Natalie Bien-Aime
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Home
School board
Board of Education Member, Detroit Community School District
4 Year Term
- Vote for
- 4
- Term
- 4 years
- Candidates
- 31
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
What this office does: A school board member is one of the officials who set policy, approve the budget and hire the superintendent of the school district.
Michelle Broughton
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Katrina Brown
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Cidney Calloway
No party listed
Office manager, KPMG
The gist
- Pledges to prioritize budget transparency, literacy and special education
- Supports dedicated yellow school buses for every high school
- Supports keeping academic interventions and reducing class sizes
- Supports following the federal holiday calendar rather than adding Eid
- Supports Know Your Rights training for all staff and families
More about Cidney
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Pledges to prioritize budget transparency, literacy and special education
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“My top three priorities include, but are not limited to, transparency around the budget for the families, literacy with an emphasis on comprehension”
Supports dedicated yellow school buses for every high school
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“The school system should invest in dedicated yellow school buses to every high school.”
Supports keeping academic interventions and reducing class sizes
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“DPSCD should prioritize the continued investment in the academic intervention program, our parent academy, and focus on reducing class size”
Supports following the federal holiday calendar rather than adding Eid
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“The school district should abide by the federal holiday calendar, but should encourage culturally relevant celebration and education in the schools”
Supports Know Your Rights training for all staff and families
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“All staff, students, families and the community should participate in Know Your Rights training”
Bobby Christian
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Nicole Conaway
No party listed
Teacher, Hamtramck Public Schools
The gist
- Supports rescinding four school closings and replacing the superintendent
- Proposes ending all non-mandated standardized testing
- Opposes automatically closing any school
- Supports keeping Eid al-Fitr as a district holiday
- Supports a sanctuary policy keeping ICE away from schools
More about Nicole
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Supports rescinding four school closings and replacing the superintendent
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Rescind the closing of Clarke, Catherine Blackwell, Ann Arbor Trail, and Greenfield Union schools; firing Vitti and hiring a new superintendent”
Proposes ending all non-mandated standardized testing
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“End all non mandated standardized testing and advocate to minimize state required testing”
Opposes automatically closing any school
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“No school should ever be “automatically closed”.”
Supports keeping Eid al-Fitr as a district holiday
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“The district recognized the Eid al-Fitr holiday in 2022 in direct response to student led action. Reversing that decision is a betrayal to those students.”
Supports a sanctuary policy keeping ICE away from schools
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“We need a real sanctuary policy to keep ICE away from our schools.”
Vilma Escamilla Duran
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Daniel Ferguson III
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Duane Larry Grigsby, Jr.
No party listed
Property management business owner
The gist
- Pledges to prioritize student achievement, attendance and parent communication
- Supports pairing parental attendance accountability with support
- Opposes automatically closing schools based on per-student cost
- Supports recognizing Eid al-Fitr on the district calendar
- Supports mandatory training on responding to immigration enforcement
More about Duane
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Pledges to prioritize student achievement, attendance and parent communication
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“My three priorities are student success and attendance, parent engagement and communication, and preparing students for life after graduation.”
Supports pairing parental attendance accountability with support
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Yes, parents have responsibility for their children’s attendance, but accountability must be paired with understanding and support.”
Opposes automatically closing schools based on per-student cost
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I would not support automatically closing a school simply because it appears on a cost-per-student list.”
Supports recognizing Eid al-Fitr on the district calendar
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Yes. I support recognizing Eid al-Fitr on the DPSCD calendar through the appropriate district and collective-bargaining process.”
Supports mandatory training on responding to immigration enforcement
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I support mandatory, legally reviewed procedural training for employees on how to respond if immigration enforcement personnel arrive at a DPSCD school.”
David Harris
No party listed
Educator, Detroit 9090
The gist
- Pledges to expand evidence-based interventions for learning loss
- Supports parental accountability only after support is offered
- Opposes automatic closure of small schools
- Supports making Eid al-Fitr a permanent district holiday
- Supports protecting literacy and math intervention as funds expire
- Supports immigration-enforcement rights training for student-facing staff
More about David
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Pledges to expand evidence-based interventions for learning loss
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“DPSCD must aggressively address learning loss and academic gaps by expanding evidence-based interventions”
Supports parental accountability only after support is offered
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“However, accountability should begin with support, not punishment.”
Opposes automatic closure of small schools
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Small schools deserve thoughtful solutions, not automatic closure.”
