Assistant Principal Eastern Candidate
Disclaimer: Candidate information is posted as submitted, without editing by MASSP staff; any spelling or formatting errors are as received.
Cathy Skutch
Associate Principal
Bloomfield Hills High School
Phone: 419-356-4643
Email: cskutch@bloomfield.org
Statements
- Experience: What is your current administrative position? How long have you served in that capacity? What was your path to obtain it?
I currently serve as the Associate Principal at Bloomfield Hills High School, a role in which I am now in my seventh year. In this capacity, I focus on fostering a supportive academic environment, managing daily school operations, and collaborating with staff and families to enhance the student experience.
My path began in the classroom at Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, where I taught middle school English Language Arts (ELA) and Social Studies. That experience sparked my passion for school leadership, eventually leading me to become an Assistant Principal at Monroe High School. After serving the Monroe community for four years, I transitioned to my current position at Bloomfield Hills, bringing a decade of diverse administrative and instructional experience to my leadership team. - Performance: Tell us about any awards, accolades or important points of pride related to your career.
One of my significant points of pride is the leadership I provided as the lead building administrator during the COVID-19 pandemic. Navigating complexities of remote and hybrid learning required a commitment to student well-being and instructional continuity. Additionally, I have taken the primary role of systemic academic oversight by managing all standardized testing protocols.
I have spearheaded initiatives to support student success and graduation rates. I am particularly proud of revamping the summer school and credit recovery programs at Bloomfield Hills High School. By redesigning these programs to be more accessible, I have helped provide a safety net for students, ensuring they have the resources necessary to stay on track. - Education: What post-secondary degrees have you obtained and from where? What additional continuing education have you received? Do you have a particular area of focus/expertise?
I earned my Bachelor’s degree at The University of Toledo, in Middle Level Education. I went on to earn a Master’s in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College, which deepened my understanding of pedagogy and classroom dynamics. To transition into school-wide leadership, I completed a Certificate of Educational Leadership through Concordia University, providing me with the formal credentials and theoretical framework.
My specific area of professional expertise lies in the optimization of school systems and the strategic use of data to drive institutional change. I am particularly focused on how administrative systems—specifically master scheduling—can be leveraged more effectively and efficiently to meet the diverse needs of our students. - Statement of Intent: Why are you seeking this position on the MASSP Board of Directors?
I am eager to contribute to the professional community that has been instrumental in my own growth as a leader. I have seen firsthand how high-level advocacy and collaboration translate into building-level success. My motivation is deeply personal and professional; I have watched mentors and colleagues like Charlie Hollerith and Jessica Lupone leverage their involvement with the MASSP Board to not only benefit their own leadership trajectories but to bring invaluable insights and resources back to our school community. I am ready to step into this role to pay that mentorship forward and represent the interests of secondary administrators across the state.