Leading the Way

Strong leadership helps create opportunities for students, staff, families, and the entire school community. This page highlights the accomplishments and initiatives led by our Superintendent that have strengthened our district, expanded educational opportunities, enhanced student success, and fostered meaningful partnerships. Together, these achievements reflect a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.

District News & Highlights

YCS Grizzly Learning Camp gives students so much more than just a "summer school"

Interview with Tiffany Powell and Lee Van Roth

School is officially back in session for Ypsilanti Community Schools students, but summer didn't keep some students and teachers away from the classroom. YCS's Grizzly Learning Camp gives students opportunities to explore their interests and further their education through hands-on projects, field trips, and partnerships with both Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan.

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Grizzly Learning Camp offers free, hands-on learning for all Ypsi Community Schools students

At GLC, summer means hands-on discovery. Guided by teachers, university students, and community mentors, students spend their days building robots, engineering escape rooms, learning to fish, and exploring local college campuses.

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The Promise of Hope: Cultivating Belonging and Excellence in Our Public Schools.

As the Superintendent of Ypsilanti Community Schools in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the start of a new school year always brings a powerful wave of anticipation, reflection, and purpose. It is a time of renewal for educational communities across the nation. This year, as we join together for AASA’s back-to-school campaign, we do so under a theme that could not be more fitting or necessary: "The Promise of Hope". This theme is more than a slogan; it is a celebration of the profound, transformative hope that lives within America’s public schools.

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New initiative guarantees EMU admission for Ypsi and Ann Arbor students

LaJoyce Brown and Ypsilanti Community Schools Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross

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Here’s what’s next for AI in schools

Students and superintendent of Ypsilanti Community Schools joined Local 4 Live for an interview.

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Ypsilanti Community High School Earns Prestigious International Baccalaureate Authorization

Ypsilanti Community Schools is proud to celebrate another exciting milestone as Ypsilanti Community High School has officially earned authorization as an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) School.

For complete details about this exciting milestone, please see the attached press release.

Ypsilanti Community High School Earns Prestigious IB Authorization Press Release

Ypsilanti high school earns rare 2nd authorization for prestigious academic program

When students return to the classroom on Monday, one Washtenaw County high school will stand out as one of only two schools in Michigan to offer two prestigious, formally authorized academic programs.

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