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Campaign Email
info@cid4thekids.com
Education
Detroit School of Arts, c/o 2010
Campaign Website
Cid4thekids.com
As a DPS graduate, former DPSCD employee, past co-chair of the Detroit Reparations Task Force, and lifelong servant leader, I have a deep understanding of the school system. My work with the Detroit Association of Women’s Clubs and my time with DPSCD have given me the skills to advocate for students and help them succeed. I know that Detroit’s future depends on the quality of education its students receive, and I'm ready to bring fresh energy and a youthful perspective to the board.
In addition to offering attendance incentives, I’d like to see better transportation options to and from schools. Providing dedicated school buses for all DPSCD students could help reduce absenteeism, while the incentives work to boost retention. I’m also interested in learning more about what our Attendance Agents do and what they’ve been observing, so we can strengthen our approach to tackling chronic absenteeism.
I want to be an approachable and accessible school member to help strengthen communication between the district and the community. I plan to hold office hours and invite stakeholders to connect with me. I’m eager to attend meetings and build genuine relationships with my neighbors, focusing on the partnerships we need to improve the district. I’m also committed to making the volunteer process clearer, especially for community members who may not have a direct connection to their local schools. By creating a straightforward path to volunteering, we can involve the whole community in making our schools better for students.
Campaign Email
Bobby@bobbychristian.org
Education
College
Campaign Website
Votebobbychristian.com
I’m the President of a youth organization. Called the eastside colts a 50 year old org. My group has taking that organization from 75 youth to 500 across wayne & Macomb county. I know how to engage families and youth. Mental health first aid certified. The reason why I’m running is because of we don’t get our school to compete with these other. DPSCD won’t exist in 10 years.
This absenteeism has a few layers. One being ability to make it to school. Another one is school now being a conducive learning environment, conditions are not up to par. For teachers or student. First thing we need to do is breakdown that budget to see what’s working and what’s not and get out babies the faculties that they need. We can all talk about literacy but if it’s 90 degrees outside and 90 inside the building. How can you focus.
That’s my specialty. The district should have every parent email and phone number. Just like these politicians text and call u. The schools in that community. Need to do the same. Also become a resource center for the parents. Show them that u care first and they will
Be loyal to you.
Campaign Email
nicole.comaway@ueaa.net
Education
MS University of Michigan Dearborn, BS Wayne State University, Michigan Certified Professional Teacher
Campaign Website
https://bit.ly/BAMNslate
I have been a teacher for 25 years and a leader in the fight for equal-quality public education and for the equal pay, benefits, and respect that Detroit students and teachers deserve. I served as Detroit Federation of Teachers building representative and as an elected DFT delegate to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) conventions and co-organized the wave of teacher sick-outs and student walk-outs to end emergency management As an organizer with the civil rights/immigrant rights group BAMN. I have vast experience, determination, and commitment to this fight for Detroit’s students, teachers, and communities.
The causes of chronic absenteeism are rooted in economic hardship - housing instability, lack of transportation, and related issues. School closings have caused many students to have to travel farther to get to school. Expanding transportation access is one important solution. Rather than contract to multiple private companies for transportation, we need to run the transportation department ourselves again. We can also providing online attendance for students who may need it for chronic illness and other prolonged absences. Each school needs laundry facilities to ensure students have access to clean clothes.
The board can encourage school leaders to invite parents to volunteer to share their skills with the school community. For example, when I taught at the Catherine Ferguson Academy I had a parent come in to teach Zumba. I also reached out to a local crochet club and got a volunteer to come in and teach a weekly class. I believe more parents and community members would like to be involved, but need to be invited and welcomed to provide a service that is meaningful to them and allows them to share their talents and skills. Some may want to provide academic support, but any positive experience they can offer students at school does ultimately increase student achievement and success. I believe it would help reduce chronic absenteeism also.
