NEW LOTHROP, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The superintendent of New Lothrop Area Public Schools in Shiawassee County has been fired after roughly seven months into her tenure over her poor job performance and questions over her stated qualifications.
New Lothrop’s Board of Education hired Heather Thompson-Luznak in October 2023. She failed to attend the last six board meetings which saw hundreds of concerned parents and community members voice frustrations and concerns over her qualifications.
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A the time of her hiring, the Michigan Association of School Boards sent out a press release which praised Thompson-Luznak for bringing a “broad background of experience to lead New Lothrop Public Schools forward.” However, Thompson-Luznak’s “broad background” proved to be suspect when investigated by school district attorney Daniel Martin.
Thompson-Luznak boasted about holding several degrees in education. Those included a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in leadership education, an education specialist degree in curriculum and instruction, and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction, according to previous reports. She also claimed she held advanced degrees in psychology. She refused to release her transcripts to the Board who subsequently fired her.
In addition, Thompson-Luznak claimed she served as a No Child Left Behind Creator Consultant for the Department of Education in Philadelphia and Washington from 2000 to 2004. An investigator found the No Child Left Behind Act didn’t become law until 2002.
Her education qualifications weren’t the only red flag. A case file in Saginaw County District Court shows Thompson-Luznak owes Meemic Insurance $23,460 following a 2015 incident. She claimed a debit card was stolen and someone else made $7,000 in charges to that card. However, Meemic investigators found Thompson-Luznak made the purchases herself, and filed a fraudulent claim. She refused to show up for those court cases and in 2020 a judge issued a bench warrant.
Michigan News Source contacted the New Lothrop school board members and the administrative offices for a comment but did not receive a response by press time.
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