Board of Trustees names HFC alumnus Mike Esseily superintendent of Dearborn schools
Information is predominantly courtesy of Dearborn Public Schools
On June 22, the Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education, which is also the HFC Board of Trustees, unanimously voted to name HFC alumnus Mike Esseily (pronounced “ah-SAY-lee”) as the Dearborn Public School District’s new Superintendent. Esseily, who signed a three-year contract, begins his new role Wednesday, July 1 — the same day as new HFC President David Knezek begins his presidency.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled by the Board’s decision to offer me the position of superintendent,” said Esseily. “This district – its teachers and its staff – has shaped my life in profound ways. As a lifelong student of the 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.”
Leading the state's third-largest district is a multi-faceted role
Dearborn is the third-largest public school district in the state of Michigan. Esseily replaces Interim Superintendent Lamis Srour, who served the district well throughout the 2025-26 academic year. Srour replaced Dr. Glenn Maleyko, a 30-year veteran of the district who had served as the Superintendent for the previous 10 years. Maleyko left Dearborn to become the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2025.
“I know I have very large shoes to fill,” said Esseily. “Glenn was always able to inspire people. He had a wonderful vision for the district. He always knew what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. Those aren’t easy things to do. I plan to continue building on the great things he’s done and continue to respect the legacy he’s left behind,” said Esseily. “No amount of words can describe the respect I have for Lamis Srour. She seamlessly took on this impossible role and made it look so easy. She paid attention to every single detail. She didn’t just keep things running on time. She prepared us for the November bond proposal of $1-$1.5 billion. Thanks to her efforts, she’s made my job harder and easier at the same time.”
Esseily is the first Arab-American to become the superintendent in the district.
“Being the superintendent is much bigger than me; this position represents more than any single individual,” he said. “I’m honored that the community has faith in me. Along with title, prestige, and the historical first that comes with this job, this is an enormous responsibility and a great task that I know I’m up for.”
HFC instilled in him a strong work ethic
A first-generation American, Esseily was born in Dearborn and is the sixth of eight children. Esseily, who speaks fluent Arabic and English, lives in Dearborn Heights with his wife, Jacquelene, and their four children, ages 15-9.
Esseily is a graduate of Fordson High School. He took liberal arts and other general education courses at HFC (then Henry Ford Community College). Transferring to Wayne State University, he earned his bachelor’s degree in education with endorsements in social studies and physical education.
Esseily earned his master’s degree in special education with a concentration in learning disabilities from Madonna University. He later earned an administrative certification in general education and special education administration from Grand Valley State University. He also completed the prestigious Galileo Teacher Leadership Program at Oakland University – something he called “one of the best experiences of my life” – where he was one of four educators selected for his cohort.
HFC played a pivotal role in Esseily’s success. It allowed him to take high-quality college classes at an affordable rate and also taught him a strong work ethic.
“I was an average student until I got to HFC,” he said. “As a high school student going into a college setting, the reality of being successful or not being successful is not as daunting when you’re under the protection of your parents’ safety blanket. Attending HFC was a great learning experience for me. It instilled in me a very strong work ethic. Thanks to HFC, I excelled at Wayne State and graduated near the top of my class. HFC taught me that in order to be successful, your success depends on you more than any system. I’ve carried that through the rest of my college days and into my professional career,” explained Esseily.
One of Esseily’s influential teachers at the College was HFC sociology instructor Dr. Kalvin DaRonne Harvell.
“I am excited to hear that Mr. Esseily is the new superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools,” said Harvell. “The district will benefit greatly under his leadership. As a student, he was a confident, calm, and critical thinker. He exhibited diligent study habits and an ethic of care we should use as an orientation model to teach students how to successfully navigate the college culture and other professional environments. I am very proud of Superintendent Esseily!”
Becoming an educator was his best decision
Esseily always had a passion for coaching and helping others, so teaching was a natural extension. During his HFC days, he considered changing his major to nursing or a medical-related major like some of his peers did. In the end, he decided to remain in education as a place where he could have the most impact.
“That was the best professional decision I ever made,” he said. “I enjoy being an educator. I can’t see myself doing anything else.”
Esseily has spent his entire professional career in Dearborn. His first job was as a long-term substitute teaching social studies at Stout Middle School. In the 2006-07 academic year, he was a long-term substitute teaching special education at Stout. Realizing he became very successful teaching special education, he attended graduate school, which ultimately led to a full-time job in Dearborn.
Esseily was in the classroom from 2006-14. He then became the assistant principal at Lowrey Middle School for two years.
“This was a full circle moment for me, because I attended Lowrey,” he said. “I decided to go into administration after the Galileo program. That made me see what good leaders in the field of education can do, and that's why I went into administration.”
As much as he loved being assistant principal at Lowrey, Esseily’s heart was in special education. He served as the district’s Special Education Coordinator for a year, and then became the district’s Director of Special Education for three years. He has served as the district’s Executive Director of Special Populations since 2020. In this position, he oversaw the department that handles special education, English language learner programs, and mental health initiatives.
Entrusted with a parent's most precious treasure
Esseily’s journey to the district’s top job started in 2025 when Dr. Michael F. Rice retired as State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Maleyko’s name was circulated as Rice’s successor.
When Maleyko accepted the state superintendent job and left Dearborn, the district superintendency was not one of Esseily’s top career goals.
“Many people approached me, asking me if I’d be interested in the superintendent’s chair. I became emotional. On one hand, I was glad people saw those leadership qualities in me. On the other hand, I didn’t know if I wanted to do this,” recalled Esseily. “I realized I do have the leadership qualities. I love Dearborn. I love this community. I have a passion to lead, so I decided to give it a shot. In the end, I was very excited to throw my hat in the ring.”
Esseily was one of three finalists in a candidate pool of 23, and on May 4, the Board appointed him as the district’s next superintendent.
“Interviewing for the superintendent job was an extremely intense process. I knew this would bring community attention, but I didn’t realize how much. It was challenging but humbling and rewarding at the same time,” he said. “One of the first things I will need to do is earn the trust and respect of the community. That is something I don’t take lightly. I want to maintain transparency, which means having some conversations that are easy and some that are difficult.”
Esseily will work with the district’s Central Office to make it more efficient. Esseily has hired Hanover Research to audit the district and make sure it is investing as much money into the classroom as possible.
“I decided to stay in Dearborn because Dearborn is the only place I wanted to be. It made me into the man I am today, and that means the world to me,” said Esseily. “To me, there is nothing better than assisting a student and their family. That’s the ultimate reward and worth more than any paycheck. Making sure people are inspired, making sure they’re heard and supported, and making sure they have a good day is the best reward you can ask for. I haven’t met a parent whose most precious treasure isn’t their child. They send their child to us for seven hours a day, 180 days of the year. That is an incredible honor and responsibility that we take very seriously, so we must ensure that we are educating their children as well as we possibly can.”