Dear Brighton Area Schools Community,
It is my great pleasure, as your superintendent, to welcome each and every one of you to the Brighton Area Schools. As a lifelong resident, parent, and graduate of this district, I can tell you that Brighton is a truly remarkable place to live and raise a family. From our safe, family-centered environment to our award-winning school district, Brighton offers the perfect mix of small-town charm and forward progress.
Building on what makes the Brighton community such a special place, the Brighton Area Schools emphasizes integrity, growth, and innovation as our three core pillars. Our academic programs are rigorous, meaningful, and well-rounded as we work to inspire each student to achieve their personal best. We offer a wide array of programs to meet the needs and interest of our students. This includes cutting-edge health occupations and engineering pathways, exemplary automotive and graphic arts programs, rich arts and culinary offerings, a vibrant world language program, and much more. Our district also provides exemplary athletic and extra-curricular opportunities that extends learning beyond the school day. Most importantly, we maintain a strong core academic foundation that helps our graduates to excel at the next level and beyond.
What makes all of this especially meaningful are the people that go the extra mile for our students every day. We have a dedicated and passionate staff, exceptional principals, involved parents, a supportive community, and students that take their education seriously. We are truly blessed here in the Brighton Area Schools and our best days are still ahead. In closing, I would like to welcome you all to the Brighton family. We invite you and your children to embrace all that is Brighton and become part of this growing tradition.
Have a wonderful year, and Go Dogs!
Sincerely,
- Dr. Matthew Outlaw
.png)
Dr. Outlaw began his tenure as Brighton’s superintendent in October 2020. He came to Brighton having served as superintendent for the Brandon School District (Oakland County) for the previous 6 years. Before that, Dr. Outlaw spent 11 years in Grosse Pointe as athletic director, assistant principal, and then principal of Grosse Pointe South High School. His career began in Novi where he taught history, government, economics, and Spanish before moving into leadership as dean of students at Novi High School.
Dr. Outlaw has a deep and personal connection to the Brighton Area Schools and the entire community. His family moved to Brighton in 1977 and he has been a proud resident ever since. He attended Spencer Elementary, Scranton Middle School, and graduated from Brighton High School in 1992. He attended the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor for his undergraduate and master’s degrees, and Wayne State for his education specialist and doctoral degrees. Dr. Outlaw has two children, one a Brighton High School graduated (Class of 2025) and the other currently at BHS (Class of 2028). His wife, Nicole, is a Spanish teacher at Pathfinder Middle School in Pinckney.
During his tenure in the Brighton Area schools, Dr. Outlaw successfully led the district through the COVID-19 pandemic, the creation and implementation of a long-range strategic plan, the implementation of a $59 million bond campaign, and much more. When asked what makes Brighton so special, he expressed his deep appreciation for the efforts of the hundreds–if not thousands–of staff, parents, and community members who go the extra mile for our students every day. This teamwork and community spirit is truly the “Brighton Difference”.
As the chief administrative officer of the Brighton Area Schools, Dr. Outlaw is responsible for administering policies established by the Board of Education. The Superintendent provides leadership for:
Dr. Outlaw is also responsible for maintaining positive relationships within the community, the Livingston Educational Service Agency, and the Michigan Department of Education. Reporting directly to the Board of Education, the Superintendent formulates and presents recommended policies and programs, the district’s budget, curricular changes, personnel matters, and facility modifications. Dr. Outlaw informs the Board as to the effectiveness of existing policies and instructional programs.
Dr. Outlaw is assisted by Starr Acromite
