Meet the 6 Chelsea School Board Candidates Running for 6-Year Terms

By Crystal Hayduk

[This is the second of two Q&A articles with candidates running for the Chelsea School District Board of Education.]

There are six candidates vying for three six-year terms on the Chelsea School District Board of Education. (Related story about the partial-term seat that published yesterday.)

None of the incumbents—Laura Bush, Shawn Quilter, and Kristin van Reesema— are seeking to retain their positions on the school board. This leaves the door wide open for newcomers: Michelle Craig, Dr. Glenn Fox, Tom Golding, Ross Greenstein, Kate Henson, and Julianne Mallie.

Chelsea Update asked the candidates to answer questions about key issues and to provide background information.

In alphabetical order, candidate responses are below. Their answers are published as submitted, without editing.

Michelle Craig

OCCUPATION & PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT:

Personal Chef & Owner of Comfort Catering Services, LLC. I cook and deliver homemade prepared meals for families in the Chelsea and Dexter communities.

EDUCATION:
Chelsea High School 1995

Western Michigan University 2000, BBA in Marketing

Study Abroad: City University, London, England 1998, Business and Music studies

Institute of Culinary Education, NY 2013, Culinary Arts Degree

Metropolitan College of New York 2016, Master of Business Administration

ANY PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE:
This is my first campaign for an elected position.

CURRENT PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE:
I worked as the Program and Administrative Services Coordinator for the Chelsea Community Kitchen 2017 – 2018.

Member of the Chelsea High School Graduating Class of 1995 Reunion committee

KEY ISSUES: (Please briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign.)

1. To maximize the social, emotional and mental educational experience for all students, especially those with special needs.
2. To continue to ensure that each student has a strong academic and well-rounded education to reach their full potential and succeed, whether it’s in skilled trades, higher education, entrepreneurship, or for however their future unfolds.

ACTIONS: (Please BRIEFLY explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above.)

1. I will work with the rest of the Board, Administrators, General & Special Education Departments and parents to provide more general education inclusion for students with Autism and other special needs. Together, this can be done by:

Approving an adaptive curriculum to help all students learn across the full spectrum of abilities in the district.

Hiring Board Certified Behavioral Analysts to train and work with teachers and staff to create, implement and evaluate IEPs.

Securing Resource Rooms, trained staff and Teacher Consultants in each building.

Acquiring proven adaptive learning resources and giving all K-12 teachers and staff the curricular freedom to succeed with kids who learn in different ways so all students can thrive.

2. I will work with others of the Board and Administrators to approve a curriculum that will continue to ensure that all students succeed in school and in life. Together, we’ll do this by:

Listening and collaborating with teachers, staff, parents and students.

Ensuring there is funding for education in all academics as well as creative and performing arts, global culture, environment, community service and skilled trades.

Ensuring there is funding, either through the CSD Budget or through State and/or Federal funding, to grow resources for mental health, emotional wellness and mindfulness.

Creating best practices for acquiring and keeping the best teachers and staff and giving them the opportunity for free continuing education.

Working with administrators, maintenance staff and vendors to improve school infrastructure and security for a safe and comfortable learning environment.

INSIGHT: What do you hope to achieve if elected as a school board member?
If elected as a school board member I hope to achieve a return to civil discourse and respect for everyone in the district. To listen to Administrators, teachers, staff, parents, students and community members and be a voice on the Board so all students can succeed and flourish in school and in life.

WEBSITE:
www.MichelleForChelsea.com

Facebook and Instagram: MichelleForChelsea

PERSONAL:
I am a proud Chelsea community member in my mid-forties and a small business owner.

SUMMARY: Why do you want to be a school board member?
I am running as a candidate for the Chelsea School District Board of Education because as both a daughter of a Chelsea teacher and as a Chelsea graduate, I am passionate about serving the community and maintaining our school district’s excellence. I want to ensure that, together, we’re raising our youth to learn, grow, and develop into the next generation of leaders and innovators.

