VOTE411 Voter Guide

I am Dez’arae Adams, an educator, early childhood leader, mother, and Wayne-Westland community member with more than 15 years of experience in education. I currently serve as Director of Early Childhood at Wayne County RESA and have worked at the classroom, school, district, county, and statewide levels. I hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Michigan University and am a doctoral candidate at Walden University. I am running for Wayne-Westland School Board to bring my experience and perspective as an educator and parent to student-centered governance. I am committed to academic achievement, supporting educators, engaging families, responsible stewardship, and ensuring every student has opportunities to succeed.

The priority issues facing Wayne-Westland include improving student achievement, recruiting and retaining high-quality educators, strengthening family and community trust, ensuring safe and supportive schools, and responsibly managing district resources. If elected, I will use data to monitor student outcomes, advocate for resources and supports that strengthen teaching and learning, and promote meaningful family engagement. I will prioritize transparency, fiscal responsibility, and accountability while working collaboratively with fellow board members and district leadership to establish policies and goals that ensure every student has access to opportunities that prepare them for future success.

I have lived in Westland my whole life, having graduated from Wayne-Westland schools. I am currently raising my family in the district as well. I have my Bachelors in Special Education from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. My goal in running for office is to be a voice for students, staff, and families in the district. I would bring a teachers perspective to the board and focus on issues that matter most to those who help make up the district as a whole.

Improving testing scorers across the district, closing the COVID learning gap, addressing safety and security in the schools, supporting students interests and teachers needs.

I’m running because I care about the future of our children and I believe our schools are strongest when students succeed, educators are supported, and families and community have a voice. I want to listen, communicate and act. My goal is to help create safe, supportive schools where every child has the opportunity to thrive. My three goals are Student achievement-making sure your students have what they need to learn and succeed. Safe and supportive schools-creating an environment where students staff feel safe, supported and respected. Strong families and community relationships-improving communication, transparency, and trust between a district family educators, and community.

I believed three priority issues facing the Wayne-Westland school boards are doing are tier to student achievement, safe and supportive schools and strong relationships among families, educators, and community.

If elected first I would listen and ask questions. I would support reviewing student achievement data, identifying learning gaps early and making sure interventions and academic supports are reaching students who need it. I would support effective safety procedures, meaningful mental health resources and appropriate behavioral support for students and staff and I would encourage transparent communication, opportunities for families and employees to provide feedback and meaningful partnerships with the broader communities.

Melandie Hines is running for Re-Election for the Wayne Westland Board Of Education and she is President. I have served on the Wayne Westland Board of Education for over 12 years. I sit on several committees. I am appointed to serve on the Wayne County Women’s Commission by Glen Anderson and I’m serving my second term on the commission. I was just reappointed to serve on the City Of Westland’s Downtown Development Authority. I am the President of the Kiwanis Club of Wayne Westland & Surrounding Areas in which we are here to help with literacy, to make sure that every child can read. I also work as a Family Advocate for Starfish Family Services in Early Childhood Education for the GSRP program, I work in Admissions at Schoolcraft College.

The priority issues facing the Wayne Westand Community Schools is funding to make sure we have accurate funding for curriculum and activities for our students. We must pay fair wages to our employees and make sure their pensions are funded to attract the highest quality employees. We must make sure that we are creating an educational culture where the children are above standards when it comes to testing. Career technical advancement is important as well. I want to make sure that our kids have the skills to be able to compete in a competitive society. Skill Trades and pathways to free community college is a pathway to success. I have 12 years of experience managing the budget, curriculum, and passing vital union contracts to help employees.

I am a Wayne-Westland parent of three, community advocate, nonprofit leader, and communications professional. I hold a PhD in Educational Leadership and a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications. During the term I am seeking, I will have a child in high school, one in middle school, and one in elementary school in this district, all at the same time. I am running because I believe current Wayne-Westland parents need a voice on the Board of Education. Many of the issues facing our district, including transportation, attendance, and special education, are personal to my family. I want to bring that lived experience, along with my education, professional background, and years of community involvement, to the board table.

My priorities are transportation, special education, and attendance. I want to improve transportation reliability and ensure routes make sense for families and honor students’ IEPs when applicable. I also want to build on Wayne-Westland’s strong early childhood special education foundation by creating clearer continuity of services as students progress through the district and ensuring educators have the training and support they need. Improving attendance requires understanding why individual students are missing school, including transportation, health, family circumstances, disengagement, and other barriers, and connecting families with appropriate support before absences become chronic.