Administration

Daveda J. Colbert, Ph.D., Superintendent

Dr. Daveda J. Colbert celebrates more than 30 years of proven results in servant leadership, education, strategic visioning, business, marketing, and management. She serves as a high energy executive and life-long educator as the Superintendent of Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency (Wayne RESA), located in Wayne, Michigan.

Wayne RESA provides a broad range of services and support to Wayne County’s 33 school districts and 97 public school academies aimed at improving student achievement and
maximizing economies of scale in staff development, purchasing, and administrative services. Wayne RESA serves as the largest of the 56 Intermediate School Districts throughout the State of Michigan, with great expectations for the more than 260,000 students attending public schools throughout the 43 communities in Wayne County.

Before taking the helm as Superintendent, July 1, 2021, Dr. Colbert served as Wayne RESA’s Associate Superintendent of Educational Services for two years, leveraging existing resources to meet the current and future needs of both internal and external stakeholders. She was and continues to be deliberate in her efforts to transform the agencies vision of “Leading…Learning for All” by challenging, encouraging, and engaging thinking about what it means to be an inclusive organization that values the unique needs of the diverse communities that it serves. Her leadership continues to be influential, innovative, and impactful as Michigan continues to transform their education system.

Prior to joining Wayne RESA, Dr. Colbert served as a teacher, coach, mentor, sponsor, athletic director, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent at the local level in school districts throughout Southeastern Michigan. Prior to her commitment to public education, she served as an accountant.

Currently, Dr. Colbert holds leadership positions while serving on many boards, commissions, and committees locally, statewide, and nationally. Most notably, she was appointed by the Governor of the State of Michigan to the 2022 School Safety and Mental Health Commission, where she served as the chair. She was also appointed by the Governor to serve on the 2024 Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. She serves as the chair of the School Finance Research Foundation that published the results of the one of its’ kind, Michigan Statewide School Facilities Study, as well as a leader on the Governing Board of the Statewide Talent Together Initiative and the Statewide Student Perception/Student Voice Initiative. She represents the State of Michigan as a member of the Legislative Governing Board of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA – The School Superintendents Association) and serves as President of the Urban Superintendents Association of America (USAA). Dr. Colbert serves as a role-model, coach, sponsor, and mentor for many of her colleagues and peers, as well as Pre-K – 12, undergraduate and graduate students, and is recognized across the country for her strategic, visionary, and courageous leadership, mentorship, passion, and commitment as a champion for children, a positive promoter of public education, and exceptional stewardship. She is regularly called to testify by legislators in support of public education. She serves as an inspiring and masterful motivational speaker and cheerleader for dreaming big. Dr. Colbert is an unapologetic, purpose-driven, servant leader and advocate for equity and excellence in education, as well as mental and physical health, self-care, self-reflection, and intentional joy.

Dr. Colbert’s academic achievements include a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southern University at New Orleans (1992) in New Orleans, Louisiana; a Master of Arts in Teaching (1995) and Education Specialist in Administration and Supervision (1998) from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education (2009) from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.