Pontiac Schools Names Weatherspoon Interim Superintendent

The district's second interim leader since the school year began is a former consultant who previously helped address a major deficit.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Administration

Bold vector editorial illustration of a single wooden chair pulled out from a long empty table in a bright civic meeting room, evoking an unfilled leadership seat. — The Pontiac School District appointed Dr. Donald Weatherspoon as interim superintendent on November 2, the district's second interim leader this school year, without parent input. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Pontiac School District appointed Dr. Donald Weatherspoon as interim superintendent after its first interim superintendent returned to her previous district role. Weatherspoon is the district's second interim leader since the school year began, and the school board made the appointment without parent input.

Why it matters

The leadership change comes while permanent Superintendent Dr. Leverette remains on leave and the Pontiac Education Association has questioned Weatherspoon's return. For a district of 680 workers, repeated interim leadership raises questions about continuity and how the board is making decisions.

Weatherspoon is the district's second interim superintendent since the school year began, and the district employs 680 workers. He previously helped the district address a $52 million deficit in 2013 as a consent agreement consultant.

The players

Dr. Donald Weatherspoon

Weatherspoon is a former consent agreement consultant to the Pontiac School District who has now been appointed its interim superintendent.

Dr. Leverette

Leverette is the permanent superintendent of the Pontiac School District, currently on leave.

Pontiac Education Association

The Pontiac Education Association is the union representing educators in the Pontiac School District, which has questioned Weatherspoon's return.

The details

Weatherspoon first came to the district in 2013 as a consent agreement consultant appointed by the governor, and served as a consultant from 2024 to 2025. He stepped into the interim role on November 2, 2026, after the first interim superintendent returned to her previous district position. The Pontiac Education Association has questioned the return, and a parent and school board candidate had raised hiring concerns about the appointment.

2013: Weatherspoon first appointed as a consent agreement consultant to the district.
2024 to 2025: Weatherspoon serves as a district consultant.
November 2, 2026: Weatherspoon steps into the interim superintendent role.
Nearly two weeks before November 9, 2026: A parent and school board candidate raises hiring concerns.

Season Trajectory

Weatherspoon returns to Pontiac under the same consent agreement framework that followed the district's 2013 $52 million deficit. His reappearance links the current leadership change to the earlier financial recovery effort in the district.

Pontiac families and district staff will see who leads school decisions day to day under an interim superintendent. Parents who want a say in leadership choices have no formal input into this appointment, so they may need to attend school board meetings to raise concerns.

The takeaway

Interim leadership changes can reshape how a district runs in the short term, so following school board meetings is the most direct way to track decisions in Pontiac. Residents who want a voice in future appointments can raise questions at public sessions.