The pandemic school closures made these persistent disparities even worse, and we have to act. 2. Also, increase training focused on mental health. James is a child advocate and nurse, with two children who have gone through AAPS and another still attending. The expected price of renting a two bedrooms in the 48105 zip code is $1,480/month. Prior to her election as Washtenaw County treasurer, McClary worked in the private sector as a stockbroker and investment advisor. In addition, I predict over the coming year the Board will become aware of challenges (some pandemic related, some not) that are currently hidden or havent been brought to the Boards attention. Address Opportunity Gaps in Education. Nov. 6, 1984: Is unopposed and wins re-election to another two-year term on the Washtenaw County board of commissioners, representing District 9 in Ann Arbor. She said her perspective as a refugee, person of color and growing up in poverty and her experience as a scientist, educator and healthcare worker qualifies her for the board. We can do better. Think about these terms: puberty blockers, gender fluidity, minor attracted persons, institutional racism, equity (equal outcomes), equality (equal opportunities), diversity, redistribution of wealth, marginalized, and misinformation. The savings in energy bills along will result in millions in the operations budget. There is no one main issue on which Im running, but I believe public schools are critically important to education, democracy, and building community. This is one major reason I want to give back to the public schools and serve our community, especially those that are struggling.Community centered schools can provide the support and guidance for people of color, underrepresented and marginalized religious groups. If we are serious about improving academic achievement, we must broaden our scope to include the ways we are inadvertently damaging student capacity for achievement through our inaction on social issues like racism, queerphobia and ableism. Baskett is the owner/operator of a licensed day care home, specializing in caring for children with special needs. I believe my experience, knowledge, energy and advocacy skills can be a positive influence on the boards collaborative process so that the decisions made will result in creating a school district that continually strives for that goal. 1998 - 20079 years. I love the city of Ann Arbor, and want to give back. When one school isnt performing as well as others, all schools arent performing as well as they could, and at the root of many student achievement problems are inequities that are made worse by misallocation of resources and systematic segregation of students by race and socioeconomic status. Her birth date was listed as 31-03-1948. As a member of the AAPS Board, Id like to help the district revisit the way in which its existing systems and processes perpetuate inequities between schools. And we need to trust our teachers to do their jobs, while giving them the autonomy to deliver an outstanding education in the way that they know best. An unwillingness to set down the ego in order to actively listen and to find out of the box solutions to real ongoing problems. 1. 4. In my personal anti-racism work, Ive learned that the best way to fight this racism is to get involved at the local policy level. Retain power at all costs. Heres a quick look at contested races on ballots in different parts of the county, excluding races where candidates are unopposed. As a veteran teacher my top priority has always been to make sure my students felt the classroom and the school was a safe place. Preparing AAPS students for a modern global workforce by engaging stakeholders to craft, high-quality, student-centered systems for AAPS. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Also, Governor Whitmers recently approved budget will give Michigan districts $9,000 per pupil, which is the highest amount in state history. To do this, we need to be wise with funding. She also has served on other nonprofit boards for the last nine years. I will request for more support for teachers and staff which includes increased salaries, more manageable workloads, increased resources, and dedicated time for other activities, such as committee involvement. MLive/The Ann Arbor News partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide candidate information for readers. Susan . Many people do not live up to the values they espouse. If I am unable to accomplish these goals, It wont be because I didnt have the will to get it done. It is also wonderful to see strong advocates for our children, who are the teachers. What needs to be done is to keep focused on doing what is right. It does not mean another $10 million in technology funding on more apps and devices, some of which are hardly used and parents dont want. Instead of using the term woke, the more accurate term is Communist. As the school board is changing so is the leadership at the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor City Council. Im especially concerned about incidents where the district wasnt listening or taking action when racially hostile experiences were brought up. MLive has partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide information to voters. Mott Childrens Hospital that are AAPS students. A students ability to learn is determined by a number of factors outside of the classroom (e.g., hunger, homelessness, poverty, violence, mental health, and unsafe environmental conditions); therefore we need a comprehensive approach to ensure that students have access to high-quality health care, financial support, and out-of school opportunities that support their success. Metoyer lost in the general election on November 8, 2022. ANN ARBOR, MI Voters across Washtenaw County have a long list of local and state-level races and ballot proposals to decide in the general election Tuesday, Nov. 8. This is a committed value that may initially cost more but in the long term, reduce some of our energy costs in the future. One major priority that I have is around making sure that we have counselors, special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and specialized teaching consultants to make sure that all learners, elementary students in particular, are learning to their maximum potential, particularly in reading and writing. . Lets start by developing a strong sense of community to solve these issues, with students, parents and teachers. Additionally, it is crucial that we ensure equitable funding throughout the district schools.Some of my priorities include: 1. Note: Supreme Court elections are nonpartisan and candidates party affiliation will not appear on the ballot, though they are nominated by political parties to run. Im an advocate for students of color, socioeconomically disadvantaged students, and students with special education needs. Also my lived experiences have shown me that systemic racism is still harming Ann Arbor students. