Diane Biondi Mukkala Is Daycroft Montessori School’s New Head of School

Ann Arbor, MI (May 31, 2007) – Diane Biondi Mukkala has been appointed the head of school at Daycroft Montessori School in Ann Arbor, MI. Mukkala had served as Daycroft’s interim head of school since December 2006.

Since 1993, Mukkala has been owner and principal consultant of DBM and Associates, a firm helping organizations in the public and private sectors with strategic planning, reorganizations, team building, leadership development, cooperation building, and process design and facilitation. Clients include Intermediate School Districts in Ingham, Bay-Arenac, and Shiawassee Counties; Lansing Community College; the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies (FISITA); General Motors Global Powertrain Group; the U.S. Car Consortium of Ford, GM, Chrysler, and the National Laboratories; Textron; the Society of Automotive Engineering; the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service; and the Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Public Health.

Before forming DBM and Associates, Mukkala worked for over eight years at General Motors Corporation in organizational research, planning, and development within the company’s Powertrain Group, B-O-C Powertrain Division, Corporate Headquarters, Service Parts Operations Headquarters, and Service Parts Plant.

Mukkala’s experience also includes work for the UAW/GM Human Resources Center, National Labor Relations Board, Wayne State University, and Ford Motor Company.

Mukkala earned a Bachelor’s degree in general studies, with concentrations in psychology, sociology, and biology, from the University of Michigan in 1981. In 1984, she added a Master’s degree in industrial relations, concentrating on organizational development, from Wayne State University. She then completed a graduate advanced program in organizational development at Columbia University in 1992.

Mukkala is certified as a professional instructor for the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator and Zinger-Miller Frontline Leadership. She completed the Cambridge Planned Change Agent programs, and is an instructor for the Saline Leadership Institute.

Mukkala was the first woman to serve as vice president and executive board member for FISITA. She is a member of the American Society of Training and Development, and has presented at national conferences including the National Organizational Development Network, the Council for Total Quality, and the National Association of Female Executives.

A native of Melvindale, MI, Mukkala today resides in Pittsfield Township, MI with her husband Ben and their two sons Daniel and Matthew.

Daycroft Montessori School began as a preschool program in 1968. Since then, Daycroft has grown to include a full-day Kindergarten program, an elementary school program through 6th grade, before-school and after-school care, a summer program, and a variety of enrichment classes.

Daycroft Elementary School (grades K through 6) and Daycroft’s administrative offices are located at 1095 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Phone: (734) 662-3335.

Daycroft Preprimary School (preschool and kindergarten) is at 100 E. Oakbrook Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 930-0333.

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Media Contact:
Rose Kelly
Daycroft Montessori School
(734) 662-3335
rosek@daycroft.org