Ann Arbor Public Schools have many strengths that other districts do not have, and that includes the diverse representation of people and expertise, the strong teachers and staff, and the strong academics. It is amazing to see all the different representations of people, from refugees to people of color to various religious groups. It is also wonderful to see strong advocates for our children, who are the teachers. Ann Arbor Public Schools also has room to grow and progress to an improved and new level of education. The challenges facing Ann Arbor Public Schools include issues surrounding community engagement, open communication, opportunity gaps in education, and diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism.

• I will strive to foster community input and discussions at all levels.

  • Getting input from all members of our community is not just based on surveys and open comments at board meetings. This must be true engagement of all members of the community. These members include students, families, teachers, staff, alumni, community partners such as the University of Michigan, local and state representatives, and administration. There must be multiple modes of community input, including outreaches, focus groups, school visits from Trustees, phone calls and other methods of communication. But the crucial part of fostering community input is to ensure that all members of our community feel inclusiveness, transparency, and part of the decision-making process. As a researcher and clinician, I have worked with many different people and professionals with various opinions and perspectives. I am a strong collaborator, I am an engaged listener, and through my experiences throughout my life, I can relate to many of the members of the community. I bring a unique perspective as a refugee, a person of color, a person of a marginalized religious group, a child that was in poverty, a scientist, an educator and a healthcare worker. As your Trustee, I will ensure all voices are heard and addressed.

• We must analyze and address opportunity gaps in education to ensure consistency throughout the district.

  • We need to evaluate student learning, teacher resources and development, student resources and support, and other factors such as the inequities, especially in people of color, refugees, and other underserved populations. As a researcher, clinician and educator, I have strong critical thinking and analytical skills that can help assess opportunity gaps in education and factors associated with these gaps. 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.