Our Superintendent

Dr. Nikolai Vitti has served as Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) since May 2017. His contract has been extended twice and now runs through June 2028, making him the second-longest-serving superintendent in the district’s history. In partnership with the School Board, he has led the rebuilding of DPSCD after years of state control and was named the 2022 National Urban School District Superintendent of the Year.

Under Dr. Vitti’s leadership and the district’s Strategic Plan, DPSCD has seen its first significant, districtwide improvements in decades. Gains include increased enrollment; higher student achievement and attendance; stronger teacher recruitment, retention, and compensation; expanded arts and academic programming; more stable school leadership; and restored financial health. These improvements have reduced federal and state oversight of the district.

DPSCD is now recognized as one of the most improved large districts in the country post-pandemic in literacy and math. The district has eliminated aggregate learning loss, reached record levels of on-grade-level performance, and outpaced state, suburban, and national urban districts in growth. Graduation rates have risen by nine percentage points since the pandemic, and nearly 60% of high school students are succeeding in skilled-trade, dual-enrollment, or AP courses. The district is also implementing a $700 million facilities improvement program, including major building upgrades and the first new school construction in Detroit in more than 20 years.

Dr. Vitti regularly mentors emerging superintendents and hosts district teams nationwide to learn from DPSCD’s systems and strategies.

Before coming to Detroit, Dr. Vitti served as Superintendent of Duval County Public Schools (Jacksonville, FL), the nation’s 20th largest district. During his tenure, Duval became one of the highest-performing urban districts on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, raised its graduation rate from 67% to 78.8%, and expanded arts, world languages, innovative programs, and mental-health supports. He also secured more than $40 million in philanthropy to improve historically underperforming schools.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Vitti served as Chief Academic Officer and Assistant Superintendent in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Deputy Chancellor at the Florida Department of Education, and as a principal, dean, and teacher. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s degree in Education from Wake Forest University, as well as a master’s degree and doctorate in Educational Leadership from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he was a Presidential Scholar.