Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
My name is Deshawn Jackson. I am proud to say that I was a public school teacher for 20 + years. I have a Bachelors Degree in Music Education and a Masters Degree in Education Administration. I served as a music teacher for several years before I was switched to 3rd grade (in which I became the lead 3rd grade teacher), until my departure. I also served as a technology coach in which I was able to train other teachers on best practices in technology within the classroom.
I am running for school board to be an advocate for children, teachers, and parents. It goes without saying that a school board leader should advocate for children. Being an advocate for teachers is another one of my goals. I know and understand their plight and how they are the frontlines when it comes to educating our students. Finally, I want to be an advocate for parents. I believe we can assist them by offering parent workshops and informational meetings to ease possible intimidation with teachers and admin.
We have a few issues we are facing. One of them is student enrollment. This is something that many Michigan schools are struggling with. However, we must find our way to break through that barrier. Through research, I’ve learned that many children within our district are attending the neighboring schools. We must present a come back/stay home campaign in the upcoming school years. We must highlight the wonderful things our district has to offer and we must improve student achievement which is one of the inequities. We also have a budget issue that must be nurtured back to health. When districts are in this situation, hard decisions must be made. I will assist in making decisions concerning the budget that will cause non to minimal deficits within the classroom until the budget is healthy again. These issues have occured in the past in many districts and can be fixed. I believe with the right strategy we can get it done.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Heather Perryman Tanks is my name. I’ve been a resident of Oak park for 48 years now. Both parents are and were educators. The school system is for our children to learn and to grow into young adults. What I’ve learned is that people are in the system for different reasons. My heart is here for the children and community only. There is no alternative for me. It’s imperative that we protect that. I will always speak up for right. Never wrong.
Enrollment- I will insured we will find all measures to improve it every year.
Culture- to insure that our moral stays at the highest standard. Respect is always key
Test scores- it’s important to throughly evaluate and research the ways to bring our scores above standards.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
I am running for School Board because I believe every child deserves access to a high-quality education, a safe and supportive learning environment, and the opportunity to reach their full potential. I am committed to serving our students, families, educators, and community with integrity, accountability, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Throughout my personal and professional life, I have developed a deep appreciation for the importance of education and the role it plays in strengthening individuals, families, and our entire community. My experiences have taught me the value of listening, working collaboratively, solving problems, and treating people with respect—even when there are differing opinions.
I am seeking a position on the School Board because I want to contribute to the continued success of our schools and help ensure that decisions are made with students' best interests at the center. My focus is special needs.
If elected to the Oak Park Board of Education, my three highest priorities would be improving academic achievement and student outcomes, strengthening special education and support for every student, and ensuring fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. I believe these priorities are interconnected. Students cannot succeed academically if they do not have the appropriate support, and schools cannot provide those supports effectively without responsible planning and stewardship of public resources.
