Wilson, Lisa - Clintondale
Are you an incumbent?
No
Brief Intro of Candidate
My name is Lisa Wilson and I am a 36-year Clintondale school district resident. My children and many family members attended the school district, which gives me first-hand knowledge about the district and the schools within it.
As a parent, I was active and positively engaged with principals, teachers, faculty, peers and students. I built a shared responsibility and accountability concept with teachers and faculty, which contributed to my children’s school successes. I’ve always believed that school is of utmost importance to a child’s life and a key aspect in laying a child’s foundation for their future life skills and educational knowledge.
As a seasoned and solution-oriented corporate professional, I’ve successfully held leadership roles at Fortune 500 organizations. Gaining high-level skills in social responsibility, contract, financial and project management, vendor relationship building and development, just to name a few. These leadership skills align perfectly to the management and operations of a school district.
Also during my career, I’ve served on Macomb County’s Habitat for Humanity board of directors and held membership roles with non-profits such as Impact100 Metro Detroit and Council for Supplier Diversity Professionals. Additionally, I was a corporate executive liaison to United Way of SE Michigan. My community experiences include volunteering at Sterling Johnson’s youth fundamental basketball camp, which serves Clintondale and Mount Clemens district children, Macomb County’s Habitat for Humanity, United Way of SE Michigan and Clintondale and De La Salle Collegiate school events.
When I'm elected to the Clintondale board of education role, I will make an immediate impact, building on their accomplishments, however; improving in areas that are shortfalls. My focal point is for the betterment of the students, parents, district and the community.
My goals as a school board member in driving district success are as follows:
• Partner with school administration & faculty
• Improve student proficiency scores
• Ensure a safe and healthy student environment
• Ensure students have the tools and resources for successes and achievements
• Be a student and parent advocate
• Build competitive extracurricular programs
Endorsements
No
Top financials Contributors
Website and social media links
N/A
Instagram: Lisalkw1960 Facebook: Lisa Wilson
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?
Without parents, caregivers, community members and the student’s engagement and involvement in decision-making, I believe the district will miss meeting some goals and milestones. It is extremely imperative for their engagement and inclusivity, as each can bring an array of information, insights, perspectives, diverse thoughts and resources. I will establish a culture of shared collaboration and shared decision-making, which will create a together mindset and respect for everyone’s input.
Additionally, I will:
• Create an engagement strategy that includes open, two-way lines of communication and relationship building with parents, caregivers, students and community members.
• Bring awareness (through various communication channels) that students, parents and community members are welcomed to be part of school discussions and the decision-making process.
• Implement a process that easily engages parents, caregivers, community members and students and explains the criticality and importance for everyone’s involvement in district decisions.
• Create an open-door, personable atmosphere for all where they will be respected, empowered, valued and appreciated.
• Create a parent, caregiver, student and community workshop for all to understand the specific topics at hand, so they can make informed decisions.
• Solicit attendance to board meetings and school events, where all will receive a better view of the district and its points of discussion that are reviewed/approved.
• Routinely demonstrate how their engagement and involvement is positively impacting the district as I believe this will foster a trusted relationship with parents, caregivers, community members and 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?
My thoughts on school discipline, is I believe that school discipline should be focused on creating a positive and safe learning environment for all students. Also, school discipline can teach students to have responsible behavior, self-control, how to positively interact with their peers and respect for others. It also teaches students to be accountable and that behaviors have consequences. At the end of the day, a high importance should be put on ensuring the school environment is one where students / faculty / administration will have an overall positive and safe experience.
Restorative practices can be a more effective and humane approach to addressing behavior issues, as it focuses on understanding the root causes of behavior and finding solutions that involve repairing harm and promoting accountability.
Overall, I believe that school discipline should be approached with a focus on understanding and empathy, rather than solely on punishment.
What are your thoughts on how to improve student mental health
Improving mental health is crucial for creating a supportive and nurturing environment for both in the school and outside of the school. I believe that parents, schools and community play a vital role in promoting mental health well-being among students by providing resources and support for their emotional and psychological well-being. Some ways I see improving student mental health are as follows:
• Increasing access to mental health resources, such as counselors, therapists and support groups within the school setting.
• Implement mental health education and awareness programs to reduce stigma and increase understanding of mental health issues.
• Create a supportive and inclusive school culture that prioritizes emotional well-being and encourages open communication about mental health.
• Provide training for parents, teachers and staff, providing them the tools and resources to recognize signs of mental health issues and how to support students in need.
Overall prioritizing student mental health in schools is essential for promoting academic success, healthy social relationships and overall well-being. By creating a supportive and nurturing environment, schools can play a significant role in improving student mental health and helping students thrive at school and beyond.
