nicole.burrell@detroitk12.org

Nicole Burrell-McGee, a native Detroiter, began dancing at an early age at her elementary school, Eastside Vicariate. She continued to Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School, a Detroit Public School, where her passion for dance was nurtured by her beloved teacher and now friend, Ms. Deborah Kirkland. Upon graduating from King High School, Nicole went on to pursue her dance training at Western Michigan University, ultimately transferring after 2 years to Wayne State University. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree and Teaching Certification in the field of Dance Education, with a minor in Physical Education, and a Master of Education Degree in the field of Educational Administration Leadership.

Nicole has taught dance to various students around the city. Upon receiving her degree and certification, she went on to teach high school dance at the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences. After four years, she transitioned to the Detroit School of Arts, a Detroit Public Schools high school within the heart of the city designed to enhance and promote the fine & performing arts of its students. 

Nicole has danced in many venues around the city of Detroit, as well as across the nation. In addition to being an avid member of the Wayne State University Dance Company while she was in attendance, Nicole has danced for the Detroit-Windsor Dance Company, the City-Wide Productions Dance Company, and the play “Perilous Times”.  Nicole was the business manager and dancer for the CounterGroove Dance Company, and has performed by request for churches, sororities, charities, business organizations, and various social events. She has also danced for the John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church Dance Ministry and PG Institute’s Detroit Dance Legacy.

Nicole currently resides in the city of Southfield, with her 2 sons, Ian, Kyron II, and her husband, Kyron. Recently, she was hired as the Assistant Principal at the Detroit School of Arts in 2020. She hopes that she is positively touching the lives of students and giving back to the same community that aided her in her current success.

belvin.liles@detroitk12.org

Mr. Belvin Liles has served as Director, Assistant Principal and Principal in several school districts since 2002.

Mr. Liles is a lifelong Detroiter, where he graduated from Cass Technical High School. He earned his Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree from Hillsdale College. Upon graduation, he entered the University of Toledo College of Law and graduated with a Jurist Doctorate. After which he engaged in multiple entrepreneurial activities. He turned to education because of a nagging need to help children. He returned to Courville Elementary School, which he attended as a child. This immediate connection with children and education was palpable in his soul. He enrolled in Marygrove College GROIT program, a program started to increase the number of African American males in education. Upon graduating with his master’s in education and a Certification in History he taught at several Middle and High Schools. He rose to become Director of Highland Park Career Academy, the largest alternative high school in Michigan. With an enrollment of over 1600 students where he was able to increase graduation rates by over 300%. He also became Principal of Highland Park High School, while continuing as Director of HPCA. Upon the dissolution of the HPSD he returned to Detroit Public Schools as Assistant Principal of Cody Academy of Public Leadership, Pershing High School, Denby High School, Detroit Lions High School and currently Detroit School of the Arts. Most importantly he is married and the father of two sons.