Orvis, Ky - Fenton
Are you an incumbent?
No
Brief Intro of Candidate
I grew up in Brighton, but moved to Fenton in 2016 and immediately fell in love with the community. The loving nature and diversity of the area immediately got me and I haven't looked back. I'm an alternative high school teacher, President of the Fenton Pride Collective, author (of 4 self-published books), and activist. I live in Fenton with my amazing spouse, Josh, and our two cats, Louie and Dougie. In my spare time, I like to read, watch Big Brother, and do house projects.
Endorsements
Yes, Run for Something, LPAC
Top financials Contributors
Website and social media links
N/A - all have been individual donations
@orvis4fenton (Facebook and Insta), https://orvis4fenton.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 would take their feedback highly into consideration. The School Board currently hosts Coffee Chats and I would absolutely be interested in attending every one of those. I would make sure that students, parents, staff, and the community knows that they can reach out to me about their concerns and I will listen intently.
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 will say that I think discipline is handled very well in the Fenton Area Public Schools district currently. I think restorative practices are the way that every district should always handle discipline, if it is used correctly. Many districts tend to say they use it, but don't implement it correctly. I will be making sure that Fenton engages in the practice meaningfully and that students aren't receiving punishment unjustly.
What are your thoughts on how to improve student mental health
There are so many caveats to this. I think the proper resources are in place, but I don't know that they're utilized correctly. I think there needs to be more informational sessions for students on their mental health (e.g. classes during SRT). A mental health clinic available to students during the school day would be an excellent addition to the district.
What are your thoughts on ways to improve Black student achievement in your district and in Michigan schools overall?
The way to improve Black student achievement is, honestly, systematic and starts with changes far above any school board member's control. However, there are aspects to achievement that I would be able to control, such as access to adequate test preparation and ensuring that marginalized students in the district aren't put at a disadvantage no matter what.
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?
The answer to this is, as I've always thought, training. The staff, parents, and community need to be made aware of the resources available to students in the district. Staff, specifically need to be better trained on practices involving DEI and SEL topics.
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?
There absolutely needs to be more of an effort to be more inclusive in hiring practices. Grow-your-own programs are great for this. Every single staff member should be paid on the same basis, regardless of gender expression/ identity, racial expression or identity, sexual orientation, etc. and should never be denied the ability to work for the district based on that.