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Hawkins, Celeste - Ypsilanti

Are you an incumbent?

Yes

Brief Intro of Candidate

I am a wife and proud mother of three wonderful children who attended schools in the Ypsilanti Community Schools district who are now all attending college at the University of Michigan. I hold a doctorate in Education from Eastern Michigan University (EMU), a Master’s degree in Social Work, and a Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychology. My professional career has been dedicated to working with vulnerable, oppressed, and underserved populations and I have been a tireless advocate for children and families, particularly those gripped by poverty and social injustice. In addition to my role as professor at EMU and volunteer service as President for the Ypsilanti Community Schools Board of Education, I further contribute to the community through advocacy and volunteerism in various programs and agencies in Washtenaw County. I am deeply invested and engaged as a servant leader who strives to work collaboratively with others and make sure all voices are represented.

Endorsements

I am endorsed by the Washtenaw County Democratic Party

Top financials Contributors

Website and social media links

n/a

This information can be shared at a later time.

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 would continue to engage parents, caregivers, community members, and students by cultivating opportunities and encouraging stakeholders to attend board meetings, participate on district-led curriculum workgroups when opportunities arise, attend required budget forums during our designated board meeting dates that address budgeting, reviewing district policies and reaching out about policy matter considerations, join and participate in the PTO at respective schools. I also believe it is important for our stakeholders to be engaged through advisory councils in the district to engage voice and have representation at the table when decisions are made about curriculum, budgeting, and district policies.

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 it relates to school disciple and culture and climate in the district, it is important to hold the board and school district accountable for promoting a healthy and positive school culture and environment. I have served on the board since 2012 and this has remained a priority for me specifically and for the district more broadly. I will always advocate for ways we can reduce exclusionary disciplinary practices. I understand the implications and impact of school discipline on the academic, social, and emotional identities of students. As a district we adopted and continue to implement Restorative Practices and are focused on equity work—areas I am deeply passionate about and as a board member remain committed to its success in YCS. Supporting the whole student lends itself to improved academic achievement, healthy social-emotional development, increased attendance rates, cultivating and strengthening student-teacher-parent relationships, and creating positive outcomes for students and the entire school community.

What are your thoughts on how to improve student mental health

I believe we need to advocate at the state level for increased levels of funding to support the mental health needs of students in our schools. We know that the impact felt from the pandemic continues to be a concern in our schools and together we need to advocate for these supports. According to the National Association of Social Worker's Advocacy communication, Michigan’s public mental health system is facing a projected $93 million Medicaid revenue gap, despite a partial adjustment earlier this year. This shortfall stems from a significant decrease in Medicaid beneficiaries following the COVID-19 public health emergency, even as demand for mental health services has remained high. My thoughts are that we need to advocate and urge our legislators and the Governor to advocate for retroactive adjustments to Medicaid capitation rates, which are essential to closing this funding gap for mental health services.

What are your thoughts on ways to improve Black student achievement in your district and in Michigan schools overall?

As it relates to student achievement, it is important to ensure we have high expectations and high support. Our students must have access to rigorous and engaging curriculums for all students across the county and throughout the state. School districts continue to grapple with how to narrow and eliminate the academic achievement/opportunity gap between minority and non-minority students, specifically the disproportionate rates of discipline and academic achievement that are negatively impacting many African American students. It is imperative that we address factors that perpetuate the academic disparities that exist between minority and non-minority students in the YCS school district with diligence and intentionality. Disproportionate rates of achievement along the lines of race and class are problematic and I am committed to do what is necessary to change this trajectory. The data is disturbing and these issues require immediate attention in order to ensure all students receive an equitable and high quality education—I believe this is a social justice issue and a moral imperative. In YCS, we must be proactive in examining our student achievement data on a consistent basis, demonstrate accountability for the data, and review appropriate, evidenced based practices in order to foster positive outcomes in academic achievement.

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?

As a board, we are responsible for ensuring we are accountable to advancing anti-racist, diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices across the district. This can be achieved through the tone we set for how students are made to feel welcome and how they see themselves reflected in the curriculum and throughout their school buildings. We must see, value, hear, and respect each of our students and their families. When there is conflict, we must be curious, not furious, not make assumptions and always presume positive intentions. Our educators participation in professional development provides opportunities for learning, teaching, growth, and development. Lifelong learning supports our efforts to make sure we are doing our own work to cultivate academic, social, and emotional environments that unleash the brilliance in our students and educators, the 2024 YCS theme for the year. As a governing body, we set, adopt, and monitor policies to ensure there is accountability in all of our school practices.

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?

I believe the board should recruit and retain employees using a very strategic process. As a board member, I have discussed the importance of implementing a process where we are collecting data on employee satisfaction during the school year and as part of an exit interview process in order to have accurate data on why staff are leaving and to address issues related to satisfaction while they are employed for the district. Having accurate and timely data helps us develop strategies that help us improve in order retain and attract excellent employees. We also need to continue to examine our pay structure in order to recruit and retain the most talented employees. I am proud of our efforts to attract, hire, and retain staff of color in our district, which has increased dramatically during my tenure as a board member.

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