Dr. Glenn Fox
OCCUPATION & PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT:
Faculty, Division of Anatomical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine;

Director, Anatomical Donations Program, University of Michigan Medical School

EDUCATION:
1995 – Baldwin Senior High School

2000 – BS, Biology, cum laude, and Anthropology-Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

2002 – MS, Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

2006 – PhD, Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

ANY PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE:
While I’ve held leadership and stewardship positions, this is my first opportunity seeking a publicly elected office.

CURRENT PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE:
I have a long history of intramural service at the University of Michigan and Jackson Community College, highlights include:

Jackson Community College: Curriculum Committee and Anatomy Design & Renovation Committee.

University of Michigan: Anatomical Donations Program Committee, M1 Scientific Trunk Committee, Faculty mentor for Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Faculty Volunteer for Galens Medical Society, and Faculty volunteer for Second Look Weekends.

I have also served on the Board of Directors for my former condominium complex in Ann Arbor.

I direct the UM Anatomical Donations Program, and I co-direct two large courses at UM: M1 Gross Anatomy, and DENT 545, Head & Neck Anatomy. I am a co-founder of BlueLink. BlueLink is a collection of various libraries of multimedia (atlas quality photographs, video tutorials, learning objective texts, lab manuals, and extended (AR/VR) reality assets that we developed and shared with the world. Our resources are free for anyone to use for any educational, non-commercial purpose. We share UM anatomy curricula with the world, and also save our own students hundreds of dollars in textbook costs that they no longer require. BlueLink is one of my greatest professional passions and is my labor of love to bring high quality anatomical education to the world.

KEY ISSUES: (Please briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign.)

1. To support the students, expert teachers, paraprofessionals, staff, administration, and involved families that make our community strong and improve our schools. Chelsea is a top functioning district by many metrics, but lately it suffers morale issues related to the pandemic and extrinsically motivated attacks on teachers and administrators which have affected morale. Our community is strong, welcoming, and generous. Families come together for each other and for our children. We must learn to recognize the humanity in one another and set aside narrow views of others as rivals, political archetypes, and caricatures. My experience demonstrates that diverse, equitable, and inclusive teams succeed because of the combined strengths of their constituents. Honest, direct, and civil communication is the key to making progress. Chelsea is ranked as a top 25 district in the state, and we should work together to improve that to a top 10 district. Operationalizing this vision requires all stakeholders to commit to work together in earnest. This is why my campaign slogan is “Stronger together.”
2. To focus on better integrating CSD’s Portrait of a Graduate among the curricula of our four schools. Portrait of a Graduate is a comprehensive vision, developed and produced by Chelsea administration, teachers, staff, families, and other community stakeholders. This vision outlines and contextualizes academic, social, and emotional growth across four primary skills (the ‘4 C’s’): Communication, Creativity, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking, and outlines building-level developmental competencies. COVID interrupted the curricular integration, and work continues to operationalize this vision. Portrait of a Graduate is our community’s road map of educational values, and is a cogent approach to further improving integration among buildings, and improving the wellness of our students.

ACTIONS: (Please BRIEFLY explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above.)

Two of my top priorities require no capital funding. Chelsea School District is strong financially, with a healthy sinking fund and will be selling the second in a series of three bonds in September which can provide for our short, medium, and long term needs and any unexpected issues. This is the result of good financial stewardship by the current and past Boards and Administrations. We are also fortunate Michigan’s state government passed record bipartisan education budget investments which increase per pupil spending and provide funding for student mental health & wellness, school safety, special education, and infrastructure. Two of my personal priorities to serve Chelsea Schools are:

