Estep, Susan - Saline Area Schools District
Are you an incumbent?
Yes
Brief Intro of Candidate
My name is Susan Estep. I was elected to the Saline Area Schools Board of Education in 2018, and I am running for re-election this November.
With my experience as a student affairs professional in higher education and as a Board of Education Trustee, I’ve been a fierce advocate for public education and social justice for many years. In my prior positions, I worked directly with students by supporting them in their higher education journey. As a school board member, I have taken the opportunity to increase my advocacy skills in education by engaging in professional development, serving on committees, and presenting on the importance of student voice in policy making. This is important to me as a life-long learner, and allows me to not only serve our students, staff and community on a local level, but also to advocate for education and social justice in the State of Michigan and the Nation.
I have three children in the district: 9th grade, 3rd grade, and Kindergarten. My family is racially diverse, neurodiverse, queer, and full of love and acceptance. I proudly stand up for my children, I stand up for yours, and will continue to fight for all children in Saline schools and beyond.
Endorsements
I have not received endorsements. I’m planning to request endorsements from the Washtenaw County Democratic Party and the LGBTQ+ Caucus; Victory Fund and LPAC, both organizations endorse LGBTQ+ candidates
Top financials Contributors
Website and social media links
None
Facebook: www.facebook.com/VoteEstep; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan__estep; Website: www.VoteEstep.com
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 highly value input from families, students, staff and community members in our District. Whether in policy work or otherwise, I always seek input, especially from those who are directly impacted by the decisions being made.
In 2021, I introduced the Transgender and Nonbinary Students Policy, and worked directly with parents who have transgender and nonbinary children to draft the language of the policy. Additionally, I requested input from LGBTQ+ students and organizations (i.e. Gender and Sexuality Alliance). More broadly, I have brought the perspectives of the Board’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee to the board table, as well as echoed comments spoken during public comment. I truly believe that the voices of people who have been marginalized should be represented at all stages of decision-making.
What are your thoughts on school discipline and the way it is exercised in your school district? What are your thoughts on restorative practices?
As a parent and as a board member, I have observed that discipline practices are not consistent across the district. This perpetuates the inequity and injustice that exist for students who are marginalized. As this has been brought to our attention many times by students and families, there continues to be a responsibility for Saline Area Schools District to address these serious issues.
Restorative practices are encouraged by the state. Implemented properly, they may be highly effective; however, staff have to be trained appropriately and there has to be a culture shift before it could ever be successful, this is especially true for our district. There has to be buy-in with all parties, including the students and families, in order for it to be beneficial.
I do believe that the process can be very difficult for some children. Asking children who have been bullied, who have dealt with hate speech, to meet with the offender(s) many times does not feel like a safe option. This can be very traumatizing.
I believe there are ways to reduce the harm that would not require face-to-face interaction, such as education and putting safety measures in place.
What are your thoughts on how to improve student mental health
It's important to normalize mental health by talking about it openly and honestly. There has to be a culture change in the schools, not only to promote mental health, but to increase awareness of mental illness that students, staff, and/or families may be experiencing. We not only have to prioritize the mental health of our students, but also the social and emotional well-being of our staff. Additionally, our staff must be trauma-informed and equipped with tools to be proactive and responsive to the needs of all students. We have to invest in mental health, safety, and security, and I’ll continue to advocate for additional state and federal funds that our public schools need.
What are your thoughts on ways to improve Black student achievement in your district and in Michigan schools overall?
First and foremost, students need to feel safe and supported in their environment. Unfortunately, this has not been the experience for many of our students of color. There are significant disparities in academic achievement, number of suspensions, and how racism is or is not being addressed in our District.
One challenge we have in Saline is that the number of racial and ethnic minorities is comparatively small, meaning that a district-wide survey renders their responses as statistically insignificant. But many of these students have courageously spoken at board meetings. I strongly urge the administration to listen to these students and to proactively seek qualitative data regarding minoritized student populations to make sure their perspectives are heard. The data should be analyzed rigorously and changes have to be made.
As a parent of children who are black, I see the challenge before us, and I will fight tirelessly to make Saline a more welcoming environment for Black students as well as students who are being marginalized in the district.
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?
Our students, staff, and families deserve to feel safe and supported in their environment. We need to equip staff with the tools to create an environment that is welcoming and safe for all.
In addition to the Transgender and Nonbinary Policy, I introduced and drafted the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee Policy. This committee, which I serve on, has been essential to progress made in the district. They successfully advocated for a Director of DEI. This role focused on supporting educators to be Culturally Responsive.
I'm against a Policy that the Board passed this past year that allows opt-outs from inclusive curriculum. Students deserve to see themselves in the curriculum, and it's essential that their peers do too. I plan to ask the Board to reconsider the opt-out policy, as this can cause harm to students who are marginalized by allowing identities to be something that can be opted out of.
Having inclusive policies doesn't always guarantee that they will be implemented. This is one of my big motivations to run for re-election. The Board is responsible for holding the Superintendent accountable, which includes implementation of Board policies. Unfortunately, priorities are not placed on policy implementation that would make impactful change for the safety and well-being for LGBTQ+ students and students not adequately represented in the district.
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?
We have to be intentional in not only recruiting staff who are not represented in the district, but also providing support to these individuals to retain them. It's so important for students and staff to see people who look like them or who hold similar identities.
The Board’s DEI Advisory Committee helped with the creation of a three-year plan with four main objectives. One focus is on the recruitment, hiring and retention of staff who are underrepresented in the district. In order to do this successfully, there needs to be systemic change. Accountability is key. To improve the climate in Saline schools, the board has to make sure that the recommendations from the DEI Advisory Committee are being taken seriously and that action steps are being taken.