Southfield superintendent touts accreditation, $1.28 million summer program and four Volkswagen eLabs

Dr. Jennifer Green, superintendent of Southfield Public Schools, used the district's State of the District address to highlight recent accomplishments and new initiatives, including earning Cognia Systems Accreditation, securing a $1,280,000 Discovery Summer School Award and being awarded four Volkswagen eLabs to expand hands-on technology education.

"This accomplishment isn't just a badge of honor," Green said of Cognia accreditation, saying the independent review affirmed the district's teaching, learning and operational standards and credited staff for meeting rigorous national criteria. She also announced the district received an unmodified opinion on its fiscal audit, which she described as evidence of "sound fiscal management and unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability."

Green said the district has expanded community schools that integrate academic instruction with health, counseling and enrichment services and emphasized partnerships with local organizations. "These aren't add-ons. These are core components of a comprehensive support system," she said, acknowledging partners including the Ballmer Group, United Way, DevX, Authority Health and Henry Ford Ascension.

The superintendent said the district was awarded four Volkswagen eLabs, calling them "state-of-the-art labs" intended to provide hands-on opportunities in technology, engineering and digital media. She credited DevX with facilitating the partnership and noted only two districts in Michigan received the eLabs.

Green also announced the Discovery Summer School Award, a $1,280,000 grant that she said will fund full-day academic and extracurricular programming for students at no cost, and described enhancements to the district's Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to better identify and intervene for students who need additional academic or behavioral supports.

On facilities, Green reported continued progress on renovations funded by the 2022 infrastructure bond and recognized construction managers and architects involved with the projects. She highlighted that the district's financial team produced a clean audit opinion and asked those teams to be recognized.

On classroom technology, Green described an elementary-level device model she referred to as "2 to 1." She framed further priorities as integrating technology across classrooms, expanding professional development and deepening partnerships with local businesses and higher-education institutions.

Green closed by thanking educators, staff, families and community partners, asking scholars in the room to stand for recognition, and announcing that the district's spring enrollment fair will be held Thursday, 05/08/2025. "Let's move forward with the passion, determination, and collaborative spirit that has defined our success thus far," she said.

The address included student remarks by Eric Spraggins, the event's master of ceremonies and a senior at Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology, who introduced the program and recognized the district's student leaders and performing groups.