Now on the job as the new superintendent of Benton Harbor Area Schools is Dr. Simone Griffin, who started Monday.

Griffin comes to the district from Learnwell Educational Services in Chicago, where she’s from originally. She tells us she started out with a career in radio but decided to go back to school and pursue education. While tutoring, she realized that teaching would be her true passion, and she eventually found herself in administration.

Having struggled herself as a student, Griffin says she’s not so different from the students she serves.

“So it is my goal to be who I needed what I was in that pre-K to 12th grade age and provide them with what I didn’t get so that they can be set up for success,” Griffin said.

Looking to Benton Harbor, Griffin says the job appealed to her because of the community, which is similar to communities she’s previously served. She’s excited to be a Tiger.

“They have a tendency — and I’ll say now, we — to fight and win. They are able to still have the pride of the community, and there’s so much to offer regarding culture that I absolutely am attracted to, and the type of student. I know they are resilient, I know they have a tremendous amount of potential.”

Griffin says moving forward, her first priority is to build relationships throughout the community by attending events and meeting local leaders. In the next 90 days, she’s also seeking to get an understanding of the district using its data and establishing relationships with staff.

Griffin says she believes Benton Harbor Area Schools has a bright future, and she’s thrilled and honored to be its new district superintendent.