Paul Lammers, left, Department of Public Works supervisor for the Village of Grass Lake converses with Valerie Alexander, a candidate for the Grass Lake school board, and Matthew Swank, a trustee candidate for the Village of Grass Lake at a recent Meet the Candidates event.
Our Nov. 8 election coverage continues with candidates running for positions on the Grass Lake school board. There are five candidates on the ballot running for two positions for six-year terms. Candidate Kelly Yeager chose not to respond to our questionnaire.
Valerie Alexander
Explain your reasons for running for trustee of the Grass Lake school board.
As a parent in the Grass Lake Community Schools district, I have experienced, along with my children, each grade level from Little Warriors Preschool to 12th grade, as well as athletics and a variety of clubs. I am seeking the opportunity to positively impact the students, teachers, and administrators throughout the district. As a parent and an educator, I believe that I am in a unique position to serve this community and the Grass Lake Community Schools district in a way that few others are qualified to do.
What is one or more challenges/problems in the schools you would like to have the board and staff address? What would be potential outcomes?
With the challenges in today’s society, I plan to focus not only on a strong academic experience but also improving student well-being. The potential outcome of focusing in these areas is to develop a whole student approach.
What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I have been a teacher in Jackson County for the past 19 years, serving in both small and large districts. I have taught mathematics at every grade level 6-12 in courses from Recovery Math to Precalculus. I am currently in my 11th year as the Mathematics Department chair. I’ve held this position in two separate school districts. I have a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Eastern Michigan University. As an educator, I have served on a variety of committees, such as the School Improvement Team and Student Intervention Team. I have a true passion for learning, teaching, and service.
Tell us about your family.
I have been married for 15 years. My husband, Wil, is also a civil servant, having worked for the State of Michigan for the past 22 years. Together we have three children – one graduate, one high schooler, and one middle schooler in the Grass Lake Community Schools district.
What are your hobbies and/or interests in your spare time?
Together we enjoy camping, traveling, and making memories with family and friends. GO WARRIORS!!!
Janey Bisard
Explain your reasons for running for trustee of the Grass Lake school board.
I am running for re-election to maintain my current seat on the Board of Education.
What is one or more challenges/problems in the schools you would like to have the board and staff address? What would be potential outcomes?
Growth in our community means growth of our schools and the possibility of outgrowing our current schools.
What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I have eight years of experience as a current school Board of Education member. I attend the Michigan Association of School Boards’ Annual Leadership Conference to stay current with legislative changes and attend school board education classes, where I have 315 education credits. I have attended ISD board meetings and Jackson County monthly meetings with other local school board members. And I have a great working relationship with other board members, the superintendent, the administration, teachers, and staff!
Tell us about your family.
Married to Steve for 21 years. Two children, Stephenie and Ryan. Son-in-law, Nick, and one grandson.
What are your hobbies and/or interests in your spare time?
Spending time with my family, camping, riding our motorcycle, and volunteering when I can.
Mary Brooks
Explain your reasons for running for trustee of the Grass Lake school board.
I have two children in the Grass Lake elementary school, a first grader and a third grader. By running for the school board, I am investing in their education. It is a six-year term. As a mother, I can be a part of the decision-making process for their curriculum, school policies, and future growth/expansion. As a small business owner, I can bring my business skills to aid in managing budgets and policies, and procedures. I want to ensure we are providing a safe place for our children to come to school and learn. I want to ensure each child has the tools and resources they need to become successful after graduation whether that be going to college, going to a trade school, or entering the workforce. My goal is to put children first and maintain the core values of our Grass Lake community.
What is one or more challenges/problems in the schools you would like to have the board and staff address? What would be potential outcomes?
We have several teachers and administrators that are approaching retirement. As a board, we will need to come up with a recruitment plan to replace these staff members that will be leaving. As a board, it will be our duty to select the right staff members for our schools. As a small business owner, I specialize in HR management. My skills will be very useful in the process of recruitment and hiring and I look forward to that challenge.
Our school is growing at a tremendous pace. Some parts of our elementary school are over 50 years old. Our middle school has ADA compliance issues. We have outgrown our high school already. Our next board will be facing tough decisions about expansion and improvements to our facilities. I look forward to being a part of the decision-making process that will affect not only my children who are in 1st and 3rd grade but all of the other children in our school district.
