Leadership

Julia Putnam, Principal

Ms. Julia taught for five years in Detroit, including serving as writer-in-residence for the InsideOut Literary Magazine program. As a teenager, she was Detroit Summer’s first volunteer, later taking a leadership role. Julia wrote a regular column on education (“Learning for Life”) for The Michigan Citizen, which has been required reading at major Michigan universities. As a member of the founding team of the Boggs School, she began formally meeting with other educators in 2008 to make the idea of the school a reality. She attended the National Principals Leadership Institute as an Excellent Schools Detroit fellow in 2013 and was the keynote speaker at Eastern Michigan University's 2014 Eco-Justice Conference. In 2015, Julia served as a member of the Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren and, in 2019, was the co-keynote speaker for the University of Michigan's Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium.  As the Principal, Julia works with teachers, parents, and students on developing and maintaining positive school culture and ambitious instruction. She has a twelve-year-old daughter who attends the Boggs School and a fourteen-year-old son. Julia holds a bachelor's degree in English from Michigan State University, a master's degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Detroit Mercy, a master's degree in Education and teaching certification from Wayne State University, and administrative certification from the Michigan Association of Secondary Principals. Julia brings expertise in teaching, leadership, youth development, and community organizing.  

Amanda Rosman, Executive Director

Ms. Amanda taught for eleven years in Detroit schools and is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. In law school, she served as Teaching Assistant to current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, trained as a civil court mediator, interned with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, and contributed to the ACLU’s 2009 School-to-Prison Pipeline report. Prior to the opening of the Boggs School, she served as the Assistant to the Associate Dean for Research and Community Engagement at the University of Michigan's School of Education.  Most recently, Amanda was a member of the founding team of the Boggs School, which began formally planning in 2008 after many years of discussing educational issues with members of the Detroit community at the home of Grace Lee Boggs. Amanda has served on the boards of the Birmingham Temple and the Michigan Center for Election Law as well as on Marygrove College Education Division's Strategic Planning Committee.  As the Executive Director, Amanda directs business operations at the school, including managing the budget, facility, compliance reporting, and operations systems. She has a fifteen-year-old son who graduated from the Boggs School in 2018. Amanda holds a bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Cornell University, a master's degree in Educational Studies and teaching certification from the University of Michigan, and a JD from Wayne State University Law School. She also holds a Michigan School Administrator Certificate with a Central Office Endorsement. She offers expertise in teaching, grant writing and compliance, non-profit management, and education law.   

Marisol Teachworth, Programming Director

Ms. Marisol taught for six years in the Bronx, NY, Hollywood, FL, and Detroit. She has taught language arts and social studies in an inclusion model classroom, self-contained ESOL, and science. For three years, Marisol worked with Hispanic Unity, the largest non-profit organization in Broward County dedicated to serving the community’s Latino population, where she designed curriculum and enrichment activities through art, music, science, dance, and nutrition. As an artist and engaged community member, she has led multi-aged youth groups in creating large murals in their schools and communities. In 2011, Marisol served as the Educational Track Instructor for Detroit Future Media, where she worked in collaboration with other teachers to design and teach education participants and skilled local media artists, exploring educational theory and teaching methodology, digital justice principles, and popular education. Marisol joined the Boggs School founding team in 2011 and was instrumental in bringing the planning of the school to fruition. As the Programming Director, Marisol coordinates all programming at the Boggs School, including the after-school program, Place-Based Education alignment with teachers, arts enrichment classes, and special events. Marisol holds a bachelor's degree in Education, teaching certification, and a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Wayne State University. She offers expertise in youth development, grant writing, teaching, community organizing, and leadership.