Dearest reader,
I was getting ready to complete a workup on Reed City Area Public Schools and a reader sent me a breadcrumb. And considering what Saginaw County voters are being asked to decide in November, I decided to follow it.
On November 3, Saginaw County voters will be asked to renew and restore the Career and Technical Education millage back to its original 1 mill. This is the dedicated millage supporting CTE programs across Saginaw County.
So who is overseeing it?
In September 2025, Saginaw ISD advertised for a Director of Career and Technical Education and Workforce Preparation.
According to SISD's own posting, this person would:
• Manage fiscal resources, including the countywide CTE millage • Serve as Saginaw County's CEPD Director • Lead the CTE Millage Consortium • Ensure compliance with state and federal requirements
And among SISD's listed qualifications?
• A master's degree in Educational Leadership or a related field.
Joshua Miller got the job.
Then something caught my reader's attention.
In January 2026, after Mr. Miller had already become CTE Director, Saginaw ISD published an announcement about its new director.
According to SISD itself, Mr. Miller held a bachelor's degree and was "currently pursuing" his Master of Education degree. So I kept following the breadcrumb.
Michigan's rules for CTE administrators say they are to have BOTH:
• A master's degree, along with CTE coursework in administration, supervision and organization of CTE programs; and• At least three years of experience administering and/or teaching in CTE programs.
There is an important exception.
• MDE may waive one or both requirements after a detailed review of an individual's qualifications.
Maybe MDE did exactly that here. I don't know.
But SISD's own announcement describes Mr. Miller's career in considerable detail: teaching, athletic director, health curriculum work, Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds, and eventually Wellness and Nutrition Education Program Supervisor.
What I don't see identified in that history is three years of CTE teaching or CTE administration before he became CTE Director.
Then came another breadcrumb.
Michigan's public educator credential database identifies the Joshua D. Miller whose credential areas match SISD's own description. Health, Physical Education and Recreation K–12 and Sociology 6–12.
The credentials displayed for that individual are teaching credentials, with the most recent shown expiring June 30, 2017.
I did not find an administrator certificate or permit displayed in that public search.
Now, let me be very clear:
None of this proves Mr. Miller is improperly serving as CTE Director.
MDE may have granted a waiver.
There may be additional credentials, authorizations or documentation that aren't apparent from the public records I've reviewed.
There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation.
But that leaves some pretty reasonable questions:
• Did MDE waive one or both of Michigan's CTE administrator qualification requirements for Mr. Miller?
• If so, which requirement?
• What experience did SISD determine satisfied the CTE requirements, or what qualifications were presented to MDE for a waiver?
• Why did SISD advertise a master's degree as a qualification and then hire someone SISD later said was still pursuing one?
• And what administrator credential, permit or other authorization is Mr. Miller currently serving under?
Those aren't accusations. They're questions prompted by the public record. And timing matters.
Saginaw ISD is asking voters to renew a dedicated CTE millage on November 3. If taxpayers are being asked to continue funding CTE, I don't think it's unreasonable for them to ask about the qualifications and credentials of the person SISD selected to lead CTE and help oversee those public dollars.
Perhaps SISD can clear this up very easily.
The receipts are below.
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown
SOURCES:Saginaw ISD - Director of Career and Technical Education and Workforce Preparation job posting, posted September 16, 2025Saginaw ISD - "Celebrating Leadership: Saginaw ISD Announces Joshua Miller as New Director of Career and Technical Education," January 12, 2026Michigan Administrative Code R 395.232 - Career and Technical Education AdministratorsMichigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) - Public Educator Credential Status and PIC LookupSaginaw ISD / CTE Millage information - November 3, 2026 renewal and restoration proposal
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