Detroit – (July 10, 2023) Detroit PBS recently announced the hiring of Omar Hakim, Ed.D as its new Executive Director of Education. Hakim will oversee a team of professionals focused on providing supplemental services and programming to improve educational outcomes in children from cradle to career.

In his new role, Hakim will lead the day-to-day management and strategy of the education team which includes Detroit PBS’s award-winning work with parents and early childhood educators in the city of Detroit, the statewide Michigan Learning Channel (MLC), as well as its newly launched Future of Work educational initiative.

The early childhood team provides parent workshops and special events throughout the year, with a particular focus on building literacy skills in children from young infants to early elementary. The Michigan Learning Channel provides broadcast and on-demand instructional programming for Pre-K through 12th grade, in collaboration with six other PBS member stations that broadcast to Michigan and touching more than 500,000 viewers each month. The MLC Future of Work initiative provides educational materials and guidance for students and families facing post-public-school decisions about careers and post-secondary education.

In addition, Hakim will assume the philanthropic responsibility of working with the state government to seek out funding to maintain sustainable financial support for MLC.

“Omar’s proven ability as a teacher, education administrator, and extraordinary leader will help us continue our mission to provide impactful education programming, identify new resources needed by families and teachers, and effectively engage with our audience and stakeholders,” said Detroit PBS President and CEO, Rich Homberg. “With his passion, energy, and long-standing career in education, Omar will be a valuable addition to our team.”

Prior to joining Detroit PBS, Hakim established himself as an accomplished educational leader with diverse experience in public, private, and magnet schools. He served as an educator, curriculum and instructional leader, and building administrator in Troy and Birmingham Public Schools and with Detroit Country Day Schools (DCDS).

As an administrator, Hakim guided Seaholm High School (2020) and Birmingham Covington School (2023) to receive the highly coveted National School of Character designation through Character.Org. He served as principal of Birmingham Covington School during the COVID-19 pandemic and created an effective instructional platform that prioritized students’ academic and personal well-being. He also contributed to various district committees in Birmingham Public Schools, including the district’s Diversity Council and K-12 College and Career Readiness Committee.

“Detroit PBS produces fresh educational content while delivering PBS programming that resonates with families and students of all ages,” said Hakim. “I am excited to lead this outstanding education team that includes experienced educators who continue to deliver high-quality, research-informed educational resources and experiences that support and cultivate a lifelong learner, cradle to career. We want all children to have access to high-quality educational materials, content, and experiences that help them flourish as individuals, citizens, and critical thinkers who are ready to meet the challenges of a diverse, ever-changing world and future workforce.”

Hakim holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master in Education from Oakland University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University where he was a recipient of the Keith Goldhammer Endowed Scholarship in Educational Administration.

He is committed to diversity, engagement, and civil discourse. Among his many notable accomplishments, he was awarded international fellowships in education from organizations including Fulbright and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He participated in Harvard University’s Globalizing the Classroom Fellowship in partnership with Harvard University’s Project Zero, which enhanced his expertise in global education.

Detroit PBS
Serving Southeast Michigan, Detroit PBS is Michigan’s largest and most watched television station, with the most diverse public television audience in the country. Each week, more than 2 million people watch Detroit PBS’s five broadcast channels, and nearly 200,000 people listen to its radio station, 90.9 WRCJ, for classical days and jazzy nights. In addition, Detroit PBS is building the next generation of public media with a rapidly growing digital presence, which now reaches more than half a million unique visitors through its website, YouTube channels, and social media platforms each month. For more information, visit DPTV.org.

The Michigan Learning Channel (MLC)

Launched by all the state’s public television stations, the Michigan Learning Channel (MLC) delivers instructional content to students, parents, and teachers, using a wide variety of media platforms, including a system of dedicated broadcast channels. It makes curriculum-aligned and teacher-tested content universally available, overcoming limitations in online access for rural and urban areas alike. The programming has been developed in consultation with leading educators and community leaders across the state. The MLC was conceived and organized by Detroit PBS. Major funding for the Michigan Learning Channel comes from the State of Michigan and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. For more information, visit MichiganLearning.org.