LauraLea performs oversight duties within the Office of Fiscal Performance and Accountability and assists in assessing the financial performance and viability of CMU’s partner schools. She provides guidance and expertise to schools related to their budgets, quarterly financial statements, audited financial statements and overall financial performance. In addition, she monitors charter schools’ compliance with insurance requirements, reviews educational service provider agreements, financings and leases.

Before joining the Center in 2021, LauraLea worked as a budget manager for an educational service provider. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Grand Valley State University.

Suzanne performs oversight duties within the Office of Fiscal Performance and Accountability and assists in assessing the financial performance and viability of CMU’s partner schools. She provides guidance and expertise to schools related to their budgets, quarterly financial statements, audited financial statements and overall financial performance. In addition, she monitors charter schools’ compliance with insurance requirements, reviews educational service provider agreements, financings and leases.

Before joining the Center in 2005, Suzanne worked as a financial analyst. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in hotel and restaurant management from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Michael is responsible for assessing the financial performance and viability of CMU’s portfolio of charter public schools. Michael leads the Office of Fiscal Performance and Accountability that utilizes analysis of financial performance to provide resources and strategic insight to partner schools related to financial viability. They also ensure partner schools comply with the charter contract as well as public school accounting and finance, through the reviews of audited financial statements, quarterly financial statements and budgets.

Prior to joining the Center, he served as the assistant director of school review and fiscal accountability at the Michigan Department of Treasury. He also served as an instructional practice administrator at Chicago Public Schools and the director of specialized services for a charter public school. He began his career as a high school teacher. Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Michigan, a Master of Arts in sociology from New York University and a Master of Arts in education from National-Louis University.