FEBRUARY 2026 | DR. CHRISTINA KISHIMOTO
Dr. Kimberly Carter is the Superintendent of the Battle Creek Public Schools in Michigan. In great celebration by her community and peers, she was recognized as the 2026 Michigan Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators. Dr. Carter has served in her current Chief Executive Officer position for over ten years. During her tenure she has accomplished many great achievements including impressive growth in student achievement, creating a unified school district, increasing powerful external partnerships, and establishing a student-centered vision and plan of action around innovative school designs. Dr. Carter has been boldly working on a college promise program with higher education school systems in Michigan and with HBCUs to make college access and success a reality for all students. Listen to her story!
Enjoy the conversation with Dr. Kishimoto and Dr. Carter below.
The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
Dr. Kishimoto:
Hello everyone. This is Dr. Christina Kishimoto, and I’m excited to be back Under the Flamboyan. It’s February 2026 — I’m not sure where the time is going — but I’m thrilled to feature another nationally recognized woman leader today.
I’m joined by Dr. Kimberly Carter from Battle Creek, Michigan. She’s had an extraordinary impact as a superintendent for more than a decade, and I’m so glad we finally get to share her story. Welcome, Kim.
Dr. Carter:
Thank you for having me. I’m really excited to just have a conversation with you.
Dr. Kishimoto:
I love talking with leaders who are impacting children and communities the way you are. You’ve been superintendent in Battle Creek for over 10 years — which is remarkable, considering the national average is just over three. On top of that, you’ve been named Michigan Superintendent of the Year. Congratulations. What does that recognition mean to you?
Dr. Carter:
Thank you. For me, it really represents team progress, not perfection. This recognition reflects the hard work of so many people around me who are committed to student success. It’s deeply humbling. While my name is attached to the award, it belongs to the entire team.
