Melissa Marie Usiak is joining the Livingston ESA’s curriculum and instruction team as assistant superintendent of early learning, replacing Sean LaRosa, who is retiring in June.
Usiak is a familiar face to Livingston County educators.
“Dr. Usiak is a true leader in her field,” said Michael Hubert, superintendent of the Livingston ESA. “Her experience and expertise in leadership coaching, and her memberships in the Principals Network and Early Literacy Task Force have allowed her to develop relationships with the county’s local school districts.”
Usiak said she’s looking forward to joining the Livingston ESA.
“After engaging in several projects at the agency in the past eight years, I feel like it’s a homecoming,” Usiak said.
The work of the Livingston ESA’s curriculum and instruction team is focused on helping children learn, as well as building professional learning opportunities for educators in Livingston County that will have the greatest effect on student success. Usiak said she plans to continue building on LaRosa’s exceptional work, while also contributing her own expertise.
Usiak’s passion for education runs deep: both her parents dedicated over 90 combined years to education, with her mother serving as a school bus driver for 31 years, and her father teaching, coaching, and leading for 42 years before joining the Charlotte Public Schools Board of Education for another 18 years.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Michigan, Usiak went on to Michigan State University where she earned a master’s and education specialist degree before earning a doctorate degree in K-12 education administration.
In addition to serving as executive director of the Michigan Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Usiak is an assistant professor at Michigan State University, and an educational leadership consultant. She also served as principal of Holt’s Sycamore Elementary School for seven years.
