News · Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Public Schools names two superintendent finalists, Kelly Greene and Allison Tingwall, with public interviews and a pick planned Wednesday
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Public Schools could have its next superintendent by Wednesday night. After a nationwide search that drew 35 applicants, the Board of Education named two finalists at a special meeting Monday: Kelly Greene, the district’s chief area instructional leader, and Allison Tingwall, executive director of principal quality for Chicago Public Schools, School News Network reported.
Both finalists will tour the district and meet community stakeholders on Wednesday, Oct. 28, then sit for final interviews with the board at a special meeting at 5 p.m. at GRPS University, 1400 Fuller Ave. NE. The board plans to choose the next superintendent after the interviews, according to School News Network.
How to watch. The interviews are open to the public and will be streamed live at live.grps.org, FOX 17 reported.
Kelly Greene. Greene has more than 20 years in education. Before her current GRPS role, she was principal of Mona Shores Public Schools’ Campbell Elementary from 2018 to 2025 and an assistant principal with Muskegon Public Schools from 2010 to 2018. She is also an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University, School News Network reported.
Allison Tingwall. Tingwall also has about 20 years in public education. Before her current job overseeing principal quality, she held other leadership posts with Chicago Public Schools, including principal of Curie Metro High School and resident principal of Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School, according to School News Network.
What the board says. “Our board believes both finalists align closely with the qualities and leadership characteristics our community identified as priorities in the next superintendent,” Board President José Rodriguez said in a district statement. “We are confident that both candidates would be exceptional leaders for GRPS.”
Why there is an opening. Superintendent Leadriane Roby announced she would leave at the end of her current contract year. The search firm Ray & Associates ran the process, which included gathering the characteristics residents wanted in the next leader, School News Network reported.
Questions for taxpayers and parents. The reports we reviewed did not include proposed salary or contract terms. Families may want to listen Wednesday for each finalist’s plans on enrollment, test scores, school safety and the budget. Voters will also fill five GRPS board seats on Nov. 3, so the new superintendent may work with a board that looks different after the election; 15 candidates are running.
Sources:
School News Network, “GRPS plans to pick one of these two finalists as its next superintendent Wednesday,” Oct. 27, 2026 (finalists, Monday special meeting, Oct. 28 tour and interviews, location, biographies, 35 applicants, search firm, Roby departure, Rodriguez statement), https://www.schoolnewsnetwork.org/2026/10/27/grps-plans-to-pick-one-of-these-two-finalists-as-its-next-superintendent-wednesday/
FOX 17 West Michigan, “Grand Rapids Public Schools names 2 finalists for superintendent, interviews set this week,” Oct. 26, 2026 (public interviews at 5 p.m., livestream at live.grps.org), https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/grand-rapids-public-schools-names-2-finalists-for-superintendent-interviews-set-this-week
WWMT, “Superintendent search narrows to two as Grand Rapids Public Schools announces finalists,” Oct. 27, 2026, https://wwmt.com/news/local/grand-rapids-public-schools-superintendent-search-finalists-kelly-greene-allison-tingwall-interviews-education-kent-county-west-michigan
Photo: Cchabob, “City High-Middle School in Grand Rapids, Mich.jpg,” Oct. 17, 2026, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), cropped and color-adjusted, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:City_High-Middle_School_in_Grand_Rapids,_Mich.jpg
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