Erikson Brown Leaving Bloomfield Hills Schools For Position with U-M

Betsy Erikson Brown, the Director of Communications and Community Relations for Bloomfield Hills Schools, will take a new position with the University of Michigan next month.

Brown was recently named Director of Marketing and Communications for Undergraduate Admissions at the university, which has both deep ties to the Bloomfield community and global reach.

"I'm looking forward to elevating the University of Michigan's visibility and brand around the nation and the world," Brown said of her new post. "U of M is one of the all-time great universities. The level of professionalism and opportunities there are outstanding -- truly the leaders and best. As a Michigan native and resident, I'm proud to say that we offer such excellence in our state."

In addition to handling internal and external communications for the district and coordinating media coverage requests, Brown was the primary driver of marketing initiatives to keep the district competitive during her five-year tenure. She's also largely responsible for modernizing the district's communications strategy and helping make their online initiatives more user-friendly.

That also made her an easy target for district detractors.

"She brought our district into the 21st century," said School Board President Ingrid Day. "Despite being oft maligned, she and her staff worked tirelessly to build a brand name for our district within a community that has many educational choices."

One example, Day said, was how Brown worked with Bloomfield Township officials and private businesses to create a well-respected program for realtors, that, indirectly, has been responsible for exceeding enrollment expectations every year.

"She is a gem and will be missed," Day continued. "Her love of public education showed in every single thing she would undertake and it is a loss for BHSD."

Brown said she is a strong believer in public education, but is frustrated by today's eroding legislative and political support for it.

"For every child everywhere, I wish the quality of a Bloomfield Hills Schools education. But I'm afraid that as a state and a nation, we're not putting the pieces in place to make that happen," she said.

The emphasis on applying a one-size-fits-all strategy to teaching is causing a gradual deconstruction of what fundamentally made America great - a free public education, she said. That said, she believes the opportunities the district still provides are remarkable.

"Students can still truly become architects of their futures," she said. "Our leaders have managed to preserve programming and choice, the adults care deeply, the students are motivated, and families are highly supportive. I'll miss my passionate and talented colleagues in Bloomfield Hills Schools, but will be rooting for the district."

The district will likely have the position filled on the interim while the search for a new director begins, officials said.