Derrick Fries Ph.D.
School Comparison & Educational Expert
ABOUT
Derrick Fries has spent over 45 years working in the Education Field. From 1976 to 2006 he
worked as a bus driver to School Superintendent in 5 different Michigan public school districts. In 2006, retiring from Avondale Public Schools he began work as a professor at Eastern Michigan University. His doctoral degree is from the University of Michigan in Educational Administration. Since 2007 he has completed over 120 school comparison cases in 8 Michigan counties and 4 States. He has won numerous educational awards and has much experience in school accreditation and school comparison data analysis.
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
In the process of divorce, the decision of school district placement for the minor children(s) can be difficult and overwhelming. Derrick has developed a school comparison model that examines
over 30 data factors (indices) on the difference and performance of each parent's preferred school district. In his general 15-page report he examines school factors ranging from attendance rates,
class size ratios, school graduation percentages, and standardized test scores to name a few. The report includes both qualitative and numerous quantitative school performance
WORK EXPERIENCE
1978-1986
Special Education and Physical Education Teacher
Birmingham Public Schools
Birmingham, MI.
1986-1992
NASA
Teacher in Space Finalist
Washington D.C.
1993-2000
NASA
Space Ambassador
Glenn Research Center
Cleveland, OH
WORK EXPERIENCE CONT.
1976-1983
Teacher Birmingham Schools, MI
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1984-1993
Department Head Birmingham Schools, MI
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1994-1996
Assistant Middle School Principal Birmingham Schools, MI
1996-2002
Middle School Principal Avondale Schools, MI
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2003-2005
Deputy Superintendant Avondale Schools, MI
2005-2006
Interim Superintendant Avondale Schools, MI
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2006-Present
Professor Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI
SERVICES
K-12 School Comparison Data Analysis
School comparison reports come in three different packages
EDUCATION
1972
B.A. - Michigan State University - Education
East Lansing, MI
1979
M.A. - Oakland University - Special Education
Rochester, MI
1993
Ph. D. - University of Michigan - Educational Administration
Ann Arbor, MI
Honors and Awards in Education
- 1986 WDIV Teacher of the Year
- 1986 Oakland County Teacher of the Year
- 1986 NASA Teacher In-Space Finalist
- 1988 Spirit of Detroit Award (Development of a Multicultural Teen Conf)
- 2001 Michigan Middle School Principal of the Year (MAMSE)
- 2002 North Central Assoc. of Colleges and Schools (Sutherland Hayden Award)
- 2008 EMU College of Education Dean’s Teaching Award
- 2010 EMU College of Education Innovative Scholarship Award
- 2017 EMU College of Education Outstanding Service Award​