(Chelsea Update asked the candidates to answer a series of questions about their candidacy and to provide a photo. Their answers and photos are below.)
By Crystal Hayduk
Six candidates are on the November ballot vying for three open seats on the Chelsea School District Board of Education.
Seeking to fill the six year terms are Laura Bush (I), Susie Catherman, Laurel McDevitt (I), Steve Olsen (I), Shawn Quilter, and Kristin van Reesema.
Laura Bush
What is your occupation? Registered nurse
What is your education? Ypsilanti High School, Class of 1988; Eastern Michigan University, BSN – 1993.
Have you previously been elected to office? Chelsea School Board 2012-present
Have you attended a Board of Education meeting prior to filing to run for office? Yes
Do you serve on any boards or committees in the community? Please list a few of them and dates of service.
Chelsea School Board 2012-present
CSD Reproductive Health Committee 2010-present
CSD Curriculum Committee 2012-present
CSD BOE Personnel Committee 2014-present
KEY ISSUES: Briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign – why are you running for the Board of Education?
To provide maximum support for teachers/support staff and students.
To maintain fiscal responsibility.
SUMMARY: Can you explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above?
Provide support as a liaison to the schools and community by increasing communication. Continue to support the administration/teachers as they continue to find new and innovative ways to educate all students.
Maintain fiscal responsibility by using my four years of experience on the board of education by continuing to support the administration/teachers’ union in overseeing the budget and financial issues.
Do you have a website? No
Personal information: Age, marital status, number of children and ages, do they attend Chelsea Schools? Age 45, married with three children. Daughter Janie, 20, 2014 graduate of CHS; son Jack, 18, senior at CHS; daughter Grace, 16, junior at CHS.
Susie Catherman
What is your occupation? Medical Biller for Lifeskills Community Rehabilitation & Associates
What is your education? Okemos High School, Class of 1984; Central Michigan University-attended 1984-86; Fashion Institute of Merchandising and Design – Associate Degree 1986-1988
Have you previously been elected to office? Although I have not run for public office, I’ve been elected as Secretary and Trustee to two Homeowner Associations.
Have you attended a Board of Education meeting prior to filing to run for office? Yes
Do you serve on any boards or committees in the community? Please list a few of them and dates of service.
Volunteer at Faith in Action 2011-2013
Driver/deliver meals for Meals On Wheels 2010-present
KEY ISSUES: Briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign – why are you running for the Board of Education?
Importance of respect and value given to teachers and support staff within the schools.
Assure that every student is given equal opportunities regardless of academic or co-curricular achievements.
SUMMARY: Can you explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above?
I would work to open the communications between board and staff members in our schools, for example through monthly meetings with board liaisons and each school on a consistent basis. Work to communicate with support staff regarding their needs and/or concerns.
I would like to explore different ideas and methods to provide students with additional educational and emotional support.
Do you have a website? The Facebook page “Susie Catherman for Chelsea School Board” is located at https://www.facebook.com/scathermanforcsb/?fref=ts.
Personal information: Age, marital status, number of children and ages, do they attend Chelsea Schools?
I am 50 years old and married to Rick Catherman for 21 years. We have one daughter, Olivia, 18, who graduated from CHS in 2016 and is attending Western Michigan University in music performance.
Laurel L. McDevitt
What is your occupation? Senior Project Manager with Dewpoint, currently assigned as the Project Management Office Lead for the City of Lansing.
What is your education? Chelsea High School, Class of 1986; Eastern Michigan University – Bachelor of Science (BS), Public Administration / Writing Minor; Master of Public Administration (MPA), Public Management (2008)
Professional certifications:
Project Management Institute: Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) – 2009.
Scrum Alliance: Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – 2016. (Scrum is an Agile project management methodology.)
Have you previously been elected to office?
Elected Trustee of the Chelsea School District Board of Education in 2003, 2007 and 2011.
Internal Board of Education Officer Elections – I have held all Officer positions serving as the President (4 years), Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Have you attended a Board of Education meeting prior to filing to run for office? Yes
Do you serve on any boards or committees in the community? Please list a few of them and dates of service.
I am a past PTO president and member as well as past chair of the South Meadows Ice Cream Social.
I served four years as an active member of the Chelsea Education Association in my Board capacity.
I am a St. Mary Youth Community (SMYC) mission trip volunteer leader.
KEY ISSUES: Briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign – why are you running for the Board of Education?
The Board has just hired a new Superintendent. It was a lengthy and involved process to select, interview, and hire the very best candidate. I feel that it is my responsibility to ensure Dr. Helber’s successful launch in the district. I believe my Board experience, as well as my lifetime in the community, will be a valuable asset to her acclimation to the district and success in her new role.
I believe there are great things in store for the district with our new leadership. I believe that my past board service has laid a solid foundation to enable new growth in the district. There remain areas yet to be planted and yet to bloom in our garden — educationally and within our community. New administrative leadership brings fresh eyes and innovative approaches. I believe that my experience will support the new growth. (I’ve helped clear the land. I’ve helped till the soil. We’ve planted the seeds. There’s a little more tending needed to see the garden bloom, and there are still other fields left to plow.)
SUMMARY: Can you explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above?
I will continue to support the new Superintendent as I have been. I am available as a resource and sounding board. I participate in Board meetings and share my experience and insights.
I will address the next phase of growth in the district through my work for the district as an involved Board member. I will also support that growth through my interest, excitement and enthusiasm for the work we’ve yet to do in the district.
Do you have a website? N/A
Personal information: Age, marital status, number of children and ages, do they attend Chelsea Schools? Age 48, married. Three children ages 23, 21, and 18 – all attended Chelsea K – 12 (as did I).
Steve Olsen
What is your occupation? Attorney at Law
What is your education?