1. Improving communication is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to improve and strengthen an organization. A school district is a complex organization of people, buildings, land, and equipment working together to serve students and other stakeholders. We must be intentional in our pursuit of better communication, and leverage all available technologies and pathways to open lines of discourse between and among the people of the CSD community. We will bring groups together in ways that strike a balance between respecting time as a resource and offering opportunities for organic and useful dialogue. We must be transparent in bringing our vision of Chelsea School District improvement
2. Administration, teachers, and staff need the time and bandwidth to further engage in the process of integrating the 4 C’s of Portrait of a Graduate. This work is ongoing and these folks are also engaged in a multitude of curriculum development and review, facility care and maintenance, getting vehicles, buildings, & classrooms ready for the start of school, completing professional development, working with sports teams and other extracurriculars, and running through the lists of all the things that must happen in advance of the first day of school. To operationalize Portrait of a Graduate, we must start with recognizing this as our guiding vision about which we organize our curricula, supporting processes, and messaging. We make it clear that the values and skills are a community priority, we message our intentions to move forward as a community, empower our professionals to both identify existing elements of our curricula and extracurricular opportunities for these skills and identify opportunities for these skills to be integrated into our curricula and extracurricular activities.

INSIGHT: What do you hope to achieve if elected as a school board member?
If elected, I hope to create a new culture of cooperation that builds upon themes of community, strength, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, such that we all feel invested in and a part of Chelsea Schools. I hope to achieve what we all want for our children – for our schools to be safe, effective, welcoming communities where children feel a sense of belonging, where they are inspired to learn, challenged to grow, and feel a sense of honor and duty to contribute their own knowledge, skills, abilities, and creativity to maintain what we all love: Chelsea Schools. I hope that we hold these ideals closely and practice them frequently, such that Chelsea Schools grow, develop, and improve. We can improve upon an already excellent foundation, and we can be stronger together.

WEBSITE: 
www.foxforchelsea.com

www.facebook.com/foxforchelseaschools

www.instagram.com/foxforchelseaschools

PERSONAL: 
45; married; two children, ages 9 & 11 (South Meadows Elementary & Beach Middle)

SUMMARY: Why do you want to be a school board member?

I seek to represent my Chelsea community on the school board because I have a deep and abiding love of public education, our Chelsea community, and our Chelsea schools. I am the product of public education, from primary through higher education, and I have made a career in public higher education as a teacher, scientist, and administrator. I find my joy in service to others, professionally that is in the university classroom, laboratory, or committee. I want to invest my time, talents, experience, enthusiasm, and communication skills for the benefit of Chelsea students, teachers, staff, administration, families, and other stakeholders. If elected, I will work tirelessly and honorably on behalf of our Chelsea community. To learn more about me or my campaign, please visit www.foxforchelsea.com.

Tom Golding

OCCUPATION & PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT:

Builder/Remodeler, Co-Owner of Covenant Construction Group, LLC

EDUCATION:

Manchester High School, class of 1987.

I have an Associate degree in Integrated Manufacturing and a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

ANY PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE:
I was the treasurer for the United States Air Force Academy Eastern Michigan Parents Club for the 2014-2015 academic year.

CURRENT PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE:
(Candidate did not provide information for this question.)

KEY ISSUES: (Please briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign.)

1. Parental involvement in education
2. School Safety

ACTIONS: (Please BRIEFLY explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above.)

1. I want to be an advocate for parents and a conduit through which their concerns can be heard and considered by the Board/Administration. I want to hold townhall type meetings with the other board members and the community where real interaction and conversation can occur.
2. I desire every student and staff member to feel safe and secure in all school activities. Considering this, the school administration should continually enforce school safety policies. If we are deficient in any areas, I believe consulting with other schools, law enforcement, or security companies would be of value.

INSIGHT: What do you hope to achieve if elected as a school board member?

I will be a Trustee who listens to any parent who wants to discuss issues or concerns regarding their student’s education. In addition, I will work to gain the confidence and trust of students, parents, staff, and administration.

I feel that a school board should engage with not only the teachers and staff but also the parents and community. I am ready to bridge that gap and look forward to serving our great community. 

