Elections 2022: East Lansing School Board candidates in their own words
On this year's ballot are candidates for the East Lansing School Board (four vacancies for four-year-term seats). If you are unsure which district you vote in, visit the Ingham County elections website to find more information — including a map of each district.
Whether you choose to vote absentee or in person, get to know the candidates before you vote by reading their responses to key issues facing the East Lansing School District.
Here (below) are candidates in their own words. To return to the main election package, click here.
Meet the candidates
Lind Brown-Wren: My wife and I have 3 children and live in East Lansing. I graduated from East Lansing High School and Michigan State University. I am the Building Manager of Salus Center, our local LGBTQIA+ community center. I am a board member of the Red Cedar Family Council at Red Cedar Elementary School. I was a Girl Scout Leader for over 6 years and helped my daughter’s middle school form a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). I believe that it is my duty and privilege to serve my community by representing children and families like mine.
Terah Chambers: I am a Black woman who grew up in Minnesota, attending a school district with very similar demographics to ELPS. I live in East Lansing in the Glencairn neighborhood with my husband Glenn and son Langston. Langston is a 6th grader at MacDonald and Glenn is a History Professor in the MSU College of Social Science and also an Associate Dean in the MSU Honors College. I have served on the ELPS school board for the last five years. In my “day job” I’m a professor at MSU where I work with current and aspiring principals, superintendents and central office administrators. I also work as an Associate Dean where I support diversity, equity, and inclusion across campus. I have worked in support of public education for the last 20 years and consider it an essential part of who I am.
Amanda Cormier: I grew up in Grand Ledge, I’m an MSU grad and I currently live in East Lansing with my family. I have a Master’s in Special Education and Elementary education, experience in arts education management, special education teachers in public schools and special day schools. I am one of the Nassar survivors and helped advocate for the changing of statute of limitation laws on child sex abuse in the state of Tennessee, as well as more training on childhood sex abuse for adults who work with children. I am incredibly passionate about creating a supportive, equitable, and enriching education experience for the children of East Lansing and I think being on the school board is one of the ways I can help the most.
Steven J. Davis: No response
Kath Edsall: I am originally from Ann Arbor, but have lived in the mid-Michigan area for 44 years. I am married and my wife and I are the parents of 8 children: five ELHS graduates and three current students. I am a commissioner on the East Lansing Independent Police Over-site commission. I have been on parent council, volunteered on several school district committees, and have coached youth basketball. I am in my eighth year as a board member for the East Lansing Public School district, six of those years as treasurer. I am running to continue the work we have started around racial equity and social justice. These, concepts are integral to everything we do from resource allocation to curriculum to academic and emotional supports.
Tali Faris-Hylen: I’m from Flint, MI and reside in East Lansing with my family. I have been working behind the scenes in our community for a decade. I began as a classroom parent and became Marble’s Community Council Secretary and President, Fun Run Chair, breakfast monitor volunteer and Co-Founder/Secretary of Equity Team. I served as Communications Manager on the YES for East Lansing Schools Bond campaign in 2017 that helped to pass the Bond to rebuild elementary schools. I work with MMS administration on personal need drives and serve as the Co-President of Council. I served as co-secretary of the Bailey Community Association and understand neighborhood needs/concerns as they relate to our schools. I’ve been in the field of Public Relations for 22 years and have co-owned my agency, Ripple Public Relations, for 13 years.
Mike Feldpausch: My hometown is Lansing. I live in East Lansing. Former Big Brother for 10 years, former foster parent to children of various races/needs/ backgrounds, election volunteer. I have children in an East Lansing public school. I have attended school board meetings for about a year. I am a lifelong area resident and small business owner. I know what it takes to be a success in the workplace. I want to make sure my children and all children in the district are set up for success after graduation. A problem solver through my small business experience, a voice outside of academia, creating real-world solutions every day at the pace of small business.
Jim McEvoy: I grew up in Howell, Michigan. My wife, Carin and I chose to move to East Lansing in 2018 because of the incredible diversity, access to a Big Ten university and opportunity to expose our kids to so many different world views. Former AmeriCorps volunteer teaching job skills to kids with ASD. Presenter, NCQA, Geographic and Racial Disparities in Behavioral Health Service Delivery. I work to support Medicaid programs through the delivery of behavioral healthcare services and my wife is a teacher at Donley Elementary and. I’ve been a member of ELPS’ Mental Health Advisory Committee since last fall and parent volunteer since 2018. I want to be on the school board to continue working through how to achieve great educational outcomes while meeting students where they are and making sure all students have opportunities to achieve great things.
