Mike Esseily was officially hired as the new superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools during the June 22, 2026 Board of Education meeting.
Trustees approved Mr. Esseily’s three-year contract by a 7-0 vote. He officially starts as superintendent on July 1.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled by the board’s decision to offer me the position of superintendent. This district—its teachers and its staff—has shaped my life in profound ways. As a proud graduate of Fordson High School and a lifelong student of Dearborn Public Schools, I have dedicated my professional career to serving this community. The opportunity to lead the very district that raised me is not just a career milestone; it is deeply personal,” Mr. Esseily said.
Mr. Esseily was the district’s Executive Director of Special Populations, overseeing the department that handles special education, English language learner programs, and mental health initiatives. He has held that position since 2020. Before that he served three years as the district’s Director of Special Education and one year as a special education coordinator. He started with Dearborn Schools in 2007 as a special education teacher, working at Stout Middle and Edsel Ford High schools. He then moved up to become assistant principal at Lowrey Middle School.
Mr. Esseily attended Dearborn Public Schools growing up and graduated from Fordson High School. He attended Henry Ford College, Wayne State University, Madonna University, and Grand Valley State University. His father, Suleiman Esseily, was an immigrant “and believed in the power of education and opportunity,” Mr. Esseily said.
Mr. Esseily is the first Arab American and the first Muslim to be named superintendent in Dearborn Schools. The district expects to hold a community event to meet the superintendent later this summer.
Former superintendent Glenn Maleyko left the district in the fall of 2025 to take the job of State Superintendent overseeing the Michigan Department of Education. In November, Executive Director Lamis Srour was appointed interim superintendent until a new superintendent could be hired.
After Dr. Maleyko’s resignation, the board hired the Michigan Leadership Institute to conduct a nationwide search for a new superintendent. Twenty three candidates applied. On May 4, Mr. Esseily was selected as the next superintendent, and both sides began negotiating a contract.
Dearborn Public Schools is the third largest district in the state with 20,000 students in preschool through high school.
Mr. Esseily said, “I understand that leadership is about bringing people together, building trust, and finding common ground around what matters most: our students and their future. Dearborn Public Schools has always been a source of pride, and I look forward to continuing that tradition alongside our students, staff, families, and community members.”