What are your thoughts on ways to improve Black student achievement in your district and in Michigan schools overall?
Improving black student achievement in district and statewide is extremely important to me and can be summed up in one powerful statement: Show Black Students What They Can Become but Today, They Cannot See. Students deserve an opportunity to see and be put on the path of a future that has education, economic and social stability.
Running for a school board that has a minority student enrollment of 75% black and 81% of the minority students are economically disadvantaged, this question is timely and relevant. And we must act now!
Black students should be afforded the same opportunities as their counterparts. Early on being exposed to career and educational opportunities to include financial literacy, life and social skills and a curriculum that includes culture studies, to name a few. In other countries and states, students are being introduced to adult-like skills and careers, as young as five years old and their educational learning is being taught earlier than district wide students. We fall short in making the introduction to these important areas but we can begin to do a better job.
A few ideas include:
• Create a roadmap with student goals and achievement milestones with progress tracking
Regular touch points with parents on progress and if gaps, put a plan in place to close
those gaps
• Teachings on relatable topics of culture and its achievements and successes
• Provide access to resources
Tutoring / study groups
Technology / Internet
Educational learning materials
• Reduce barriers, such as financial support, to attaining higher education
• Engage with trade schools to bring awareness to students of career opportunities for those students that are not college bound
• Create mentorship programs that include:
Professionals
Educators
• Create a community network for students and parents to receive guidance, support and encouragement. The network should include:
Parents
Peers
Educators
Community
• Celebrate black student achievements, which can boost morale, confidence, motivation and self-esteem
Black student achievements through education, training and life skills, can lead into developing leaders of the future, opening economic and social opportunities. We can also begin to level the playing field through academic success by driving progress and performance through early learning/planning/mentorship/connected support communities/exposure and access.
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 an individual that falls into several of these categories, I understand firsthand the importance feeling safe and included.
My thoughts on how to ensure that all students and their families feel safe and included in the district are as follows.
It is important to:
Establish an Inclusive Environment Early
It should be clarified at the onset of each school year by all teachers and faculty, to students and parents, that this is an inclusive environment for all. That discussions will represent a variety of views, and students and parents should feel comfortable expressing themselves.
It’s also important to let students know that name-calling, personal attacks, and hostile interactions won’t be tolerated. If students disagree, they must respond to each other with respect. Indeed, mutual respect yields more open and productive conversations.
By establishing rules early in the course, students should understand their role in creating an inclusive classroom.
Diversify the Curriculum
Expose students to a spectrum of multicultural learning. This can represent different backgrounds of students and potentially establish a cultural connection for the students.
Celebrate Cultural Moments
Celebrating cultural moments allows all students to learn about different cultures. This can bring about engagement with students and potentially avoid any stereotypes of others based on race, gender identity, sexuality, disability, religion, income status, etc.
Faculty and Student Training
Provide students, faculty and administration training to recognize when a person is feeling unsafe and not included. We should all have a mindset that we have a shared responsibility to serve as an advocates for each other. This can provide a focus on embedding a culture of inclusion and belonging in the district and outside of the school district. We should be also be leveraging the power of individual’s uniqueness to achieve instead of mistreating each other based on factors that cannot be controlled.
On a final note, implement a safe reporting practice for individuals to report instances of mistreatment whether to someone else or themselves. This provides individuals a sense the district cares about their safety and inclusion as they will act immediately if a situation occurs.
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?
Recruiting and retaining staff, especially of color, in the school district is essential for creating and diverse and inclusive educational environment. In order to attract and retain a diverse workforce, it is important to consider factors such as equal pay, equal benefits and equal work conditions.
Pay: Ensuring that staff members are paid fairly, equally and competitively is crucial for attracting and retaining talent. Offering competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement can help attract the best diverse pool of candidates and retention of staff members.
Benefits: Providing comprehensive benefits packages and professional development opportunities can also be key factor in recruiting and retaining staff. Offering benefits that support the well-being and professional growth of employees, helps create a positive work environment and employee loyalty.
Working Conditions: Creating a supportive and inclusive work environment is essential for retaining staff. Providing opportunities for professional development, mentorship and leadership roles can help to create a sense of belonging and growth for staff members.
In conclusion, recruiting and retaining staff requires a strategic and comprehensive approach that addresses factors such as pay, benefits and working conditions. By prioritizing equity, diversity and inclusion in the recruitment and retention process, school districts can create a more diverse and representative workforce that reflects the needs and experiences of all students. Research has shown that students from all backgrounds perform better academically with a diverse teacher workforce, and a lack of representation can negatively impact student engagement and achievement.