Campaign Email
V4DPSCD@gmail.com
Education
BSN-Wayne State University, BA-University of California, Santa Cruz
Campaign Website
www.vilma4dpscd.com
As a current DPSCD parent, I am going to be involved, no matter what happens, and I believe that is my biggest asset. Both of my kids are first graders so the decisions being made affect our family, our community, and future generations. School board members serve as the bridge between the district and the community and I have served in a similar capacity. In Detroit, I've raised awareness around special education and language justice because I believe community feedback is essential to meaningful change. I’m running because I’m already doing the work—and I will keep showing up.
Before focusing on more creating more policies around absenteeism, we need to be able to understand its root causes. Currently, I'm seeing punitive consequences and financial incentives being used to improve attendance. Accountability and encouragement are valid tools but we need to ask ourselves why students are missing school in the first place? Understanding those barriers should come first, so we can develop solutions that address the underlying issues like transportation barriers, immigration activity and fear, poverty, housing instability and others, rather than simply responding to the behavior.
In order to do so, we need to make the schools inviting and accessible to parents and community members. Too often, there are administrative hoops and disconnects between what parents and community members can and want to contribute and what the district needs. I’ve experienced this personally, including raising concerns about sensory overload and feeling that my feedback was not taken into account. As a former community outreach volunteer manager, I have experience in identifying the disconnect through intentional conversations that produce meaningful feedback. I'd love to utilize my experience to restore trust between staff and families so that all involved feel heard, respected, and included.
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Campaign Email
Aka4everuc@outlook.com
Education
Murray Wright High School, BS University of Detroit, MS University of Detroit
Campaign Website
Votebessieharris.org
Having served DPS students for 32 years, I have come up through the ranks serving as a Special Education Teacher, Resource Teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal. I have stood in the classrooms. I have walked the hallways. I have sat with families in their hardest moment and stood beside students in their proudest ones. I have come up through the ranks servicing our community. Because of my passion and calling to serve students being a board member allows me the opportunity to make and carry out policies that continue to take our students to greater heights of achievement and opportunities.
A policy that requires schools to identify students whose attendance is quickly approaching chronic absenteeism. Within this policy see what is the cause of the absenteeism and work with our families.
Make sure our schools are parent friendly. Make the schools a welcoming place for our parents. Provide parent resource rooms within our buildings. Provide workshops/meetings geared to parents. Find out what parents want
Campaign Email
info@davidharrisforschoolboard.com
Education
Sociology (B.S.), Secondary Math Education (Master's), Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (Ph.D. Candidate)
Campaign Website
davidharrisforschoolboard.com
I am a Detroit resident, parent, and educator with more than 10 years of experience teaching math and supporting students through intervention. I have a Master’s in Secondary Mathematics Education and advanced graduate work in Educational Leadership. I also attended DPSCD schools and am the son of a longtime DPSCD teacher.
I am running because I believe Detroit students deserve safe schools, great teachers, strong academic support, and a clear path to college, career, and life. I would bring a classroom perspective, a focus on math and literacy intervention, and a commitment to serving Detroit families.
I believe absenteeism is a citywide community issue, not simply an individual student issue. The Board should consider attendance agents at schools with the highest absenteeism, expand transportation outreach to reach students across Detroit, and partner with community organizations to provide home-to-school transportation where needed. I would also explore partnerships with DDOT to provide free transportation for DPSCD students, with appropriate safety support for younger students. We need the entire city involved in getting students to school consistently.
I would create an “Open Door” initiative that gives parents a reason to come into their child’s school every week. Schools could host fun, welcoming events like “Coffee with the Principal,” “Donuts with the Dean,” or “Bagels with Security.” I would also explore meaningful incentives for consistent participation, such as an annual family technology giveaway for parents who attend every PTC or parent meeting. Participation would be carefully documented to ensure fairness, transparency, and fidelity.
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I have six years of experience serving as a Board Member of Detroit Public Schools Community District. I have over thirty years experience as a classroom teacher with the Detroit Public Schools District. I am also a member of The Michigan Association of School Boards. These qualifications give me a unique insight into being equipped to make the best possible policies to improve the educational system for all Detroit Public Schools Community District students. I am running to make sure the interests of students are always at the top of every agenda. Students need to know that they are valued and heard as individuals.