High School – St. Cecilia High School, Detroit MI, graduated 1964
College – University of Richmond (VA), 1964-1966
U.S. Air Force – 1966 – 1970, Radio Intercept Analyst
College – Oakland University, 1970-73, graduated magna cum laude in 1973 with B.A. degree, double major in Economics and Political Science
Law School – University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), graduated 1976 with Juris Doctor degree
Have you previously been elected to office? I was first elected to the Chelsea Board of Education in May, 2004 and re-elected in 2008 and 2012.
Have you attended a Board of Education meeting prior to filing to run for office? Yes, I attended many Board of Education meetings before running for office in 2004.
Do you serve on any boards or committees in the community? Please list a few of them and dates of service.
I currently serve as a commissioner on the State Teacher Tenure Commission (2014 – 2019).
I am a board member on the Chelsea Board of Education (2004 to present). In connection with my service as a school board member, I have served on the Policy, Finance, Personnel, Curriculum and Negotiations committees. I have been elected by my fellow school board members to serve as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice-President, and currently President of the board.
I am a member of the board of directors of the Washtenaw Association of School Boards, and have served as an officer of that association.
In the past, I served as a member of the board of directors of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce, and held all officer positions in that organization.
KEY ISSUES: Briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign – why are you running for the Board of Education?
Assure that our new Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Julie Helber, becomes a successful and dynamic leader of the Chelsea School District.
Assure that Chelsea students achieve academic excellence to the greatest extent of each student’s abilities; maximize each student’s emotional and social growth; and, assure that Chelsea students graduate well-prepared for the next stage of their journey into adulthood and citizenship.
SUMMARY: Can you explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above?
I believe I can provide Dr. Helber with advice on subjects I learned over the past twelve years as a school board member in Chelsea, and provide some institutional memory for her benefit.
Our students will succeed if I, as a school board member, insist that our school district goals are achieved. Those goals are to increase individual student achievement; maintain a positive, safe, and healthy school climate; maintain fiscal responsibility; and, promote positive interactions between the school district and our various communities.
Do you have a website? None
Personal information: Age, marital status, number of children and ages, do they attend Chelsea Schools? I am a healthy 70 years of age, married to my wife Mary. We have one child, Kirk, who is 21 years of age and attended Chelsea Schools. Kirk is currently a senior in the School of Engineering at University of Michigan (Ann Arbor).
Shawn Quilter
What is your occupation? Professor at Eastern Michigan University in the College of Education
What is your education?
Chelsea High School, 1986
University of Michigan, BA in psychology with class honors, 1990
Eastern Michigan University, MA in educational psychology, 1993
University of South Carolina, MEd in testing & measurement, 1995
University of South Carolina, PhD in educational research & measurement, 1998
Have you previously been elected to office? No
Have you attended a Board of Education meeting prior to filing to run for office? Yes
Do you serve on any boards or committees in the community? Please list a few of them and dates of service.
I serve on a national board for teacher preparation but not on a community board or committee.
KEY ISSUES: Briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign – why are you running for the Board of Education?
To be an advocate for continuous improvement by collaboratively moving forward the board’s goals (i.e., increase individual student achievement; maintain a positive, safe, and healthy school climate; maintain fiscal responsibility; and promote interaction between the school district and our communities).
To bring additional perspectives to bear on board considerations (i.e. my experience as an educational researcher and someone who works with college students).
SUMMARY: Can you explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above?
Based on interactions with stakeholders, support a continuous improvement process that helps Chelsea School District build upon existing successes. As a board member, I will participate in a process that allows for continuous improvement.
Drawing on my experiences teaching at Eastern Michigan University’s College of Education, I will bring perspectives from educational research and practice, as well as college student development, to board considerations (when appropriate).
Do you have a website?
My campaign has two sites.
The Facebook page is located at https://www.facebook.com/shawn.quilter.for.school.board or by searching FB for Shawn Quilter for School Board.
The main site is located at https://www.livetext.com/doc/10343018.
Personal information: Age, marital status, number of children and ages, do they attend Chelsea Schools? I am 47 years old, married to Kelly Quilter; two sons: Ryan (age 4) and Finn (age 1).
Kristin van Reesema
What is your occupation? Project Manager at a Michigan public utility for natural gas infrastructure building projects.
Post college, my work skills include engineering, business development, corporate finance, strategic planning, and project management.
What is your education? Portage Central High School, Portage, MI 1985; Michigan State University 1989 – Mechanical Engineering
Have you previously been elected to office? No
Have you attended a Board of Education meeting prior to filing to run for office? Yes
Do you serve on any boards or committees in the community? Please list a few of them and dates of service.
Chelsea Music Boosters (2015-2016)
Chelsea District Library (2008 – 2012)
Educational Committee at St. Paul United Church of Christ (2006-2013)
Chelsea Ridge Homeowners Association (2003-2005)
Active in promoting the local chapter of American Field Service with the hosting of exchange students living in the community. (2008 – Present)
KEY ISSUES: Briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign – why you are running for the Board of Education?
I believe that funding of public schools in Michigan will be a critical issue over the next six years. Fortunately, the District has recently been infused with new funding for our special education services, which has allowed us to reallocate precious general funds to reducing class sizes and adding support staff. Continued financial support from our businesses and voters are critical to the success of our schools.
SUMMARY: Can you explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above?
I will ensure financial stewardship and transparency of our District’s budget and that our taxpayer funds will be utilized effectively for the educational instruction of our students.
Do you have a website? No
Personal information: Age, marital status, number of children and ages, do they attend Chelsea Schools? Age 49, married, two children Julia, 15 and Noah, 18. Both children were in the Chelsea Schools since Kindergarten. My son graduated this year and is attending Michigan State University.
