Continental Who's Who

John Telford

John Telford is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Pinnacle Lifetime Achiever in the field of education as a retired Superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools.

Dr. John Telford’s now retired after being in the field of education for 55 years currently serves as the Poet in Residence in the Detroit Public School Community District. Before serving Detroit Public Schools as the Superintendent, his areas of expertise are teaching, coaching, writing, and poetry. He was the, now retired after being in the field of education for 55 years.

Before embarking on his professional journey Dr. Telford attended from Wayne State University where he holds three degrees of Doctor of Education, Masters in Education/Curriculum Development and in addition to his Bachelor of Arts in English. He also taught where he represented the University as an NCAA and NAAU All-American in the 440-yard dash in 1957 and was undefeated at 400 meters in Europe that summer as a member of the U.S. national track team.

In addition to “The Longest Dash”— a now out-of-print techniques book on the quarter-mile, Dr. Telford has written six books available in local book stores and on amazon.com —“A Life on the RUN - Seeking & Safeguarding Social Justice”, “What OLD MEN Know - A Definitive Dictionary & Almanac of Advice”, “Creative Insubordination - 40 Successful Strategies”, “The Lifelong POETIC PRANCINGS of Mad John”, “Will the FIRST - The Saga of Sports/Civil-Rights Pioneer Will Robinson”, and “The Poet-Emperor of EARTH - An In-Depth Dialogue with The DEITY.”

John is in several Athletic Halls of Fame and continues to be a mentor for young and upcoming professionals across the globe.