Supports making Eid al-Fitr a permanent district holiday
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Yes, I believe DPSCD should recognize Eid al-Fitr as a permanent addition to the district calendar.”
Supports protecting literacy and math intervention as funds expire
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“First, I would prioritize high-quality literacy and math intervention”
Supports immigration-enforcement rights training for student-facing staff
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I believe all DPSCD staff who interact with students and families should receive appropriate training on the rights of students and families”
C. Allan Hubbard
No party listed
DPSCD mathematics academic interventionist; managing director, WhyteRock
The gist
- Pledges to prioritize academic achievement and attendance
- Supports graduated, restorative parental accountability for absences
- Proposes a K–8 literacy and math mastery guarantee
- Supports protecting academic interventionists and tutoring after settlement funds end
- Supports adding Eid al-Fitr to the district calendar
- Supports mandatory Know Your Rights training for staff
More about C.
View sources (1)
Pledges to prioritize academic achievement and attendance
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“My three priorities are 1) academic achievement and attendance; 2) future readiness and student opportunity; and 3) organizational health and public trust.”
Supports graduated, restorative parental accountability for absences
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“accountability should be graduated, restorative, and responsive to why a student is absent”
Proposes a K–8 literacy and math mastery guarantee
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“My top 3 changes are 1) a K–8 Foundational Mastery Guarantee in literacy and mathematics.”
Supports protecting academic interventionists and tutoring after settlement funds end
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“My top three priorities are: 1) academic interventionists and tutoring”
Supports adding Eid al-Fitr to the district calendar
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“In principle, I support adding Eid al-Fitr to the district calendar.”
Supports mandatory Know Your Rights training for staff
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I would have supported mandatory Know Your Rights training, but I would not rely on a contract provision alone.”
Henrietta Ivey
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Tabrian C. Joe
No party listed
Mail handler, U.S. Postal Service
The gist
- Opposes holding parents accountable for chronic absenteeism
- Supports vocational education for all high school students
- Proposes suing the state for education reparations
- Supports keeping small schools open with added resources
- Supports recognizing Eid al-Fitr permanently on the calendar
- Supports mandatory safety training for all staff, including on immigration
More about Tabrian
View sources (1)
Opposes holding parents accountable for chronic absenteeism
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“No, parents should not be held “accountable” for students’ chronic absenteeism, because this is the responsibility of the school district.”
Supports vocational education for all high school students
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“make vocational education available for all high school students, and bring back phonics to improve reading and comprehension for all students”
Proposes suing the state for education reparations
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“by suing the state and demanding Detroit get education reparations for the academic harm and lost during the many years of state takeover”
Supports keeping small schools open with added resources
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“We should be promoting these schools as small class-size schools and providing the necessary resources and wrap around services to keep them open.”
Supports recognizing Eid al-Fitr permanently on the calendar
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Yes, I support Eid al-Fitr being recognized permanently on the district’s calendar.”
Supports mandatory safety training for all staff, including on immigration
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Yes, all DPSCD teachers and staff should receive all training to keep all students safe, especially our immigrant students.”
Shinese Johnson
No party listed
Director, Primary Substance Use Prevention Services, The Youth Connection
The gist
- Pledges to strengthen literacy and math through early intervention
- Supports parental attendance accountability that begins with support
- Opposes closing schools simply for being small or costly
- Supports expanding college, career, military and trades pathways
- Supports considering an Eid al-Fitr holiday through a review process
More about Shinese
View sources (1)
Pledges to strengthen literacy and math through early intervention
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I will strengthen literacy and mathematics through evidence-based instruction, early intervention, expanded tutoring, and accountability.”
Supports parental attendance accountability that begins with support
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I believe they should be held accountable for making school attendance a priority. However, accountability should begin with support, not punishment.”
Opposes closing schools simply for being small or costly
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I do not believe DPSCD should close schools simply because they are small or expensive to operate.”
Supports expanding college, career, military and trades pathways
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I want to expand college, career, military, and skilled trades opportunities.”
Supports considering an Eid al-Fitr holiday through a review process
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I am open to recognizing Eid al-Fitr as a permanent district holiday, but that decision should be made through a thoughtful, transparent process.”