WEBSITE:
votetomgolding.com

PERSONAL:
I am married and have 4 sons. Our oldest started at CSD in third grade, our next three started in kindergarten. All are CSD graduates except our youngest who did not attend Chelsea High his senior year.

SUMMARY: Why do you want to be a school board member?
I have always felt very fortunate to live in this community and send my sons to what I believe is one of the best school systems. I want to give back to the community by serving on the BOE and helping to ensure Chelsea Schools remain a great place to learn and grow. I commit to listening to all, being transparent, and working with the board and Mr. Kapolka. Current students are our future leaders, they deserve an excellent education, and I would like to play a part in that.

Ross J. Greenstein

OCCUPATION: PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT:

Lead Physician Assistant for cardiovascular surgery, thoracic surgery, and cardiology at Henry Ford – Jackson.

EDUCATION:
Suffern High School, Suffern, NY – Graduated 1992

University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI – 1992 to 1994 – pre-med

University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY – Graduated 1996 – BA psychology, minor – biology

Rutgers University/UMDNJ, Piscataway, NJ – Graduated 2000, Master of Science – Physician Assistant.

ANY PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE:
None

CURRENT PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Quality management committee – HF – President

KEY ISSUES: (Please briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign.)

1. Improving academic outcomes by utilizing evidence-based methods
2. Working collaboratively with the parents, students, teachers, and the community

ACTIONS: (Please BRIEFLY explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above.)

1. Academic excellence is more than taking AP classes and earning high grades; It means helping to develop an individual’s capacities and skills to their fullest potential. I am confident that our teachers and studentscan achieve this. We understandably decreased standards during COVID, and it is time to return to pre-COVID expectations.

I believe in the teaching approach of fundamental learning. Therefore, a curriculum focusing on reading comprehension, writing, arithmetic, English, penmanship, and financial literacy is essential for preparing students for life. Classrooms are where students can participate in open discussions even — or I should say especially — when the topics are controversial. A teacher’s job is to provide students with the proper and full context, relevant facts, and evidence, if any, about a given topic, so that the students can make their own informed decisions. 

The demand for skilled labor has never been higher. Unfortunately, a stigma is so strong today that young people don’t associate high pay and job security with trade schools. However, unlike a bachelor’s degree, an education in a trade school is far more likely to yield a job due to the need for specialized skills that affect all areas of our lives. Foods, roads, plumbing, energy, construction, vehicles, and more are all life necessities that tradesmen make possible. At the same time, available skilled labor declines, promoting trade schools as an equally viable, well-paying career path is essential.

I will raise awareness of the alternative education pathways offered through SWWC career & technical education.

2. To provide our children with an excellent education, we must first begin with supporting our teachers. We have many highly qualified teachers throughout the district, but what we don’t have is an environment conducive to retaining and attracting them here. Supporting our teachers is necessary when providing our students with vital education and a nurturing environment. Reallocation of funding for teachers, additional aides, and support from the administration are great places to start.

Encourage teacher-parent communication to identify gaps in learning and have an open dialogue about what is going well and areas of improvement. These should be frequent. I enjoyed the weekly newsletter from my son’s 1st-grade teacher.

To ensure student/teacher/parent engagement and to further augment a child’s education, a detailed curriculum shared with parents is vital so parents can participate and reinforce in-school learning. In addition, positive collaboration between the board, teachers, and parents should increase student success.

INSIGHT: What do you hope to achieve if elected as a school board member?
Education is one of the most important gifts we give to our children. I believe a school board should be responsive, receptive, and transparent to parents, staff, students, and the community while encouraging constructive dialog. Therefore, my efforts as a board member will center on serving all the children in our community by ensuring they receive a quality education, academically and socially, in our top 25-rated district. Every child deserves a voice and to graduate with a goal in mind. Whether that may be a trade school, university, or even entrepreneurship – CSD will build a solid foundation for future success.

I want to ensure that we provide a safe learning environment for each student. Therefore, I will prioritize advocating for increased access to mental health care for families and students in our community. I also fully support resource officers on all school campuses.