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Join Facebook to connect with Paulette Metoyer and others you may know. We need to ensure that staff positions (e.g., the senior high school counselor) are paid competitively to similar positions at UM so that we retain our paraprofessionals. Do you have an issue you especially care about? Im worried that the teachers will be blamed (rather than the pandemic) and Im concerned that this will be added to teacher performance measures that are already inaccurate and ineffective. We need to protect what make our community so special. -Is money being spent on physical facilities in a way that is environmentally sustainable with an eye to the future?I intend to help facilitate substantive discussions on how we fulfill our fiscal responsibility as a board based solid information and data. Information on other state, county and local primary races can be found at Vote411.org. She has spent 25 years working with families and doing nonprofit board and advocacy work. DEIA -I plan to analyze DEIA needs and implement sustainable interventions to ensure these needs are addressed. I would also engage the educators, parents, the business community students, and everyone with a stake in public education to collectively determine a plan for funding and implementing the strategies from the Launch Michigan Framework (www.launchmichigan.org; the National Center of Educational Excellence and the Economy (www.ncee.org); Detroit Disability Power (https://www.detroitdisabilitypower.org); Center for Disability Justice (www.disabilityjustice.org) and the Therapist Neurodiversity Collaborative (www.therapistndc.org).Detailed policy proposals including how to develop Effective Teachers, Principles, and Administrators are available at: www.jeremylapham.info. I plan to analyze and address opportunity gaps in education to ensure consistency throughout the district. For the 2020 election in Michigan, the primary is Aug. 4 and the general election is Nov. 3.Milt Klingensmith | MLive.com. One important challenge right in front of us is keeping our district staffed to serve our community to the level of excellence we all expect. Learn more | all students who have low achievement scores or who were identified by teachers as in need for additional support. The district needs to find ways to be more competitive, to retain the amazing teachers we have, and keep them from burning out or going elsewhere. How we choose to respond to this ongoing public health crisis is a clear representation of the districts commitment to equity (or lack thereof). What should be done to improve student achievement in Ann Arbor? AAPSs decision to ignore the CDC and NEA guidance on continuing protections for those at highest risk for Covid is a huge concern for me. Elections 2022 See also: Ann Arbor Public Schools, Michigan, elections (2022) General election General election for Ann Arbor Board of Education At-large (4 seats) The pandemic did not bring out the best in people or organizations. A self-described queer, Puerto Rican Jew, Wood said her life experiences have shown her the ways the districts public commitment to equity and belonging falls short in practice for marginalized families. If it was not for the public schools, especially the teachers, I would not be where I am today. Except where otherwise noted, this content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. She is a graduate of Bach Elementary, Slauson Middle School and Pioneer High School, while earning a bachelors degree in sociology from the University of Michigan and an MBA in marketing from Duke University. We can solve these problems if these groups feel appreciated and included. It will be important to measure the immediate and long term impacts of expenditures when prioritizing them in the budget. McClary gets 5,335 votes (53.01%) compared to 4,729 votes (46.99%) for Byrnes. Stop confusing our kids. The alteration in body chemistry from CO2 (the same CO2 that the environmentalists abhor) that results from these masks is extensive but the long term consequences are currently unknown, as this has never been done in the history of the world. Literacy equity means that ALL children have the right to receive effective instruction grounded in educational research so they develop strong foundational skills in reading, writing and mathematics. It will be up to us, then, to ensure that the budget we do have is used to directly enhance student achievement, bringing it back to pre-pandemic levels. By virtue of her role as treasurer, McClary also serves on the county's election commission. Catherine McClary walking in the Ann Arbor July 4, 2012 parade. How have we as a society, become ok on any level with the removal of 13 year old girls breasts, or castrating a 13 year old boy in the name of gender transition? Nov. 5, 1996: Wins first election as Washtenaw County treasurer for a four-year term, after defeating Republican Lawrence Gass. She had also run unopposed in the August Democratic primary. I also want to foster more transparency and stronger communication between the Community, Staff, Administrators and Board Trustees. In-person quality public school is simply essential and cant be compromised. We have many experts in AAPS that know a lot about student achievement. School is the one place no matter your race, your socioeconomic background or where you come from, all of our children come. I am motivated by the encroachment of the public school systems into the practice of medicine and psychiatry, and the failure of the current leaders to appreciate this. The things I will consider as I prioritize budget items include: -Does the expenditure forward the mission of giving each child the education and support they need to be successful? This, in the same school district, is unacceptable. She was in her early 20s at the time, and served in that part-time role through 1988. I will advocate for implementing high-quality research from orgs like: Lauch Michigan, The Skillman foundation, and National Center for Educational ExcellenceLet educators educate. And at the root of all equity problems? McClary had run unopposed in the Democratic primary. She grew up in Kentucky before earning a bachelors degree from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor degree from Duke University. I want to keep public schools in-person, address the harms to learning outcomes many students experienced during virtual school, and improve clear and transparent