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Patricia J. Dignan Ed.D. J.D.
Patricia Dignan is a woman with many “firsts” in an exceptional administrative career spanning 50 years.
Patricia was the first female Community School Director in the country in 1963, serving in ...view morePatricia Dignan is a woman with many “firsts” in an exceptional administrative career spanning 50 years.
Patricia was the first female Community School Director in the country in 1963, serving in that capacity in Alpena, Michigan, then starting community education in California. She was one of the 1st Head Start Directors under JFK. She was a Director of the 1st Alternative Middle/High School in the country in 1968. She was the 1st female principal in Ypsilanti in the 70’s and the 1st (and only) female President of the Ypsilanti Principals’ Association. In the 80’s she became the 1st female Assistant Superintendent in Monroe County, Michigan, then the 1st female Superintendent in Monroe County in the early 90’s. In 1995 in Falls Church, Patricia became the 1st female Superintendent in the greater Washington D.C. area. In 1997, Patricia was named the first Dean of Washtenaw Technical Middle College, the 1st of its kind in the country and which she birthed.
During these years, Patricia pioneered many initiatives and programs. She started the 1st Toy Lending Library in Michigan in the 60’s and created the first (and possibly, only) class for parents that included teenagers as resources on parenting in the early 70’s. Patricia continued with parenting programs—including a drug-free series of classes—for the entirety of her career.
Patricia opened 7 charter schools in Michigan and oversaw another 12 which featured computer-based learning in the late 90’s then became an Executive Director of Student Achievement with Detroit Public Schools where she was responsible for 58 schools over a period of 5 years.
Patricia was also a sought-after national speaker and international consultant during those years. She earned her 1st doctorate at University of Michigan and her 2nd at Detroit College of Law. She has authored 5 books.view less
Books by Patricia J. Dignan Ed.D. J.D.
Pygmalion Principles: A Memoir on Raising Expectations and Achievement in Schools