The Metro Bureau Team
Melissa Baker
Executive Director
Business Partners
Superintendent
and Central Office Search
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Prior to her arrival to The Metro Bureau, spent her professional career as a public school educator in Michigan. Her 27 years in education include teaching elementary school, as an elementary principal in two tri-county districts, as well as fifteen years as a central office administrator. Melissa most recently served as the Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services, Deputy Superintendent, and then Superintendent for South Lyon Community Schools. Through these experiences Melissa was immersed in the work of human resources; contract negotiations; public relations; curriculum and instructional best practices; strategic planning; and student and district data analysis for school improvement.
Melissa is well-networked with school administrators both within the southeastern Michigan Region and across the state. While at South Lyon Melissa served as an executive board member and secretary for the Michigan Negotiators Association, president and vice-president of the Oakland Association of School Personnel Administrators, and member of the Oakland County Superintendent Association serving on the Legislative Committee and Special Education Committee. Melissa also served on the Tri-County Board and is a member of the Michigan Association of School Administrators.
Mary Beth Fitzpatrick
Associate Executive Director
CCN: Council of
Chief Negotiators
Newly retired superintendent of Royal Oak Public Schools, Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, started off her teaching career as a Special Education Teacher in January 1986 at a residential treatment center for boys in Detroit, and joined Berkley Schools in fall 1986 as an Elementary Resource Teacher. After teaching, she has served as a technology and professional development specialist, high school assistant and interim principal, and an elementary principal. For eleven years, she was the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Technology, Assessment and Grants, all in Berkley Schools. After 31 years there, Mary Beth joined Royal Oak Schools in July 2017 as the Superintendent where her first project was the successful campaign and passing of the $59M bond initiative that November.  Mary Beth is married to husband Michael of 33 years, with two adult children Lauren and Brendan. She loves to travel, cook/bake and BBQ in her spare time.
Dr. Alexander McNeece
Associate Executive Director
CAL: Council of Academic Leadership
Dr. Alexander McNeece is a recently retired Director of Instruction and State and Federal Grants with a distinguished career in educational leadership, dedicated to empowering administrators and fostering systemic growth. He brings a wealth of experience in curriculum development, instructional leadership, and strategic planning. During his tenure, Dr. McNeece developed new School Improvement and District Improvement Process Models and established the district's first Professional Learning Community collaboration system. He also introduced and implemented a Multi-Tiered System of Supports framework and created instructional coaching programs for English Learners, Reading, and Math. His expertise extends to securing and managing significant state and federal grants, ensuring sustainable funding for key intervention initiatives. A key advisor to superintendents, Dr. McNeece has provided expertise in instructional programs, professional development, data analysis, compliance, and funding. Dr. McNeece is also adept at planning and coordinating comprehensive professional development, including recruiting outside speakers, and hosting mini-conferences. As an accomplished author and consultant with Solution Tree and through his own company, McNeece Consulting, Alex provides professional development nationwide on topics such as professional learning communities, school culture, and student engagement strategies. He also coaches principals on developing healthy school cultures and implementing school improvement processes. His published works include "Culture Champions: Teachers Supporting a Healthy Classroom Culture" (2025) and "Loving What They Learn" (2019). He has also authored multiple children's books and a young adult novel. Dr. McNeece holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University, a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Michigan State University. He is an award-winning educator, recognized with the Elementary Administrator Award from the Michigan Reading Association in 2011. While a middle school teacher in Southfield Public Schools, he led an innovative after-school program where his 8th-grade students wrote, directed, and starred in their own feature-length movies that premiered at a local theater. This innovative and highly-relevant classroom instruction positively impacted their state assessment results and contributed to their overall success.