Detroit, MI
Detroit Mayor Sheffield adds new city roles aimed at supporting students, schools
Student absenteeism, lack of transportation and out-of-school time are key areas to be addressed
Detroit — Carrying through on a campaign promise to do more to work with Detroit’s schools, Mayor Mary Sheffield announced on Thursday the creation of two executive-level appointments intended to combat major challenges facing the city’s K-12 students and schools, both public and private, including absenteeism.
Chanel Hampton was named the city’s Senior Director of Youth and Education, a newly created role, along with JerJuan Howard, who named director of the Detroit’s new Office of Youth Affairs.
Hampton will work closely with the Detroit Public Schools Community District, along with charter schools, out-of-school-time partners and community organizations to explore ways to address some of the most persistent needs of students, officials said at a Thursday press conference at the Heilmann Recreation Center.
“We are here to support you, to uplift you and to invest in you,” Sheffield said, referring to students and the systems that work with them. “We know that your success is our success, and that is why we are here today.”
DPSCD is the state’s largest school district with roughly 48,000 students. During the mayoral campaign, Sheffield pledged to do more to work with the city’s schools, even though they have their own autonomy and aren’t controlled by the city.
Hampton said her office will delve into three key areas: out-of-school time, absenteeism, and transportation, in addition to building a coalition with DPSCD. A series of community listening sessions will soon be launched, she said.
“There are many great things happening across the city, and the way that I think of it is in three buckets,” Hampton said. “One, what is already happening that needs to be lifted up? What needs to be scaled? And where are the gaps that we as a city can fill in or coordinate?”
The new roles were hailed by Nikolai Vitti, superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District, and Ralph Bland, CEO of New Paradigm for Education. Both joined Sheffield and others at the press conference.
Vitti said the new offices can potentially help Detroit Public Schools, the state’s largest school district, work better with city government, which are two separate entities.
“How can DPSCD be more of a partner through the city’s leadership around integrating services to our families, to our students, focused on things like after-school programming, summer programming, improving transportation, ultimately to improve chronic absentees and student attendance?” Vitti said.
Hampton was the founder and CEO of a Detroit nonprofit called Strategic Community Partners that oversaw more than $100 million investments into schools and community initiatives, city officials said.
Howard is a Detroit-based youth leader. His office will organize existing youth councils and other groups “into a more cohesive” voice, he said, that can help influence policy, he said. He will report to Hampton. Both offices will work under the mayor’s office.
Sheffield said both positions will be paid for the budget already set for the mayor’s office and will not take away funds from any existing programs. Hampton’s annual salary will be $175,000 and Howard’s $120,000, city officials said.
Sheffield said that her administration and the City Council are working on legislation dealing with how to reduce absenteeism.
laguilar@detroitnews.com
A teenage male is recovering and police are investigating after a shooting near a school on the east side of Detroit on Friday night.
According to police, the incident happened at 8:28 p.m. on the 3400 block of St. Aubin Street, the same area where the Detroit Edison Public School Academy’s Early College of Excellence is located.
Officials said an altercation ensued inside a building on the block and continued outside. An individual then fired shots that struck the male, whose age has yet to be disclosed, according to police. He was taken to the hospital where he was in stable condition on Saturday.
According to The Detroit News, the altercation was a fight that broke out during Detroit Edison’s boys basketball game against Detroit University Prep.
As of Saturday afternoon, police haven’t shared whether any arrests have been made.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Duluth Police Department at 313-596-5740 or Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 1-800-773-2587.
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes will try to extend their point streak to a dozen games on Saturday, when they go head-to-head with the Detroit Red Wings.
—
When: Saturday, February 28
Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. ET
Watch: FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network App | Learn More
Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App
—
Canes Record: 37-15-6 (80 Points, 1st – Metropolitan Division)
Canes Last Game: 5-4 Win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, Feb. 26
—
Red Wings Record: 34-19-6 (74 Points, T-2nd – Atlantic Division)
Red Wings Last Game: 2-1 Win (OT) over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, Feb. 26
I represent Mr. Terrion Arnold in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred on February 4, 2026, in Tampa, Florida, which resulted in the arrest of five individuals on serious felony charges.
To be clear, Mr. Arnold had no involvement whatsoever in the activities that led to those arrests. He did not participate in, nor was he present for, any conduct related to the alleged offenses. There is no evidence in police reports, text messages, or witness statements that implicates Mr. Arnold in any way.
In fact, after direct communication with the lead prosecutor, it has been confirmed that no charges have been filed against Mr. Arnold in connection with this matter.
Recent media coverage has referenced an Order issued by Circuit Judge J. Logan Murphy, which improperly suggests Mr. Arnold’s involvement in the incident. That same Order also incorrectly identifies Ms. Devalle as Mr. Arnold’s girlfriend. Both assertions are false, misleading, and entirely unsupported by the record.
Mr. Arnold categorically denies these unfounded claims and maintains his complete innocence. He was not involved in the crimes allegedly committed on February 4, 2026, in Tampa, Florida.
We strongly urge members of the media to refrain from perpetuating inaccurate or speculative narratives. The facts are clear, and they do not support any claim of wrongdoing by Mr. Arnold.
Florida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
Georgia’s Iranian community reacts to death of Ayatollah Khamenei
Boy dies after being struck by vehicle in Hawaii Kai | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Who is running for Illinois governor in 2026? What to know as primary Early Voting sites open
Indiana Pacers Must Manage Two-Way Contract Player Availability Down Stretch
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Mamdani’s response to Trump’s Iran strike sparks conservative backlash: ‘Rooting for the ayatollah’
Activists hail ‘historic’ EU’s decision on accessible abortion
A long-buried recording and the Supreme Court of old (CT+) : Consider This from NPR
2 Survivors Describe the Terror and Tragedy of the Tahoe Avalanche
Iran fires missiles at US bases across Middle East after American strikes on nuclear, IRGC sites
-
World3 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts4 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Louisiana6 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Denver, CO3 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology1 week agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Technology1 week agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
Politics1 week agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT