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Campaign Phone
517-540-9613
Number of years as resident
9
• Lou Ann Lathrop is seeking a position on the Hartland School Board because she cares deeply about the direction of the local schools and wants to help ensure student safety, academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, and common-sense decision-making in the district. She believes her 40 years of experience as an engineer analyzing systems, improving performance, eliminating waste, and creating long-term solutions can benefit the school board. She wants to bring a data-driven, quality-focused mindset to help keep the district moving forward and ensure students have the tools to become productive citizens.
She also states that, as a lifelong STEAM advocate, former collegiate athlete, and community member, she is motivated by a desire to help every student in Hartland succeed.
40 years of professional experience in systems improvement, workforce recruitment, and performance management - working in large organizations and managing complex operational challenges.
Recognition as an ASQ Fellow, a distinguished professional honor in the field of quality and performance improvement.
A self-described data-driven and quality-focused approach, with experience analyzing complex systems, eliminating waste, and building frameworks for long-term organizational success. She says she wants to bring this mindset to the school board.
Community and educational involvement as a lifelong STEAM advocate, former collegiate athlete but lifelong athlete, and long-time local resident who cares about the future of Hartland schools.
In summary, her strongest stated qualifications are her extensive engineering and management background, advanced education, expertise in organizational improvement, and commitment to the local community.
Per US News
“If the best schools in the United States are considered a 10/10 academically, Hartland would likely be around a 7.5-8.5/10. It is a top-tier district within Michigan and a very good suburban public school, but it does not have the exceptionally high test scores, selectivity, or national academic reputation of the country's elite magnet and exam-based high schools. Based on U.S. News rankings, Hartland High School ranks#117 in Michigan and#3,081 nationally, placing it solidly above average but well below the nation's most elite high schools.”
The Athletics are a strength for team building and developing grit. The Band is awesome! And the extracurriculars are outstanding. The community is solidly behind the school system.
Lou Ann Lathrop is currently involved in the community in several volunteer leadership capacities:
• She serves as a Representative on the Livingston Leadership Council on Aging.
• She is the Vice Chair of the Livingston County Area Alano Club, a nonprofit organization that provides a safe and sober facility for individuals in recovery, their families, and the public. Her responsibilities include fundraising, volunteer recruitment, operations staffing, strategic planning, and organizing community events.
• She serves as a Chair of the Substance Use Disorders Treatment & Prevention Workgroup; a collaborative group of community stakeholders focused on substance use disorder treatment and prevention in Livingston County.
She is a member of the Hartland Chamber of Commerce, the Hartland Senior Center, the Livingston Gem and Mineral Society, The Questers, Hartland Farmer’s Market Vendor and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She attends St. Patrick/St. Mary Magdalen.
Campaign Phone
616-334-9788
Number of years as resident
4
I am running for the Hartland School Board to restore principled leadership, operational stability, and focused governance. A school board’s primary responsibility is clear: ensure every student receives a high-quality education in a safe, supportive environment, while providing teachers and administrators the resources and backing they need to succeed.
Effective public service requires collaboration, institutional knowledge, fiscal responsibility, and adherence to sound governance. When political conflict and grandstanding overshadow academic achievement, safety, and responsible oversight, district operations suffer.
My goal is to bring rational, objective decision-making back to the boardroom. I will support constructive oversight, uphold educational policy and safety requirements, protect taxpayer resources, and advance practical solutions that strengthen Hartland schools. Students, families, educators, and the community deserve a board focused on results—not division.
My military leadership experience has prepared me to lead with accountability, sound judgment, and a safety-first mindset. I have managed and led more than 3,000 Soldiers, where success depended on clear communication, disciplined planning, teamwork, and respect.
My strongest qualification for the Hartland School Board is school safety. As the Michigan Army National Guard’s Safety Officer, I have developed and enforced policies that protect personnel, identify risks, and maintain safe operations. I am trained in installation and school safety enhancements, with practical experience assessing vulnerabilities, improving emergency preparedness, and strengthening safe environments.
