board and staff, as needed, to ensure our children continue to receive the services they need to grow academically, socially and emotionally.
“Hamtramck Public Schools has been faced with a variety of challenges due to the global pandemic, but under the leadership of Mr. Nagi, and through the continued commitment of our families, teachers and staff, we have been able to maintain the delivery of exceptional education services to our scholars with minimal disruption.
“Through it all, we have demonstrated that we can work together as a community to navigate these challenges and we remain devoted to doing so to ensure your children can excel both inside and outside the classroom. For that, we are grateful.
“We are excited to see Hamtramck Public Schools build upon the momentum it has developed over the first half of the school year and we appreciate your continued dedication to the district and our community.
“Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Superintendent’s Office at (313) 892-2012. We remain committed to providing updates on the district’s leadership and keeping you informed.
“Thank you for serving as our partner in your child’s education.”
Posted Jan. 28, 2022