Detroit Public Schools Community District needs to inform parents of attendance expectations. The district also needs to inform students of their attendance expectations. The district needs to engage parents and students as soon as attendance is decreasing. The district through the individual schools need to provide all necessary support services to keep students in class. The district can also refer parents and students to all available resources in the community to help with overcoming challenges to increase school attendance.
The board can offer workshops covering a variety of topics throughout the year. The schools can invite parents to all activities planned at the school. Parents need to know that they are welcome and that they are needed. Encourage parents to visit and volunteer their time as much as possible. Invite parents to small gatherings to show your support. Have activities that include the whole family. Invite grandparents to volunteer as they sometimes have more time available than parents.
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Campaign Email
ElectBAMNforDPSCD2026@gmail.com
Education
Cass Tech High School class of 2005, UofM Class of 2009
Campaign Website
https://linktr.ee/BAMN_Slate?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4
To win the education Detroit deserves, the School Board must lead the fight to defeat Trump’s fascist movement.
I’ve been organizing as a civil/immigrant leader since age 13, and have been an outspoken leader in the fight for equal, integrated, quality education since the original state takeover. I helped lead the successful fight to end years of emergency management. I’ve walked picket lines with teachers, city workers, UAW workers, and walked out with students. I’ve organized to stop/block ICE to keep our communities/students safe. No more business as usual! We need movement leaders and fighters on our school board.
Chronic absenteeism is caused by economic hardship - housing instability, lack of transportation, etc. School closings have made many commute farther. I will rescind the recent closure of 4 schools and expand transportation access by restoring DPSCD busing to public control, which will provide more consistent transportation. I will provide online attendance for students with chronic illness, or other prolonged absences. City government can and should play a role in alleviating the poverty that leads to chronic absenteeism by creating a Guaranteed basic income for Detroit as has been done in Los Angeles and Chicago.
Parents should join their students and teachers in building community defense guard networks to stop and block ICE, based on the example set by Minneapolis and LA. As a board member, I will facilitate the organization of these defense guards at every school- because we know that no student can be safe until every student is safe.
Furthermore, I intend to hold “office hours” at rotating locations throughout the district, so that parents and students can speak directly to me and together we can find the solutions they need.
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Campaign Email
committee@electjameelsmith.com
Education
Doctor of Philosophy School Psychology; Michigan State University
Campaign Website
electjameelsmith.com
I am a proud DPS and Cass Tech graduate, licensed psychologist, former teacher and school psychologist, healthcare leader, and mom. I bring experience in education, child development, organizational leadership, and governance, including service as Chair of the Detroit Board of Ethics. I’m running because I know what Detroit schools can offer, but I also know what it is like when a child’s needs are not met. I will bring steady, student-centered leadership focused on literacy, special education, accountability, and transparency, using data, collaboration, and strong oversight to help improve outcomes for every student.
Chronic absenteeism requires accountability while recognizing why students miss school. The Board can set clear expectations for early intervention and regularly monitor attendance data by school and student group. We must determine whether interventions are working and address barriers such as transportation, mental health, school climate, and academic disengagement. As a psychologist and former educator, I believe we must ask not only, “Why isn’t this child in school?” but “What is keeping this child from school?” The Board must monitor results and hold the administration accountable for improvement.
Parents are essential partners in student success. The Board can set expectations for meaningful family engagement and monitor participation across schools to identify where additional support is needed. We should reduce barriers by offering flexible meeting times, clear and consistent communication, accessible volunteer processes, and multiple ways for families to participate. Schools can also strengthen partnerships with neighborhood, faith, alumni, and community organizations to bring more volunteers and resources into our schools. Most importantly, we must listen to parents, create welcoming environments for their involvement, and ensure their voices meaningfully inform school and district decisions.
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