Troy Schools Administrator To Be Interviewed for Top Job in Grosse Pointe

A Troy school district administrator is one of five candidates being considered by the Grosse Pointe school board to fill the superintendent position.

Richard Machesky, assistant superintendent for secondary education in the  Troy School District, will be one of the three candidates participating in the formal interview process today in 's auditorium. His interview is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

The interviews conducted this week will allow the Grosse Pointe board to eliminate candidates from the pool. The two or three selected will have a second interview set for July 11 and 12. The board plans to , according to the district's search schedule.

Machesky has held his position with the Troy School District for four years. He earned his doctorate in education and masters from Wayne State University and his bachelor's from Calvin College. Troy schools have 12,000 students  and work with a $137 million budget. He has been director of secondary education, a principal and an associate principal.

Four other candidates being considered for the job in Grosse Pointe include:

• Michael Jon Dean, assistant superintendent for human resources in Birmingham Public Schools for three and a half years.
• Paul Long, superintendent for Pennsbury School District in Pennsylvania for five years.
• Vincent Cotter, superintendent of Colonial School District in Pennsylvania for 11 years.
• Thomas Harwood, assistant superintendent for human resources in Grosse Pointe schools for four years.

All of the interviews will be recorded and televised after the interviews are completed. 

Harwood applied for the superintendent position in Rochester Community Schools earlier this year. He was one of  but was .

If selected, Machesky would be the second Troy-area administrator to leave the city for a position in the Grosse Pointes. Troy’s Assistant City Manager John Lamerato left to become the city controller and treasurer for Grosse Pointe Farms.