Dr. Michelle Howard-Brahaney

Dr. Michelle Howard-Brahaney serves as the Director for Student Excellence (DSE), Department of Defense Education Activity-Europe (DoDEA-Europe). As the Director for DoDEA schools in Europe, Dr. Howard-Brahaney oversees the operations of 64 schools located on U.S. military installations throughout eight countries in Europe. DoDEA-Europe schools are headquartered in Sembach, Germany and are structured into three districts which educate more than 26,000 students and employ more than 4,100 people.

Prior to her selection as Director, DoDEA-Europe, Dr. Howard-Brahaney served as the superintendent for DoDEA’s Europe South District. The Europe South District consists of 16 elementary, middle and high schools spread across Italy, Spain, Turkey, and Bahrain.

Hailing from Ottawa Lake, Michigan, Dr. Howard-Brahaney started her career as a middle school teacher for students with emotional and learning impairments. In 1999, she became a school administrator for the Monroe County Intermediate School District.

In 2009, Dr. Howard-Brahaney was named the Assistant Superintendent for Special Education and Early Childhood Services, leading a department of nearly 500 staff. In this role she served as liaison between the Michigan Department of Education and the local school districts of Monroe County. During this time, she was also appointed to several state-wide committees including the Early Literacy Task Force, School-Justice Partnership Coalition, and State Complaint and Resolution Procedures. Dr. Howard-Brahaney and her team implemented a number of successful county-wide initiatives, including a multi-tiered systems of support; “Project Graduation” to focus on school engagement and attendance; beginning educator induction programs; principal leadership trainings; and crisis response efforts. She also led many grant-funded activities and served as the primary author of the Early Head Start and Head Start grants.

Dr. Howard-Brahaney holds a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary and special education, a Master’s Degree in special education and an Educational Specialist Degree in Administration from Wayne State University. In 2016, she received her Doctorate of Philosophy in Theory and Social Foundations of Education from the University of Toledo, Ohio.

While working towards her degrees, Dr. Howard-Brahaney served as an adjunct professor at the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University, Ohio, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the College of Education.

Dr. Howard-Brahaney and her husband, Paul, currently reside in Winnweiler, Germany. They have three children, Michalea, Mason, and Chase. Michalea and Mason still reside in Michigan, while Chase is a United States Marine Corps officer serving in San Diego, California. Dr. Howard-Brahaney’s family history is steeped in military service. She is honored to serve military connected students and their families.