What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I have previously served as a board member for the Chelsea Fire Department Auxiliary and the Lake LeAnn Property Owners Association. I held executive
positions on each board including secretary and vice president. My husband and I own a healthcare education business where I specialize in HR management and budgeting. I am a 4-H Club leader with the Grass Lake 4-H Club. By trade, I am a licensed paramedic and an American Heart Association instructor. I also have personal experience with special needs students.
If elected, I plan to attend the school board training program with the Michigan Association of School Boards. I have attended the school board meetings for more than a year.
Tell us about your family.
My husband and I have been Grass Lake residents for 17 years. We have two children, a 7-year-old girl, and an 8-year-old boy. My husband proudly served in the Army for eight years. I graduated from the da Vinci Institute and previously attended East Jackson. I always lived in Grass Lake and the surrounding area for a short time period when my husband was stationed out of state. We have a small farm on the northwest corner of Grass Lake.
What are your hobbies and/or interests in your spare time?
I enjoy working with our children to care for our animals and grow our own food. I am an avid crafter and own an online Etsy shop. I enjoy volunteering at the elementary school for field trips and a variety of special events within the school. Our family loves to travel and explore.
Mark J. Rankin
Explain your reasons for running for trustee of the Grass Lake school board.
I am running in order to represent the students and families of Grass Lake. I believe that all students can learn, and everyone deserves a quality education. I would like to help Grass Lake go from good to great and ensure that all students are successful academically, socially, and emotionally. I want all students to be prepared for success after HS regardless of their career path or continuing education. I would like to see the continuous improvement that is supported by data with the goal of 100 percent of the students being proficient in ELA, math, science, and social studies. I believe it is important to have rigor in the curriculum while providing quality academics, arts, and athletics.
What is one or more challenges/problems in the schools you would like to have the board and staff address? What would be potential outcomes?
I believe that there are gaps in learning over the past few years with COVID, school shutdowns, and virtual learning. I want to ensure that the school district has the plan to address the gaps and improve student achievement across the spectrum. It is important to challenge the students who are at or above grade level, while systematically addressing the students who are below grade level or have special needs. I believe there is a key to success for every child and the school district has a responsibility to ensure success for everyone.
Another challenge is the ability to recruit and retain high-quality staff. The school district needs to have a plan in place and make this a priority. Families entrust their student’s education to the school district, and they have a responsibility to ensure high-quality education and staff.
What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I have over 30 years of experience in K-12 and higher education. I have served as a turn-around specialist for failing schools to help with curriculum, instruction, budget, and achievement. I believe that every student should have an individual academic plan to ensure success for every student regardless of strengths, weaknesses, or challenges. If I am elected, I will strive to ask the right questions and seek data and facts in order to have the right information that allows for informed decisions. Decisions should be based on what is best for the educational program and most importantly the students, rather than based on budgetary or political reasons. It is important to be able to listen, problem-solve, and think outside the box in order to create a culture of solutions.
Tell us about your family.
I am married to Dr. Michelle Rankin who owns her own business (Rankin Audiology) in Chelsea. I have four children and three of them have graduated from Grass Lake and the fourth is currently a freshman. Paul graduated in 2013, received a degree in engineering from MSU, and is currently an officer and pilot for the U.S. Army. Theresa graduated in 2016, graduated from Lourdes University, and is currently the head women’s wrestling coach for Trine University. Matthew graduated in 2022 and is currently attending Trine University and is majoring in business administration and running cross county and track. Sarah is a freshman and is participating in choir, cross country, equestrian, and track. I am currently working for MSU Extension as a district director.
What are your hobbies and/or interests in your spare time?
I am a Christian and raised my children to honor and glorify God in all that we do in our life. I try to be thankful and count my blessings on a daily basis. I believe that it is important to be grounded in your faith and to live with a moral compass, honesty, and integrity. I currently serve with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Division. We support local events such as fireworks, parades, Tunnel to Towers, Civil War Muster, Faster Horses, Traffic Jam’in, the county fair, and search and rescue efforts. I love to ride horses and go trail riding in the Waterloo Recreational Area. I also enjoy golfing and boating. My family enjoys tubing, knee boarding, wakeboarding, skiing, and snorkeling. My son is in the military, and I am a disabled veteran, and I am committed to supporting our military, police, fire, medical, and first responders.
