The Metro Bureau Team
Melissa Baker
Executive Director
Business Partners
Superintendent
and Central Office Search
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.
Michael W. Van Camp
Associate Executive Director
CCN: Council of
Chief Negotiators
Michael W. Van Camp, Associate Executive Director, retired from L’Anse Creuse Public Schools in 2019 after serving as Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. Additionally, Mike served as a Middle School Principal in L’Anse Creuse, a High School Principal in Royal Oak, has held several Assistant Principal positions and taught Social Studies in Midland. Mike served as chairperson of the Metro Bureau’s Council of Chief Negotiators during the 2018 – 2019 school year. Mike also currently serves as a University Supervisor for Student Teachers at Oakland University.
Nancy J. Campbell
Associate Executive Director
CAL: Council of Academic Leadership
The Metro Bureau's Associate Executive Director, is the former Superintendent of Romeo Community Schools. Before becoming a superintendent, Nancy was the Deputy Superintendent in the Berkley School District and had responsibility for curriculum and instruction. Nancy was also a middle school principal in The Lamphere Schools and a high school English teacher and district-wide reading consultant, including Title I, II and III, in the Avondale School District.
Cindy DeSmit, Research Specialist, has in-depth experience in resolving client-related concerns. She specializes in responding to the extensive and detailed requests for research data of The Metro Bureau clients.
Patricia Denson, Administrative Assistant, has served The Metro Bureau constituents since 1984. She has extensive experience in the structuring of data as well as in complex computer technologies.