Schlosser, Chad - Flint
Are you an incumbent?
No
Brief Intro of Candidate
I grew up in the Upper Peninsula and attended my local public school from K-12. I was the valedictorian of my graduating class. I attended Michigan State University of achieved a B.S. in Accounting. I moved to Flint after graduation in 2010 to work at UM Flint professionally with a campus ministry student organization, which is what I continue to do. I met my wife in Flint and we had 3 children in 2013-16. They all attend Durant-Tuuri-Mott Elementary School. I have been involved in the Mott Park Neighborhood Association since 2016 and served as the president since January 2022, where I have led development projects, community activities, and collaboration with local authorities and partner organizations. I have served as the parent liaison for the Montessori program at DTM since 2023.
Endorsements
United Teachers of Flint, Former Educator and Board Member Dick and Betty Ramsdell, Community Activist Chia Morgan, Councilwoman Tonya Burns, City Council President Ladel Lewis, Former board member Blake Strozier, Trustee Dylan Luna, Trustee Terae King, Mayor Sheldon Neeley
Top financials Contributors
Website and social media links
My neighbors in Mott Park
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 believe that it requires all levels of the district, i.e. the board, administration, teachers, and families working together in order to move forward and have the best possible outcomes for our students. As a parent of 3 students in FCS, I think I am well-positioned to help facilitate parent engagement. Many families are struggling and we need to be creative about how to help them and get them the support they need. As for involving students, I am a big advocate of feedback. Asking students what is resonating and what is lacking would be extremely valuable and empowering and could help students grow in curiosity.
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 have much to learn about how discipline is practiced in FCS, but in general I am not in favor of suspensions or expulsion except in the most dire, desperate, and dangerous situations. I am a strong advocate of restorative justice, as I believe when done correctly it provides opportunities for growth and learning. Children’s brains are still in development and it shouldn’t be expected that they always make good decisions. It’s the role of the community to help support them and guide them toward greater understanding, growing emotional intelligence, and better decision making. Restorative justice, where constructive conversations can safely take place, is key in this. I want students to hear a gentle tone asking “what were you feeling this morning?” rather than a harsh tone pressing them on “what’s wrong with you?” We need to develop and deploy intentional structures for this.
What are your thoughts on how to improve student mental health
What are your thoughts on ways to improve Black student achievement in your district and in Michigan schools overall?
Our students in Flint are struggling in so many ways. Many of them, including my children, were born during the water crisis. They have grown up with exposure to lead but also exposure to poverty, blight, and violence. Many families have unstable living environments due to our economic crisis. It is natural for students in these situations to wonder if life is worth it. Sometimes immediate families make these internal battles worse due to their own trauma. We need collective healing and we need to make space for this. Every students in FCS should have access to high quality mental health services, but we also need to develop communal rhythms and safe spaces for students to be themselves, to be supported, and to grow. Affirmation needs to far exceed critique. The children in our city need to know that they matter and can accomplish great things. They need to be given every opportunity to internalize that message. Having clean safe places to learn helps to reinforce this. Having a basketball team, a football team, a band, school dances, and student council provide opportunities for this. These are things that other districts take for granted. Flint kids deserve this and so much more.
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?
Flint Community Schools needs to be a place where every student and family is welcome and included. I believe inclusion happens by talking about differences rather than be pretending they don’t exist. Flint Schools should be a place where kids can learn and be exposed to differences and this can enrich the lives of all. I recently assisted getting refugee families from Afghanistan and Venezuela into FCS. My children are now in class every day with children who just arrived from Afghanistan 2 months ago, and I think that is amazing. Their teacher bought some books in Pashto to help with their transition, since the kids speak limited English and have never been to school before. This is an amazing opportunity for my children to learn empathy and understanding. I want to see more of this across the district, and reflective of all categories of diversity. Inclusion is the first step in creating a healthy atmosphere for education.
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?
The relationships between the board, administration, and teacher’s union need to be stronger. Listening needs to take place. I was recently endorsed by the teacher’s union, and in my interview I was able to learn about their experiences and opportunities for improvement. We need to make sure that teachers are heard and their needs are met, so that they can thrive and we can attract more high quality teachers. Every student deserves to have a certified teacher leading the classroom. I also think we should form partnerships with teacher training institutions like UM Flint and MSU to get more student teachers into classrooms which could lead to more full time hires.