WEBSITE:
Website: Greenstein4csb.com

Facebook: @Greenstein4csb

PERSONAL:
48, Married, 3 – 20,17,7 All have attended Chelsea schools.

My oldest child is graduating this year from GVSU, my middle child will graduate from Chelsea in 2023 as Senior class president, and my youngest will be in second grade at North Creek. I have coached baseball for the younger kids and volunteer within the schools with my wife. My children have been active in marching band, student council, CAP youth, and varsity soccer.

SUMMARY: Why do you want to be a school board member?
I believe we have outstanding teachers and an active parent community; we need to work cohesively to solidify trust and confidence in District leadership all while encouraging open, constructive conversations. I want to ensure that we provide a safe learning environment for each student. Finally, our district continues to be fiscally sound, and I will continue to support those efforts and explore opportunities to recover the learning loss due to the COVID pandemic.

I am committed to working collaboratively with other board members in a positive, productive, and student-focused environment. I am student-focused and dedicated to ensuring that all students are successful in achieving their maximum potential. I am looking forward to serving the Chelsea community and the Chelsea school district.

Kate Henson
OCCUPATION & PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT:

I am the Director of Programs for General Systems Consulting Group. We provide organizational, team and leadership development consulting and training services. I oversee our leadership development programs, created and facilitate workshops for women and girls focused on assertiveness and confidence. I’ve been lucky enough to substitute teach in the district as well.

EDUCATION:
1999 Chelsea High School

2006 University of Phoenix – Bachelor of Science, Business Management

2007 University of Phoenix – MBA

ANY PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE:
This is my first opportunity to run for an elected office.

CURRENT PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE:
I have been the President of my neighborhood homeowner’s association for over 10 years.

KEY ISSUES: (Please briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign.)

1. Our teachers and staff are well educated and highly trained professionals, equipped to provide our children with a first-rate education. Ensuring they have the tools and equipment they need not only enhances the education they provide it also creates a positive work environment for them, which leads to employee retention and attraction.
2. Implementation and sustainment of mental health initiates to serve our students, staff and faculty is an issue I am very passionate about. Improving and promoting access to strategies, tools and techniques developed by professionals to help students and staff alike is going to be a key component to healing and moving through the endemic phase of Covid-19.

ACTIONS: (Please BRIEFLY explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above.)

1. As a new board member I will learn from Mr. Kapolka, the building administrators and other board members about any existing processes to actively solicit, manage, and act on teachers’ needs and then determine as a team if these practices are sufficient, need improvement or have yet to be established.
2. I’m excited to learn more about the initiatives the district is already championing and work together with the Superintendent, Mike Kapolka, and fellow board members to investigate what’s working and what’s not working based on student and staff feedback. The Superintendent and board members will use this information to collaborate with professionals to tweak the programs and tools as necessary.

INSIGHT: What do you hope to achieve if elected as a school board member?
As the parent of an elementary student and a substitute teacher in the district I bring a “boots on the ground” perspective to board business. I will use my open minded, collaborative style and listening skills to bring understanding, build consensus, problem solve and be an active team member when setting policy, supporting our Superintendent, and fostering a welcoming environment for our students, teachers, and administrators.

WEBSITE:
www.KateHensonforChelseaSchools.com

facebook.com/katehensonforchelseaschools

instagram.com/katehensonforchelseaschools

twitter.com/Henson4Chelsea

PERSONAL:
I am 40 years old. My husband, Damon Henson and I have two children (8 & 2). Our oldest will be at South Meadows this year. Our youngest wishes she was 5 because she wants so badly to be in kindergarten.

SUMMARY: Why do you want to be a school board member?
I am running for school board because I want to be part of the team giving back to the teachers and staff who deserve support and care as they provide our children with the foundational education that sets them up for a successful future.

