Tejani, Jason - Birmingham Public Schools
Are you an incumbent?
No
Brief Intro of Candidate
I have had the opportunity to create a broad career that includes expertise as a formulation scientist, over a decade in private practice, and my current position as Head of Legal at a drug discovery firm. I have a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, a master's in chemistry, and a law degree. I am also a Ph.D. candidate in bioinformatics and computational biology.
While I have always been committed to the pursuit of education, I have also had the privilege of educating others on various elements of innovation through my responsibilities as a visiting lecturer at Harvard Medical School and a visiting professor at Michigan State University Law School. My three children attend Birmingham Covington School, which has fueled my desire to ensure the best possible education and experience for all students in our district.
My involvement as an active parent in the district, where I collaborate with teachers and school staff to coach Science Olympiad and conduct science experiments in my children's classrooms, as well as my background in science and legal expertise, qualify me to positively contribute to the continued success of BPS.
As a dedicated community member, I am excited to contribute my knowledge and commitment to the Birmingham Board of Education. It would be an honor to serve the BPS community and contribute to our district's long-term success and growth.
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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 in community partnerships with dedicated teachers and staff, who are education experts. I want parents, caregivers, community members, and kids involved in decision-making, but I also know our teachers and staff have vital knowledge. I want to create an environment where the community works with these experts to inform our curriculum, budgets, and district policies based on our community's lived experiences and staff's educational skills. This relationship helps keep our schools high-quality and ensures that every decision benefits our children.
Our district's Strategic Plan serves as a prime example of how community involvement can lead to meaningful and impactful outcomes. The creation of this plan was a community-driven effort, with over 6,200 responses from parents, students, and other stakeholders providing invaluable insights. This extensive feedback not only helped the Board understand the vision and priorities of our community but also ensured that the Board’s decisions were grounded in the real experiences and needs of those the Board serve.
In addition to the Strategic Plan, I believe that ongoing engagement is essential. The Board has a strong Curriculum Review Committee process that actively includes parents and students. This committee is a vital forum for reviewing, discussing, and refining our educational materials. It's through this collaborative effort that the Board ensures our curricula are not only academically rigorous but also reflective of the diverse perspectives within our community.
As a Board Trustee, I would support creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue between the community and our educators. While our teachers and staff are the experts in education, community involvement is vital in helping inform their decisions. By working together, we can make informed choices that uphold the excellence of our schools and best serve our students.
What are your thoughts on school discipline and the way it is exercised in your school district? What are your thoughts on restorative practices?
School discipline should be fair, consistent, and focused on fostering a positive learning environment for all students. The Birmingham Public Schools' Student Code of Conduct provides an essential framework to ensure our schools remain safe, orderly, and conducive to learning. I believe restorative practices are a critical component of an effective approach to discipline. Rather than relying solely on punitive measures like suspension or expulsion, restorative practices aim to address the root causes of behavioral issues, encourage students to take responsibility for their actions, and repair harm to individuals and the school community.
Integrating restorative practices into our discipline system supports our commitment to respect the rights of all students while maintaining focus on educational objectives. The Birmingham Public Schools Code of Conduct already incorporates restorative practices, and as a Board Trustee, I would continue advocating for their use. Ensuring our disciplinary measures are appropriate, proportionate, and effective in promoting a positive school climate is essential.
What are your thoughts on how to improve student mental health
As a Board Trustee candidate, I fully support the initiatives outlined in Birmingham Public Schools' strategic plan to improve student mental health. The plan's emphasis on creating a "Culture of Unity & Well-Being" demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting the social and emotional wellness of all students.
I believe the ambitious goal of ensuring 90% of students report feeling safe, valued, and prepared for learning, as measured by an annual survey, sets a clear target for BPS. To achieve this, I support the plan's call for providing ongoing professional development to equip teachers with the skills needed to identify and support students' mental health needs, as well as fostering an inclusive environment where all students feel a sense of belonging.
The strategic plan's priority of ensuring equitable access to extracurricular opportunities in areas like athletics, arts, culture and wellness at every school will greatly support student mental health. Participating in these activities can boost self-esteem, reduce stress, and help students feel more connected to their BPS community.
What are your thoughts on ways to improve Black student achievement in your district and in Michigan schools overall?
The Birmingham Public Schools 2022-2027 Strategic Plan sets goals to increase the percentage of students scoring proficient in literacy and math on state assessments by 20%, while reducing disparities in student learning by 30%. Providing high-quality, culturally responsive instruction and support services is essential to close achievement gaps. The plan also aims for 100% of students in grades 7-12 to annually review an action plan for their post-secondary goals. Exposing Black students to a wide range of college and career pathways can expand their future opportunities. Additionally, ensuring 90% of students report feeling safe, valued and prepared for learning supports their overall wellbeing and success.
Implementing recommendations from the Michigan Department of Education's African American Student Initiative (AASI) can provide a helpful framework. This includes culturally relevant curriculum, restorative practices, increased teacher diversity, and community partnerships. The Black Leadership Advisory Council has also made policy recommendations to the Governor to increase education funding and mental health support to address inequities impacting Black communities. By enacting strategic, research-based practices with an equity lens, in close collaboration with the Black community, I believe we can make meaningful progress in improving outcomes for Black students.
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 Trustee candidate, ensuring that all students and their families feel safe, valued and included in BPS, regardless of their background or identity, is a top priority for me. BPS has several active affinity groups, such as the Birmingham African American Network, BPS Family Pride, Latino Network, and FRIENDS (of different learners), that provide vital support networks and information for families navigating similar experiences. As a Board Trustee, I would advocate for continued collaboration with these affinity groups to elevate the voices of marginalized communities. BPS also sends an annual survey to students, staff and parents to collect feedback on how well we are providing a safe, inclusive environment. This data is disaggregated by subgroup so the Board and administration can understand the unique experiences of different populations and take targeted action to better serve those who may feel unheard.
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?
To recruit and retain talented and diverse staff, particularly staff of color, BPS in view of its Strategic Plan aims to expand recruitment efforts beyond traditional channels to proactively reach diverse candidates, hold recruiting events in the community to engage potential candidates, and seek candidates who are a strong "values fit" and believe in BPS's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. BPS should regularly benchmark compensation and benefits to ensure they are competitive in the market and support employees' overall well-being and financial security while remaining financially responsible.