Bessie L. Harris
Candidate for Board of Education Member, Detroit Community School District, 4 Year Term
Background
- Occupation
- Retired DPSCD educator
A sitting member of the Detroit Public Schools Community District board, appointed last year to finish a resigned member's term. Retired after 32 years in the district as a special education teacher, resource teacher, assistant principal and principal.
Documented positions
Public safety
Supports optional Know Your Rights training for employees
ReportDetroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I believe all employees within the district should be trained making it an option not mandatory.”
Education
Pledges to prioritize special education and school accountability
ReportDetroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“My top 3 priorities are: (1) Exceptional Student Education (2) Transparent accountability”
Supports paying students to attend school
ReportDetroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“the pay incentive that pays our students (middle school and high school) to attend school. It has decreased absenteeism.”
Opposes closing more neighborhood schools
ReportDetroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“No more school closures for our neighborhood schools.”
Supports putting Eid on the district calendar
ReportDetroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Eid Holiday should be acknowledged and recognized by the district and placed on the school calendar.”
Proposes bringing back middle school home economics and wood shop
ReportDetroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“At the middle school level I would bring back home economics and wood shop”
Other issues in this race
Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from Bessie L. Harris on them.
- Taxes & budgetNo documented position found.
- Roads & infrastructureNo documented position found.
- Health & human servicesNo documented position found.
- Courts & justiceNo documented position found.
All sources (4)
- Official Candidate List, November 3, 2026 General Election
Election filing · Wayne County Clerk · waynecountymi.gov
- Sample ballots, November 3, 2026 State General Election: Wayne County (every precinct)
Election filing · Michigan Department of State, Michigan Voter Information Center · mvic.sos.state.mi.us
- Voter guide: Meet the candidates running for the Detroit school board
News coverage · Chalkbeat Detroit · chalkbeat.org
- Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responses
Candidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.