Julianne Mallie
OCCUPATION & PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: 

Global Capability Lead

Global Business Process & Systems – Kellogg Company

EDUCATION:
Marysville High School, 1994

Western Michigan University, Bachelor of Science Industrial Engineering, 1999

ANY PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE:
None

CURRENT PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Within my work community:

• North America R&D United Way Silent Auction Committee (2016 -2019) where we raised between $10,000 and $20,000 per year.
• North America K-Pride & Allies Leadership Committee (2015-2020)

KEY ISSUES: (Please briefly identify the top two issues of your campaign.)

1. Communication and transparency: Parents want to know what is going on, what materials are being used, that policies are being followed, opt-outs are being adhered to and that parents are notified when their children are being pulled out of class and speaking with counselors. All should feel safe talking to the teachers and administration about concerns, which includes all feeling comfortable speaking to the board of education without fear of reprisal from the administration or the board.
2. Focus on Academics: Michigan is ranked 38th in the nation in K-12 academics. So, even with Chelsea being ranked in the top 15 in Michigan that still doesn’t leave us in a great position nationally, we can do better. We’ve also had declining test scores over the last several years according to the Michigan Department of Education website.

ACTIONS: (Please BRIEFLY explain how you will address the two key issues you’ve chosen above.)

1. I would like the Board of Education to start holding quarterly listening sessions with the community, parents, teachers, and staff. This would be rotating board members to comply with the Open Meetings Act. The board will hold the administration accountable for following district policy. If the district can’t follow the request to keep parents notified in a timely fashion about materials and conversations with counselors then the board should look at adding policy.
2. More in-class time focused on core academics, allowing teachers to actually teach their core subject(s). Less time pulling kids out of classes. Half days should still remain instruction time with limits on movies or other “free time” activities. That doesn’t mean you don’t have field day and such but they are special and specific activities. Look into introducing a foreign language at the elementary levels with timing similar to having music and art for 30 minutes every week.

INSIGHT: What do you hope to achieve if elected as a school board member?
There are many things for the district to work on from drug issues, bullying, declining academics, improving communication, improving transparency, and addressing mental health. They can’t all be addressed at once but should all be prioritized and timelines set up to address issues. I’ve managed million-dollar department budgets, delivered large system updates with complicated change management and communication, and worked on multiple global teams that have different priorities that we had to come to a consensus on work and priorities. It can be done, and it can be done with honesty, transparency, and civility.  I want students, parents, teachers, staff, and the community to be heard and feel heard.

WEBSITE:
www.mallie4csb.com

PERSONAL:
I am 46 years old, married with 2 children ages 6 & 8.  My 8-year-old attended Chelsea Schools for kindergarten & 1st grade. We then decided to move both children to a nearby Catholic school for kindergarten & 2nd grade. With the 2 years of disrupted schooling that was provided by the district for my oldest, and with little faith that the district would not return to virtual or hybrid learning, we did what was in the best interest of our family which was guaranteed in-person learning all school year. 

I enjoy volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, Feeding America Food Bank, and any classroom requests for help. 

SUMMARY: Why do you want to be a school board member?
I believe the School Board should be open to hearing from parents, staff, students, and the community. We must ensure they are listened to and take their comments seriously. 

Members should be accessible and encourage open and constructive dialog outside of the bi-weekly meetings.  All people should feel safe in speaking or communicating questions or concerns to the School Board.  Board members must represent their community, not a single constituency.

A solid academic education is essential in helping our children be successful after graduation. Whether that takes them to vocational training, college, or entrepreneurship, we must ensure they are ready to succeed and lead. 

We have great teachers, involved parents, and an involved community.  As a district, we must bring back the confidence some have lost over the last several years in our leadership and the curriculum.

I am thankful we have a financially sound district.  We need to ensure we remain that way in the future, but we also need to ensure our staff is paid appropriately for the important jobs they do. 

I am committed to collaborating with the rest of the School Board and a partner with those I represent.  I look forward to serving the Chelsea School District.