communication about district decisions. DATE? As a single mom with a full-time job outside the home, Ive experienced firsthand the frustration of not having the time or resources that other families have to be the squeaky wheel to get their students needs met. Metoyer is a physician with 20 years of formal classroom education. Ann Arbor, like many districts, will continue to face the challenge of staffing their schools with highly qualified teachers and support staff. She has been a manager in marketing for 13 years. Based on the data, I plan to implement interventions and initiatives that can address these gaps and provide increased resources and support, such as dedicated time for teachers for development/training and extra tutoring for struggling students. Putting capitalism /Ego/Prestige and Optics above our children and their future. Its heartbreaking to see how many people do not feel any obligation to keep our children safe and thriving. For example, in order to know what is needed, each student must be fairly assessed. WHEREAS Governors, mayors and county sheriffs across the nation are declaring states of emergency under the guise of protecting the public from the coronavirus, I want all teaching to end the message to kids, that we live in a horrible, racist country. The board will also be challenged to improve transparency and two-way communication with the entire community related to bond expenditures, policy decisions and issues that our learning community cares about. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. My experiences and expertise will be an asset to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education. How can one of the best school systems in the State of Michigan, have such a shockingly high percentage of students non-proficient in math and reading? I recognize the complexity of the budget, and that the bond funds in particular can only be allocated for certain types of expenses. This will also positively impact student achievement. Lapham is a single parent who has been a registered nurse for 16 years, working as a school-based nurse practitioner in adolescent health for the last six years. There is clear empirical evidence that school closings were inefficient in stopping the community spread of the disease. The Board of Education will need to prioritize recruitment and retention of high quality educators and continue their work to create a professional learning environment where these educators can grow and develop. I think its time to take a step back and ensure that we are looking at the whole child, improving material conditions and removing proven sources of stress will have a dramatic effect on the quality of education our children receive. (2) Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Catch-Up After so much remote learning, mental health issues for many students have increased, while academic achievement levels, especially in reading and math, have decreased. We are also trying to increase student achievement, to bring it back to pre-pandemic levels. She has been a communications professional in health care for nearly two decades. Nov. 6, 2012: Wins re-election for a fifth four-year term as Washtenaw County treasurer, defeating Republican Marlene Chockley. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Our kids are our future. In order to achieve an equitable public-school system the district ought to implement a comprehensive DEI strategy with quantitative measures of equity. Turn right onto Washtenaw Avenue (M 17) 228 ft Turn left onto Hogback Road 1801 ft Turn right onto West Clark Road 5199 ft 2. Lets remember that the ultimate responsibility of schools is to create adults who are literate in reading, math and sciences, and who can critically think, enabling them to be part of our great American civilization. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). As I said in the last question, improving air quality and ensuring students are fed has been proven to show increases in positive educational outcomes. My goals are to 1) do all that I can to keep the public school system focused upon educating children in the skills of reading, writing (including script), mathematics, history, geography; and 2) to see that public education stays within its lane and that a clear line is drawn in delineating what the public school and its agents are and are NOT allowed to do under the auspices of education.. Detroit, Michigan. The AAPS general budget is balanced; I dont expect that to change and would not support moving to a deficit budget. (The county board had been reconfigured into new districts following the 1980 census.). (Ann Arbor District Library Old News archives), refuses to recognize McClary in the roll call, Washtenaw County Treasurer unable to recoup funds in 2013 tax foreclosure auctions, Incumbent Washtenaw County sheriff, prosecutor, treasurer, clerk win, McClary, Chockley Race for County Treasurer, Washtenaw County treasurer candidates sound off in friendly forum, Washtenaw County Treasurer Catherine McClary: Pay what you can on property taxes, Clerk balks at recognizing new commissioner, Prosecutor's Effort Fails To Halt Pot 'Giveaway', http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/treasurer. Although the Ann Arbor Public Schools are known for excellence, there has been little progress on improving the education outcomes for minority, low income and special education students. Earns designation as a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO). Student achievement is going to improve once all students feel welcome and included just as they are, without expectation that they need to change to fit a kind of mold. As a veteran board member, my primary commitments have been preserving academic excellence and increasing equity between schools: while others see these goals as incompatible, I see them as necessary synergy. Short and long term health consequences, and the financial stress of taking time off work to care for a sick child are disproportionately affecting BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled communities and working class families. Motto: If the mall is open, schools are open. The achievement gap is really an opportunity and resource gap. We need to look at our budget in a way that prioritizes the social emotional well being of student; that is the balance that our budget needs to meet the needs of our children. I want schools to stop grooming kids to become dependable Democratic voters by age 18. Washtenaw County, Michigan Lima Township, Precinct 1 Read Both Sides of the Ballot Judicial . Education. Prior to her election as Washtenaw County treasurer, McClary worked in the private sector as a stockbroker and investment advisor.