Roosevelt wants to welcome our new principals Silvia Miller, Crystal Danzy, Dr. Michael Crudder, Melvin Mitchell, and Louie Robles. Dorris Simmons was also hired as the new Director of Athletics Safety and Student Discipline. Each candidate was chosen for their outstanding work and experience to help RSD thrive. Silvia Miller is current member of the RSD family. In alignment with Superintendent Guardrail #4, Silvia is an example of promoting highly qualified individuals to positions of leadership. (Interim Goal 4.4)
Candidate Bios
Sylvia Miller has more than two decades of experience in education. Her journey began as a classroom teacher, where she spent 11 years inspiring young minds and cultivating a love for learning. Driven by a passion for leadership, she served in various leadership roles after leaving the classroom, including Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, Supervisor of Preschool and Student Records, and most recently, Director of Early Childhood and Literacy. Ms. Miller believes by fostering a culture of high expectations, collaboration, and continuous improvement, Roosevelt can create an environment where every child can excel academically, socially and emotionally.
Crystal A. Danzy, a native of Detroit, Michigan, earned her bachelor’s degree in education at Eastern Michigan University. Later, she earned her master’s degree and Principal Certificate from Northern Arizona University. She started teaching in 2001, and her love for teaching literacy led her from elementary and middle school classrooms to an alternative high school as a Reading Specialist, where she later served as Principal, before becoming the Director of Credit Recovery for the district. She has spent the past seven years transforming teachers’ and students’ perspectives on learning, growth and achievement.
Dr. Michael Crudder's career in education, spanning primary, secondary, and higher education, is a testament to his exceptional achievements. For 38 years, he has received numerous awards, including two A+ School Principal awards and a Golden Bell. Dr. Crudder's success working with highly gifted and disadvantaged students is unparalleled. His distinguished background has prepared him to continue his legacy at Roosevelt School District.
Doris Simmons has been a dedicated school administrator in Arizona since 2018, bringing a wealth of experience from her background as a Division I athlete, collegiate coach and military veteran. She holds master’s degrees in organizational leadership and administration and supervision. Blending academic excellence with real-world leadership, her approach centers on using athletics and discipline as powerful coaching tools to build character, structure and a strong school culture. A passionate advocate for accountability and student growth, she looks forward to supporting and collaborating with fellow leaders to strengthen schools, empower students and elevate the community.
Melvin Mitchell is a dedicated and experienced principal with a deep-rooted passion for fostering academic excellence and creating inclusive learning environments. For more than 15 years, the Milwaukee native is deeply committed to student success, instructional excellence and school leadership through data-driven initiatives to improve achievement. Mr. Mitchell collaborates with his staff teams to design and execute plans that improve strong relationships with students, families and the community we serve to efficiently manage and provide resources for students in underprivileged communities.
With 25 years of experience in education, Louis Robles is eager to bring enthusiasm for student success and community engagement to our community. Already the holder of a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees, he is pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, reflecting his commitment to lifelong learning. After spending more than 10 years in the classroom, he served as an instructional coach and assistant principal before becoming a principal for the past 5 years. His approach focuses on fostering academic excellence through project-based learning, STEM education and a robust arts curriculum.