Clifford E. Davis, former Principal of Saginaw High School, Webber Middle School and the Ruben Daniels Lifelong Learning Center in Saginaw retired on Jan. 22, 2008, ending his 36-year career with the Saginaw Public Schools. Mr. Davis is honored in this scholarship, The Clifford E. Davis Youth Leadership Scholarship, supporting emerging leadership talents in which he fostered in countless students over the course of his many years in educational administration.

Mr. Davis began his Saginaw Public Schools career in 1971 as an assistant principal of Saginaw High School. He later became director of Ruben Daniels Lifelong Learning Center where he taught the concept of “lifelong learning” to adults and increased the number of adult high school graduates. As principal of Webber Middle School for 11 years, he successfully led staff and student reform to improve student achievement and personal responsibility. During his last three years with the district as principal at Saginaw High, he helped implement the Kansas University’s Strategic Instruction Model that is designed to impact test scores and student learning. He showed his students that the world is much larger than Saginaw by supporting student trips to Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon and Freeport, Bahamas.

“I appreciate the opportunity to have worked and serve the Saginaw community,” explains Davis. “With the support of board members, various superintendents and colleagues, I have helped students develop the skills, habits and values that will take them through life. My career has been rewarding.”

Cliff Davis is a quality educator, one who demonstrated a commitment to students, listened to and involved staff and parents, understood curriculum and instruction, lead others by example, and inspired trust and confidence.

Throughout his career, he has shown the human qualities that we all want to impart to our children – kindness, compassion, understanding, humor and humility. These are traits that all students and staff have seen in him as a school administrator.