Editor's Note: This story was reported by Regina Kibezi as part of the Fall 2024 Kalamazoo Voices of Youth Program and the accompanyuing artwork was created by Alex Morris Burton. The program is a collaboration between Southwest Michigan Second Wave and KYD Network in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo, funded by the Stryker Johnston Foundation. The Voices of Youth Program is led by Earlene McMichael. VOY mentors were Al Jones (writing) and Casey Grooten (art). 

Please also see the accompanying Voices of Youth story about student response to recent Kalamazoo Public Schools rules regarding cell phone usage and wearing hoodies in school.

KALAMAZOO, MI — When Darrin Slade joined Kalamazoo Public Schools last year, he set specific district goals.

“When I was hired, although KPS had a lot of great work going on, I was hired because there were low graduation rates in our high schools,”  Slade says. 

So, he says he plans to increase the level of accountability for students, teachers, and administrators, maintain uniform rules across the district, increase expectations for everyone, and be more visible while doing it.

Slade is the product of a family full of educators and a general kid-friendly background who proudly holds a doctoral degree. The 54-year-old Baltimore native is now in his 34th year as an educator. 

Dr. Darrin Slade, Kalamazoo Public Schools SuperintendentHis mother and his aunts were teachers, so he grew up visiting their schools. He says he didn’t want to be a teacher. He hoped to play football and, later, hoped to get a job with the government. He became a teacher, however, at age 22, teaching third, fourth, and fifth grades for five to six years.

As a young person, he says he preferred tight rules because he discovered they prevent people from doing things that disrupt a school building or classroom. School rules are intended to prepare students for their futures, he says. 

He has extensive experience working in challenging school districts and implementing strict discipline policies that lead to academic achievement. He became an assistant principal of a very large, middle school in Baltimore. Then he became an elementary school principal in Washington, D.C., and worked there for five to six years. After that, he worked as a high school principal for about five years. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri, after his wife passed away at the age of 43. There, he became assistant superintendent of schools in the lowest-performing school district in the state of Missouri.

“It was a failing district,” he says, “but we took it from an F to a C in three years and, because of that, I was able to become a deputy superintendent in St. Louis.” He had major success there also.

“In all of these districts, we did the same type of thing — the same type of rules, the same enforcement (to get) the same outcome — improve student achievement, improve graduation rates, improve attendance,” Slade says.

Dr. Darrin Slade, Kalamazoo Public Schools SuperintendentIn Kalamazoo Public Schools, he has been working to enforce existing and new policies. While some students may feel those policies are beneficial, some do not. So, Slade took time recently to meet with Voices of Youth to share his reasoning when it comes to the enforcement of rules in the district’s buildings. 

About the dress code: Why can’t students wear what they want? Why can’t they wear hats? It can get cold in school buildings, especially in certain classrooms. 

Slade: Slade says the no-hats and no-hoods policy is enforced mainly for security reasons and to prevent fights. He emphasizes that by saying, ”It creates a more peaceful and orderly environment.” He says the overall dress code is not as strict. “We don't really tell you what you can't wear. But I'm really saying you can't have, you can't wear inappropriate clothes that have your body parts displayed, parts that shouldn't be displayed.”

About prohibiting cell phones during classes (unless directed by a teacher): Why can't students use their phones after they are done with their work or testing and just have free time?  

Slade: Slade said that that rule was being enforced more because phones have become a huge distraction and he wants students to focus on their teachers and their work. While he did recognize that some students may not like this policy, more seem to have found it beneficial. “I have more students who have been — and parents and teachers who have been — appreciative,” Slade says.

About ordering students to be quiet in hallways and closing some student bathrooms: Quiet times are sometimes ordered in the hallways at individual schools. For instance,  Kalamazoo Central High School insists on this after there has been a fight or some other incident. Also, some bathrooms are closed to stop students from congregating to vape or do other things.

Slade: Slade says the principals of different schools have the freedom to do some things the way they want. “So don’t be surprised if some bathrooms are closed,” he says.

About wearing lanyards at all times: Why do students who come to school every day need to wear an identification tag? 

Slade: “It’s a safety thing,” Slade says. “Along with (not wearing) hoodies, it allows staff and security to know you belong there.” 

About the rule-enforcement priorities: Why does there seem to be more of a focus on things like cell phones instead of kids vaping in the bathrooms and more serious issues in high schools? 

Slade: Slade acknowledges that vaping is an issue and mentions the possibility of tightening the vaping policy as its prevalence increases. “That is a complaint I hear a lot about. So, that's a policy that might tighten,” he says.

Slade says he thinks the biggest thing he has done in Kalamazoo so far is to increase the level of accountability at all levels, “associated with enhancing the rules, complying with rules, and enforcing rules.

“Also, I would say trying to make sure we have a system of uniform rules across the district where you don’t have one school saying ‘you can wear your hoodie’ and another saying ‘no, you can’t wear your hoodie.’ ”

He says another thing he is trying to do is increase expectations for students to be successful and achieve at the highest level.

“Kalamazoo is in a great situation: It’s not too big. It's not too small,” the new superintendent says. “If I was in D.C., where we had 26 high schools and 54,000 students, there’s no way you could go to every game as the superintendent. There’s no way you could enforce some of these rules like you enforce them here. But because Kalamazoo is only 12,000, it’s much easier to enforce and ensure that things go right.”

Regina Kibezi is a senior at Loy Norrix High School. She has participated in four Voices of Youth Kalamazoo programs, most recently in the Fall 2024 session. 

Alex Morris Burton is a mixed media artist and the youngest person in the Voices of Youth program in this cohort. This is Alex's first time attending the program, and they are so excited to share their art with everyone.

Artist Statement: I used to think black pens and pencils were useless, but more recently I have come to believe that they are the best way to express myself through art. For this project, I have mostly used ink and graphite, with some watercolor paint. My project is based on the subject — questioning authorities and getting the administration to explain new rules at school. I hope my art can make your day better and help you understand this topic.