Dr. John J. Tafelski serves as the Superintendent of Royal Oak Schools, bringing over two decades of experience in public education as a teacher, coach, principal, and central office leader. His career reflects a deep commitment to student-centered learning, instructional excellence, and equity-driven leadership.
Before joining Royal Oak, Dr. Tafelski served as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Allen Park Public Schools, where he also led state and federal programs and served as the McKinney-Vento Liaison. His leadership there centered on building an aligned, guaranteed, and viable curriculum with instructional practices that deeply engage students and support educators. His academic background includes a Doctor of Education degree from Michigan State University, where his research focused on student engagement.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Tafelski was principal of Crestwood High School in Dearborn Heights, where the school earned recognition as a Top 25 Michigan High School by U.S. News & World Report and received the Michigan Association of School Boards’ Excellence in Education Award. He began his journey in education as a business education teacher and coach at Annapolis High School.
Dr. Tafelski is an accomplished presenter at national and state conferences, having shared strategies on MTSS, ACT/SAT preparation, literacy partnerships, science curriculum implementation, and PBIS practices. His work has reached audiences through MASA, MAS/FPS, MASB, MEMSPA, NSTA, and other leading educational organizations across multiple states.
As superintendent, Dr. Tafelski is focused on continuing Royal Oak Schools tradition of academic excellence, inclusive practices, and student-first decision making. He is proud to lead a district committed to developing growth-minded learners who can adapt and thrive in a dynamic world.