Interviewer: Doctor Smith, in one word, what is your top priority for the district's children? And why and how would you prioritize?

Jameel Smith: I think one word is opportunity. I'm really interested in how this district can ensure that every child, every day, has the opportunities that they need. You know, the district has made some good progress and there's some important things that are underway, but I think there's a lot of opportunity to ensure that we have strong instruction, you know, excellent teachers. That we have safe and supportive buildings and communities. That students have both the academic and other supports that they need that are delivered consistently to thrive.

I also think that, you know, there is opportunity to strengthen how the district transparently talks about the successes that we've had. The challenges that remain, what we're doing about it, and how well we're doing in our strategies are working. I think that if we can take advantage of that opportunity, then the community can feel that the board is focused on accountability, and we're building trust so that people feel confident and comfortable that their neighborhood school is going to provide their child with the opportunities that they need to thrive.

At the center of every decision that the board makes has to be, you know, student academic success. But I think the way that you get at that is all of those other things that I mentioned. We've got to have first, a strategic plan that speaks to all of those factors that are going to get us to consistent academic improvement and good outcomes for students. So I think part of that is asking good questions about what is long term plan, really holding leadership accountable to better understand what's working, what's not working, where we need to be changing things.

And then in terms of that transparency piece, I think there's really some good, good opportunities that we have to tell our story. You know, because when we don't talk about our story, enough people come to their own conclusions about things. So I think being really focused strategically on making sure the plans we have in place, we're following through with those.

Interviewer: “As a student, I wish my school had...”

Jameel Smith: Okay. So I am a proud product of Mark Twain elementary and middle school in Southwest Detroit, and then Cass Tech really open doors for me as a graduate. And I'm really proud of the education that I had. It certainly shaped who I am and what I'm doing today. I really wish that I had schools that, even earlier, had helped me begin to imagine who I could become.

And I think that comes from more opportunities with mentorship, community partnerships, you know, really drilling down on college and career pathways. Those are the kind of things that I think really can help a student begin to imagine a future for themselves. So, you know, as a board member, I want to be asking not just our students graduating? I want to know, you know, what's the plan for them afterwards so that they can thrive into their future?

Candidates appear in ballot order, alphabetical by last name.

Vote for not more than 4

• Natalie Bien-Aime*

• Steve Bland Jr.

• Michelle Broughton

• Katrina Brown

• Cidney Calloway

• Bobby Christian*

• Nicole Conaway

• Vilma Escamilla Duran

• Daniel Ferguson III*

• Duane Larry Grigsby Jr.

• Bessie L. Harris

• David Harris

• C. Allan Hubbard

• Henrietta Ivey*

• Tabrian C. Joe

• Shinese Johnson

• Theodore Jones

• Georgia Mae Lemmons

• LaMar D. Lemmons

• Clement O. Lett*

• Phil Lloyd II

• Darious Morris*

• Liana Mulholland

• Tyshea Pope

• DaNetta L. Simpson

• Tawanna Simpson

• Jameel Montgomery Smith

• Calesther Smith-Arnold*

• Terry E. Whitfield

• Elizabeth A. Williams

• Theresa Williams*

* Did not participate in the CitizenDetroit candidate video series.

Ijazz Jackson*

Aliya Moore

Shawn Vaughn

* Did not participate in the CitizenDetroit candidate video series.