My experience includes service with a State Emergency Response Team, Department of War Active Shooter Response Team, and Fire Response Team. I will bring this background to support practical school-safety planning and work collaboratively with families, educators, law enforcement, and district leadership.
One of Hartland’s greatest strengths is its people. Our teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff remain deeply committed to student learning, often working in adverse conditions and with limited resources. Their professionalism, flexibility, and willingness to go beyond their formal responsibilities help ensure students continue to receive the attention and support they need. Our paraprofessionals and special education staff are especially critical in providing individualized assistance and maintaining continuity for students.
The district’s greatest challenge is ensuring that its resources match the needs of its students and staff. Staffing shortages, limited classroom materials, and the need for stronger support for special education can place added strain on educators and affect consistency across schools. The Board should focus on aligning resources with classroom needs, stabilizing staffing, and giving teachers and staff the tools necessary to help every student succeed.
I am actively involved in the Hartland community through school, youth, civic, public-safety, emergency-response, and veteran-support activities. I volunteer at Hartland schools and serve as PTO president, organizing fundraisers and community events that support students, teachers, and school programs. I also support HAYAA cheer and POM programs and volunteer at local events, including Hartland Winterfest.
I support Michigan State Police safety events, the State Emergency Response Team, and Department of War community-relations initiatives, including programs that build homes for veterans. I also volunteer at veteran events in Howell, help transport veterans to Department of Veterans Affairs medical appointments, and provide practical home services such as lawn mowing. In addition, I volunteer at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. These efforts keep me connected to the needs of students, families, veterans, and the broader community.
Campaign Phone
8104238847
Number of years as resident
40
Hartland Schools has given me so much, and I want to bring my skills and strengths to the district to help maintain and strengthen HCS as a premiere school of choice. Our community, our families, and our students deserve the best educational experience we can provide, and I want to serve in a position that helps make that happen
I'm at a point in my life where I'm fortunate enough to step away from corporate America and put that same passion, energy, and expertise directly into this district — at a time when public schools are navigating real challenges around funding, staffing, and public trust.
I believe that same approach — steady, collaborative, focused on people over politics — is exactly what a school board needs. I'm running now because I want to bring that mindset to Hartland at a time when staff and families need a board member who will show up prepared, ready to listen, and make decisions that support our students' success.
Professionally, I've led companies with over $100 million in revenue with hundreds of hourly and salaried employees, and managed multi-billion-dollar supply chains. I've sat at the collective bargaining table, worked collaboratively with union groups, and navigated countless high-pressure, sometimes controversial discussions. That experience taught me how to listen carefully to all sides of an issue, set my personal views aside, and focus on what's best for the organization as a whole, over the long term.
Outside of my years of professional experience, I am a lifelong Hartland resident and been associated with the school district for the better part of 40 years. I have seen the district grow from 5 schools to 9 and enrollment more than double.
I will bring my years of professional experience running large companies, knowledge of Hartland Schools and true common sense to the Hartland School board. I have no personal or political agendas, but support what is best for the district
Hartland Consolidated Schools has always been a premier school of choice and a destination for higher education. Test scores, safety, life readiness and academic achievement have always been staples for Hartland. The district does a great job of being financially stable and responsible but still providing a high level learning environment with top equipment, facilities and staffing.
With any organization, there are areas that can be improved and Hartland Schools are no different. One of the biggest issues rests in the community divide regarding political and social issues, when extends into the current school board. This divide has caused turmoil for the HCS staff and made for a less than stellar learning environment for the students
My ties to the Hartland and Livingston County community run long and deep. I am a 2004 graduate of Hartland High School, attending Hartland schools from preschool through graduation. My wife is a current teacher at Ore Creek Middle School and has been there for 17 years. We have 2 kids who currently attend Village Elementary.
I have coached HAYAA T ball and soccer for both my kids, volunteered at various field trips, field days and other student events. In addition, I run a small business within the community and well known through the community.
