Benton Harbor, Mich. — The Benton Harbor Area Schools (BHAS) Board of Education is proud to announce Dr. Simone Griffin as the district’s next Superintendent. The decision was made during the board meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, pending contract negotiations.
“We are extremely grateful to our community stakeholders for your unwavering support in selecting a forward-thinking visionary, who holds a depth of data- and systems-based educational knowledge, operational experience in finance and facilities, and visionary strategies concerning recruitment and retention,” Board President Dashuna Robinson announced.
Dr. Griffin was one of three finalists who advanced to the second round of interviews following a national search conducted in partnership with Hazard, Young, Attea, & Associates (HYA). The multi-phase selection process included candidate screenings, public interviews, community Q&A sessions, and stakeholder feedback.
The Board of Education is confident in this decision and looks forward to working in partnership with the new Superintendent to continue advancing the goals of BHAS.
About Dr. Simone Griffin
Dr. Simone Griffin brings over 15 years of leadership experience in education, with a background in teaching, principal leadership, and district-level administration. She most recently served as Regional Director at Learnwell Education Services, where she led 23 hospital education programs across multiple states. Prior to that, she supervised and developed multiple school principals while leading district-wide implementation of instructional frameworks as Director of Principal Support and Strategy.
Dr. Griffin holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from Aurora University, along with multiple master's degrees. A nationally recognized presenter on educational equity, she has presented at national conferences including the American Education Research Association (AERA) and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).
Next Steps
Dr. Christopher Bernick, who has served as Interim Superintendent during this transition period, will continue in that role until Dr. Griffin’s Superintendent contract is finalized and she formally assumes the position.
Over the next 3 months, Dr. Griffin will work to acclimate herself with the state of the district, its culture, strengths, and challenges.
“We are asking that the community at large support the Board of Education in setting a strong foundation for her leadership and success at Benton Harbor Area Schools,” Robinson emphasized.
“Together, we will achieve her vision to empower every student to become the CEO of their educational and emotional journey, equipped as critical thinkers prepared for global readiness,” she added.
Using a 4 E’s entry plan to Engage, Explore, Empower, and Execute, her first 90 days will focus on building bridges, not barriers, by putting humanization first, creating space to learn from mistakes, and fostering a culture rooted in inspiration, excellence, and authenticity.
Following the finalization of her superintendent contract, the Board of Education will host a formal welcome ceremony for Dr. Griffin.
“We encourage all community stakeholders to attend and join us in welcoming Dr. Simone Griffin to Tiger Nation,” Robinson concluded. “The best is yet to come!”