Theodore Jones
No party listed
Senior director of Opportunity Neighborhoods, Global Detroit
The gist
- Proposes raising district enrollment to 65,000 students
- Proposes college, skilled trades and entrepreneurship pathways for every student
- Supports making Eid a permanent district holiday
- Supports prioritizing staff pay despite financial uncertainty
- Proposes renting space in under-enrolled schools to childcare operators
- Supports barring ICE enforcement entry to school buildings
More about Theodore
View sources (1)
Proposes raising district enrollment to 65,000 students
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“by the end of four years to raise enrollment in the District to 65,000 students”
Proposes college, skilled trades and entrepreneurship pathways for every student
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“The Jones CSE Plan is to ensure that we have strong pathways for every student to either go to College or university, expand Skilled trades”
Supports making Eid a permanent district holiday
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Yes, I wholeheartedly agree that the Eid holiday should be a permanent addition to the District’s calendar.”
Supports prioritizing staff pay despite financial uncertainty
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“paying our teachers, administrators, and staff what they deserve should always be a priority no matter the amount of financial uncertainty we face”
Proposes renting space in under-enrolled schools to childcare operators
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“offer the chance to rent one classroom or more in the under-enrolled school”
Supports barring ICE enforcement entry to school buildings
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I would ensure that school buildings do not permit entry to ICE for enforcement actions”
Georgia Mae Lemmons
No party listed
Retired Detroit Public Schools teacher
The gist
- Pledges to improve achievement, attendance and enrollment
- Proposes capping primary-grade classes at 15 students
- Opposes closing schools
- Supports protecting primary literacy, physical education and music
- Supports giving students the Eid holiday off
More about Georgia
View sources (1)
Pledges to improve achievement, attendance and enrollment
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“My three top priorities for DPSCD are improving academic achievement, improving chronic absenteeism, and increasing student enrollment.”
Proposes capping primary-grade classes at 15 students
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“The district should make sure the primary grades have a classroom size of 15 or less students.”
Opposes closing schools
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I think the district should not close schools.”
Supports protecting primary literacy, physical education and music
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“number two the district should maintain physical education as well as music instruction”
Supports giving students the Eid holiday off
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I think it would be great if students are able to have the Eid holiday off”
LaMar D. Lemmons
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Clement O. Lett
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Phil Lloyd II
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Darious Morris
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Liana Mulholland
No party listed
Employee, Gift of Life Michigan
The gist
- Supports reopening the four schools closed last year
- Supports restoring virtual education for students who want it
- Opposes closing small schools that meet students' needs
- Supports making Eid a permanent district holiday
- Opposes allowing ICE into schools even with a warrant
More about Liana
View sources (1)
Supports reopening the four schools closed last year
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Stopping the closing of Thurgood Marshall Elementary and reopening the four schools closed last year, including Ann Arbor Trail magnet.”
Supports restoring virtual education for students who want it
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Restoration of virtual education for those who want it.”
Opposes closing small schools that meet students' needs
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“but a small school meets the needs of students, then it must remain open”
Supports making Eid a permanent district holiday
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Eid should be a permanent DPSCD holiday.”
Opposes allowing ICE into schools even with a warrant
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“We cannot accept that we must allow ICE into our schools if they have a warrant.”
Tyshea Pope
No party listed
School counselor, Chandler Park Academy
The gist
- Pledges to strengthen reading, math, career pathways and attendance
- Supports parental accountability that begins with partnership
- Supports career pathways starting in middle school
- Supports preserving school mental health and support services
- Supports a permanent Eid al-Fitr holiday if feasible
More about Tyshea
View sources (1)
Pledges to strengthen reading, math, career pathways and attendance
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Strengthen Reading, Math, Career Pathways, and Attendance: Every student deserves a strong academic foundation.”
Supports parental accountability that begins with partnership
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Yes, I believe parents should have a level of accountability, but accountability should begin with partnership, not punishment.”
Supports career pathways starting in middle school
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Students should have access to career pathways beginning in middle school”
Supports preserving school mental health and support services
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Second, preserve student support services.”
Supports a permanent Eid al-Fitr holiday if feasible
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I would support making it a permanent part of the calendar”
DaNetta L. Simpson
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Tawanna Simpson
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Jameel Montgomery Smith
No party listed
Director of psychotherapy services, Henry Ford Health
The gist
- Pledges to hold the superintendent accountable for measurable results
- Opposes punitive approaches toward parents over absences
- Supports high-dosage tutoring to accelerate reading and math
- Supports protecting early literacy in budget decisions
- Supports weighing boundary changes and mergers for small schools
More about Jameel
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Pledges to hold the superintendent accountable for measurable results
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“holding the superintendent accountable for measurable results, using data to monitor progress”
Opposes punitive approaches toward parents over absences
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“However, research does not support punitive approaches toward parents as an effective solution.”
