Northeastern Wayne Schools found its next leader very close to home.
During a brief meeting Wednesday, Sept. 10, the board hired Jennifer O’Brien as its superintendent.
With applause, the board members and teachers present congratulated O’Brien and thanked her for her work over the last several weeks as the district’s interim superintendent.
“Thank you,” O’Brien said. “It’s an honor and I’m excited.”
Board Secretary Daniel VanDuyne said members trust O’Brien will continue to perform as well as she has while serving as interim leader. He thanked her for being willing to be considered for the position.
Vice President Kim Claypoole noted appreciation for O’Brien’s communication with board members and educators.
“I strongly think all of us feel great about what you’ve been doing already and the changes you’ve suggested to us,” said Shawntel Baker, board president. “The momentum is great. We appreciate all that.”
Three Northeastern Wayne Classroom Teachers’ Association representatives who attended the meeting — Karla Franklin, Steve Luebbe and Alan Avery — also expressed support for O’Brien.
Franklin said O’Brien’s communication has been “tremendous.”
“We are ready to get down to business,” Avery said.
O’Brien replaces Matthew Hicks, who left to become superintendent of Munster, Indiana, schools.
Before Hicks’ departure, O’Brien was NWS’ assistant superintendent. Hicks persuaded her to fill that role. She had joined the district as Northeastern Elementary School’s assistant principal.
Before transitioning to NWS, O’Brien previously worked for Richmond Community Schools for about 20 years as a teacher, principal, chief human resources officer and assistant superintendent. She served as RCS’ interim superintendent in 2020-2021.
A few minutes before the board’s vote, NWS conducted a required public hearing about the proposed contract for its incoming superintendent that outlined pay and benefits. No residents spoke.
O’Brien will earn a base salary of $130,000 plus insurance and retirement benefits totaling $178,855.10.
The board also conducted a state-required public hearing before it can begin formal collective bargaining with teachers regarding their contracts.
Franklin, Luebbe and Avery attended the hearing to represent the teachers’ association. No community comments were made.
A version of this article appeared in the September 17 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.