Caledonia Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Dedrick Martin announced the appointment of Dr. Camela Diaz as the district’s new director of secondary education effective Oct. 3.

As director of secondary education, Diaz will be a member of the district’s teaching and learning team, providing administrative oversight of grades 5-12 programming in the district’s intermediate, middle, and high schools. This work will include oversight of the district’s secondary curriculum, assessment efforts, as well as the planning, coordination, and supervision of a comprehensive professional learning program for staff. She will also oversee the leadership of all secondary principals.

“We’re so excited for Dr. Diaz to take on this new role for Caledonia Community Schools and welcome her to our team,” Martin said. “Dr. Diaz expresses a clear commitment and passion for serving students and educators. Her considerable experience in education will provide the support our secondary schools will utilize to move forward.”

After completing a bachelor of arts in special education at Eastern Michigan University, Dr. Diaz began her career in Pasadena, California, working as a special education teacher with emotionally impaired secondary students. She completed a master of arts in special education at California State University, Northridge and after returning to Michigan, completed her doctorate in educational leadership at Michigan State University. Dr. Diaz has spent the past 23 years in the Lansing School District where she served as a special education coordinator, principal, and central office administrator.

“As a dedicated and passionate educator with more than 30 years of experience in both public and private education sectors and at a variety of positional levels, my unwavering focus has been on improving the educational experience for every student, every day,” Diaz said. “My mission as an educator has been to work collectively and collaboratively with teachers and administrators on behalf of children and their families to create learning environments that are welcoming, relevant, and engaging.”

“Working alongside other excellent educators in Caledonia is an exciting opportunity for me, as we continue to build pathways for students to find their passion and success. They are, after all, the future upon which we all depend,”Diaz continued. “I’m eager to meet the students, staff, and families in Caledonia and learn more about what makes Caledonia Community Schools such an incredible place to be.”