Tyler Allan Smith: I currently live in East Lansing with my wife and son (a first grader at Marble). Several family members taught in public schools for decades. In the past, I have participated in fundraisers for the Grand LedgeEmergency Assistance Program, cancer treatment and prevention organizations, and fundraisers for individuals facing life-altering medical debt. I am a licensed attorney and current public defender. This experience is relevant as it pertains to issues of discipline and the school to prison pipeline. My primary goal is to be of service to my community. Schools are a critical (and unfortunately under-valued) part of society, and I believe they are uniquely capable of tremendous positive impacts on students and their communities.
Rob Sumbler: I was born and raised in East Lansing, and am a product of the East Lansing public school system. My wife, stepdaughter, son and I moved into the home I lived in when I graduated from East Lansing High School. My stepdaughter is in second grade at Marble Elementary. I held a leadership role as president of the Michigan Television News Photographers Association and worked as sponsorship committee chair for the Lansing Derby Vixens, securing donations for the group’s events. As director of photography at Message Makers, I was instrumental in production on the Early Literacy Essentials video series for the Michigan Department of Education and Michigan Virtual. Throughout my 26-year career in journalism and communications, I had to quickly gather and distill large amounts of information, while also being the big voice for the little voice. My career has brought me to WKAR TV, where our key focus is education and community, meeting people where they are.
Most pressing issue facing the district
Lind Brown-Wren: My priorities would be to support the intersectional needs of both students and staff. When making decisions, we must take into account the many cultures, races, gender identities, gender orientations, disabilities, economic needs, and religious identities of our school community. We need to prioritize reaching underserved students who may not have the same access to community enrichment programs.
Terah Chambers: The biggest issues facing all school districts is school funding shortages and, relatedly, support for educators. While East Lansing has weathered financial challenges relatively well, most notably providing a generous compensation package as part of the last teacher contract negotiation, this remains an issue that weighs heavily on me. If re-elected, I will both work to support our administration’s plan to distribute funds equitably and in accordance with our strategic plan and advocate to our state and federal legislators to prioritize appropriate funding for all students – in ELPS but also across the state.
Amanda Cormier: Supporting teaching and students in addressing the effect of the pandemic on mental health and student learning outcomes. I’d like to work with community partners who are already immersed in the work of supporting students and families and make sure families in East Lansing know what it available to them. In addition to working with community partners, I would like to work with teachers on adapting current curriculum to meet students where they are after the loss of learning over the last few year. Hiring therapists and other trained mental health professionals to focus on supporting the mental health of students and teachers.
Steven J. Davis: No response
Kath Edsall: As we continue to move forward through the pandemic/endemic, it will be imperative to address those students who are struggling even more so than before COVID. We need to continue to remediate those students who lost ground academically as well as address the mental health issues that came from the stress and isolation of the pandemic. This will not be a one and done, but a years long process.
Tali Faris-Hylen: I believe it’s the opportunity gap that has grown throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This is multi-faceted in relation to mental health and academic achievement as well as heightened expectations put on our teachers and staff to address both. I will advocate for continued mental health support and additional academic supports (such as increased reading intervention) for students. I will also continue to advocate for teachers and how the board and community can reinforce their good work and retain them.
Mike Feldpausch: Parents and caregivers having knowledge of curriculum content, board policies and decisions and the board’s long-term goals. Help the board become more transparent, giving everyone ample notice of changes in policies and practices, making sure parents and caregivers understand the changes being made. Making sure there is easy access to all curriculum materials. Ensuring that ELPS.US is easy to navigate to find the zoom meeting link, historical board info including old meeting videos/minutes, etc.
Jim McEvoy: The most pressing issue for our district is continuing the restoration and improvement of the mental health of our students, teachers, administrative staff and support staff. The last several years have highlighted the already inadequate behavioral healthcare system in the US. Through a combination of ARPA money, Inflation Reduction Act money and other national behavioral health grants, it’s possible to bring even more funding to ELPS to address the mental health of our ELPS community.
Tyler Allan Smith: There are, as ever, many issues the district must address. There is a shortage of janitorial staff, and concerns about class sizes and use of facility space. It seems to me that reviewing and adjusting staff compensation may resolve the shortage. Class sizes are a complex issue to manage, as the district must ensure that sizes are roughly equivalent across the district. Any disputes about use of district facilities should be resolved with the wishes of the community around each facility in mind. We are fortunate to have new facilities across the district, and an opportunity to adapt them to the specific needs and wants of the communities attending each.
Rob Sumbler: I believe the largest issue facing our schools is safety. All our students, teachers, and staff should feel safe in and around all of our schools. Safe from violence, health issues, bullying, and safe to express themselves and be their truest self, without fear of judgment, ridicule, or exclusion. Creating an environment where all students feel recognized, respected, and invested in their own success, and the success of the school as a whole is the foundation of school safety.
