DePew, Danielle - Farmington
Are you an incumbent?
No
Brief Intro of Candidate
I am a professional, a wife, a mom, and so much more. I grew up in the age of Sesame Street and Mr. Rodgers, survived my teen years during the rise of the internet and the era of MTV, and became an adult as our nation reeled from Columbine and 9-11.
I know that education is about so much more than reading and writing and I believe that all children should have access to learning opportunities that grant them access to the world of possibilities that lie ahead.
Endorsements
I do not have any endorsements at this time
Top financials Contributors
Website and social media links
I am the sole financial supporter of my campaign
How would you engage and include parents, caregivers, community members and students in decision-making in your district around things like curriculum, budgeting and district policy?
I am deeply dedicated to advocating for our community as a compassionate communicator who actively engages with the public and champions transparency. With a background in workforce development and public administration, I possess the expertise to ensure the effective execution of public programs for the benefit of our community. I aim to establish impactful policies, approve educational objectives, and drive curriculum changes that align with our vision of "building the foundation with equity and innovation".
What are your thoughts on school discipline and the way it is exercised in your school district? What are your thoughts on restorative practices?
I believe in teaching discipline as preventative, supportive, and corrective models, but I do not believe in punitive punishment. Restorative practices can be useful in helping teach social-emotional skills and fostering a safe learning environment.
What are your thoughts on how to improve student mental health
I believe that a wholistic, community approach is needed to make an impact. We have to embrace mental health as an issue that impacts us all at home, at school, at work, and around our community. This means increasing mental health literacy for everyone in the community including students, families, and school staff. This also means creating and modeling positive coping mechanisms and support systems at school, at home, and throughout the community. Finally, ensuring that dedicated counseling staff be available at every school to help support students and staff in adopting these measures and being available day-to-day.
What are your thoughts on ways to improve Black student achievement in your district and in Michigan schools overall?
I believe that gathering good data and doing research and analysis is the first step to understanding what needs to be done to address this issue. I do not believe that the data the exists tells the whole story. I also believe that community engage is critical in gathering and understanding the data. By working with the community, we can understand the context and nuance of the data that is often hidden. Only once we actually understand can we begin to formulate potential opportunities for growth and development. In addition, we need clear goals and metrics to gauge the improvements and a continued opportunity for feedback from the community.
What are your thoughts on how to ensure that all students and their families, regardless of race, gender identity, sexuality, disability, religion, income status, etc., feel safe and included in your district?
Engagement and transparency are key to creating trust. When people feel seen and heard and they can know and understand what is happening, they can relax in the safety of knowing we have their best interest at heart. I seek to use empathy and compassion to create open dialogue with the community so that they feel seen, heard, and accepted.
What are your thoughts on how to recruit and retain staff, particularly staff of color, in your district with regard to pay, benefits, and working conditions?
Recruiting and retaining a diverse staff is crucial to the growth and development of our district and our students. To start, I feel that we would need to identify a relevant goal in order to understand our measures of success moving forward. Another option is to earmark a percentage of the budget meant for hiring within this initiative. In addition, as a retention practice, creating mentoring circles for staff to share and engage as well as implementing diversity and culture training for new and existing staff have both shown promise.
With regard to pay, benefits, and working conditions, I believe that all staff should receive fair and equitable pay and that there should be no discrepancies in pay, benefits, or working conditions based on race or any other identifying factor.