Maktari to Bring Leadership Qualities to Pleasant Lake

Nayal Maktari was in search of a school district this spring that would provide his three young daughters with a quality education.

Maktari, 35, should know what that entails—he taught in the East Detroit Public Schools and Star Commonwealth in Adrian, has four years experience as principal in Hamtramck and one year as assistant principal. When the opportunity arose to apply for the principal position at Pleasant Lake Elementary School in Walled Lake Consolidated Schools, Maktari saw it as a “win-win situation."

Now living within the district with his wife, Amy, and three children (with one more due in December) after moving from Hamtramck, Maktari said he is “grateful for the opportunity."

“From PTA to every single parent to staff, they are a very caring bunch who are there for our children," Maktari added. “I’m not just saying that. I’m very happy and it’s a wonderful district with a great relationship between staff and parents ... we’re going to go to a lot of cool places with Pleasant Lake Elementary."

Comparing his previous school in Hamtramck to Pleasant Lake Elementary, Maktari noted that both were “high-achieving schools with strong character education programs, had highest achievement data over several years and were winning lots of essay contests."

However, Maktari said, he is always looking for ways for continuous improvement. One undertaking he wants to introduce is the Leader in Me Program, a school-wide program dedicated to teaching children the qualities of leadership created by education company FranklinCovey. “It’s all over the country but few schools in the area do it,” Maktari said. “It prepares students to be leaders."

Maktari has a master’s in public administration concentrating in educational administration from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.