Supports high-dosage tutoring to accelerate reading and math
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“accelerate reading and math proficiency through evidence-based interventions like high-dosage tutoring”
Supports protecting early literacy in budget decisions
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“My first priority would be protecting early literacy because reading proficiency is the foundation for success in every subject.”
Supports weighing boundary changes and mergers for small schools
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Other considerations could include school boundary adjustments, combining grade configurations, and merging schools.”
Calesther Smith-Arnold
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Terry E. Whitfield
No party listed
After-school professional and nonprofit consultant, TEWday Strategies
The gist
- Pledges to continue the district's literacy and achievement focus
- Supports shared, not parent-only, accountability for attendance
- Opposes school closures as a default response to finances
- Supports seriously considering a permanent Eid al-Fitr holiday
- Supports all staff knowing district ICE procedures
More about Terry
View sources (1)
Pledges to continue the district's literacy and achievement focus
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“continue the District’s focus on literacy and academic achievement by setting clear goals, monitoring progress, and aligning resources”
Supports shared, not parent-only, accountability for attendance
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Yes, but accountability should be shared—not placed solely on parents.”
Opposes school closures as a default response to finances
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“They should never be the default response to financial challenges.”
Supports seriously considering a permanent Eid al-Fitr holiday
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I believe DPSCD should seriously consider making Eid al-Fitr a permanent part of the school calendar”
Supports all staff knowing district ICE procedures
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“I believe every member of the school community should have a clear understanding of DPSCD’s policies and procedures for interacting with immigration enforcement.”
Elizabeth A. Williams
No party listed
The gist
- Supports a consolidated metropolitan-wide school district
- Opposes standardized testing
- Opposes punishing parents over chronic absenteeism
- Opposes raising administrator salaries over classroom spending
- Opposes allowing ICE into schools, with or without a warrant
More about Elizabeth
View sources (1)
Supports a consolidated metropolitan-wide school district
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“fight for consolidated metropolitan-wide district with a plan for desegregation”
Opposes standardized testing
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Thinking critically means not teaching to the test: no standardized testing.”
Opposes punishing parents over chronic absenteeism
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“No, more punishment is not what’s needed for anyone in Detroit.”
Opposes raising administrator salaries over classroom spending
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Our priority should be funding the improvement of teachers’ working and students’ learning conditions not inflating the salaries of administrators”
Opposes allowing ICE into schools, with or without a warrant
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“with or without a warrant they should not be allowed in”
Theresa Williams
No party listed
The gist
No documented position found.
Steve Bland, Jr.
No party listedIncumbent
Minister, Liberty Temple Baptist Church
The gist
- Pledges to prioritize student literacy and reducing chronic absenteeism
- Supports parental responsibility for attendance, backed by support services
- Proposes redirecting unused Title funds and cutting low-performing programs
- Supports combining under-enrolled schools as an option
- Opposes adding holidays that lengthen the school year
- Supports staff training on existing immigration-enforcement policies
More about Steve
View sources (1)
Pledges to prioritize student literacy and reducing chronic absenteeism
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Increase in Student literacy (reading, writing, job readiness, college prep. and critical thinking)”
Supports parental responsibility for attendance, backed by support services
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“parents should make sure either directly or indirectly their children attend school every day they possibly can”
Proposes redirecting unused Title funds and cutting low-performing programs
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Tightening the belt on low producing programs and repurposing those dollars is a third.”
Supports combining under-enrolled schools as an option
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“a plan to combine schools has been and continues to be an option to fill seats”
Opposes adding holidays that lengthen the school year
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“So to add more holidays directly extends the academic school year.”
Supports staff training on existing immigration-enforcement policies
Detroit school board voter guide: candidate questionnaire responsesCandidate questionnaire · Chalkbeat Detroit · s3.amazonaws.com
“Yes, having training sessions to implement existing policies is key.”
Bessie L. Harris
No party listedIncumbent
Retired DPSCD educator
The gist
- Pledges to prioritize special education and school accountability
- Supports paying students to attend school
- Opposes closing more neighborhood schools
- Supports putting Eid on the district calendar
- Proposes bringing back middle school home economics and wood shop
- Supports optional Know Your Rights training for employees
More about Bessie
View sources (1)
Pledges to prioritize special education and school accountability
Detroit 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
Detroit 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
Detroit 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
Detroit 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
Detroit 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”
Supports optional Know Your Rights training for employees
Detroit 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.”
Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.