On diversity, equity and inclusion
Lind Brown-Wren: Extended School Year (ESY) programs should be funded, staffed, and expanded to reach more students who are in dire need of ongoing access to school safety nets and require extra school enrichment for advancement. At all grade levels, but especially at Middle School, students should have access to more extracurricular activities to round out their education. Our school district should be leading the area in opportunities, rather than failing to meet the minimum standard. There should be equal access to enrichment activities across the district.
Terah Chambers: Change doesn’t happen until people want it to happen. In my role as Associate Dean for DEI in the MSU College of Education, I rarely meet people who are truly against equity or social justice. However, I often meet people who have not learned accurate information about these issues. When they do, it is not a large leap for them to be committed to small and big changes to their practice. Over the last several years, ELPS has invested strongly in DEI-related professional development and I see that investment paying off every day.
Amanda Cormier: A few things: make sure the curriculum is an appropriate reflection of the students it serves. For example: Much of the literature we study is only by white authors, classrooms and libraries should be filled with with work of different points of view. ELPS also needs to focus on hiring more BIPOC staff in all levels of the district. True racial equity won't happen if more of the adults making decision come from different life experiences that better align with the life experiences of our students.
Steven J. Davis: No response
Kath Edsall: We have already done several: replaced police with student advocates and social workers, started the process of evaluating every curriculum through an equity lens, professional development for our staff around issues of racial equity as well as trauma informed teaching, and changing our discipline to a restorative justice model to name a few.
Tali Faris-Hylen: We must always create space where our students feel supported, validated and safe, and we can do this by placing equity initiatives top of mind. Constantly re-examining how we frame things to be all inclusive is a necessary ongoing conversation when it comes to students with disabilities, students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, and other marginalized student groups. Additionally, I know ELPS is working hard to do this, but we need to continue to push to hire more staff of color as representation matters.
Mike Feldpausch: Apply objective standards of academic performance and behavior to all. The schools should rely on standardized testing and should treat all behavior the same regardless of race, gender, etc. For students struggling academically, schools should work to provide after-school or at home enrichment programs to help students catch up. The district could reach out to MSU for student volunteers to tutor. Many immigrants and the children coming to ELPS through the School of Choice program were drawn to our district before DEI. We need make sure DEI continues to enhance attraction to the district.
Jim McEvoy: Transparency drives accountability. One of the most critical aspects to ensuring that organizational DEI goals are met is to have transparency about the DEI goals and outcomes. I would like to see the ELPS webpage list the DEI goals for students, hiring and retention of teachers, admin staff and support staff. I would like to see an annual report that demonstrates progress against those goals. For example, if ELPS is trying to hire teachers that are demographically similar to the student body, let’s display data on how the district is meeting that goal.
Tyler Allan Smith: ELPS is fortunate in that it welcomes students of many different national origins, socioeconomicstatuses, races, abilities, and gender identities. The district has done well in identifying the needs of students with disabilities, and accommodating those needs. It has also taken steps to use curricula that represent all students. Ideally, instructors would take steps to ensure their lesson plans are culturally responsive, and to address their implicit biases (using tools like Harvard’s “Project Implicit” questionnaire). All people have biases; being aware of them goes a long way to addressing the potentially harmful impacts they can create.
Rob Sumbler: The biggest way we can enshrine DEI in our schools is to do more to ensure the faculty and staff reflect the diversity of identities found in our student body. This will bring more varied voices into the conversations around what and how our students are taught, and help all of our students feel seen, and represented in our schools. I know that I have blind spots when it comes to the issues some of our students are facing, so step one is creating the space for people to come forward and help shed light on our shortcomings.
On COVID-19 and use of ARPA funds
Lind Brown-Wren: While I do not believe we are coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic at this point, I believe the district’s priority for spending ARPA funds should go to supporting marginalized students. Students who experience food and housing insecurity need to receive access to resources. We can achieve this by hiring diverse school support staff, social workers, and counselors, at competitive wages, who can actively assist in connecting students to area programs.
Terah Chambers: We must not forget that our students and teachers need support as we continue to navigate this pandemic. Knowing that ARPA funds are temporary and non-recurring allocations, we want to be thoughtful. Last year we were able to use COVID relief funds for summer learning opportunities for all students. To determine how to use additional funds, I would first be look to our superintendent and finance director to make recommendations. However, I would hope to use some funds to further invest in student and employee mental health, support classroom teachers and other critical staff, and bolster our infrastructure.
Amanda Cormier: Right now I think we need to find ways to support our students and their families with the ways the pandemic has effected them. Funding therapists, tutors, and finding new ways to help teachers adapt curriculum to the needs of their students. Many of our students have fallen behind academically and instead of holding them to the standards of past years, we need to find ways to adapt curriculum and find ways for them to succeed.
Steven J. Davis: No response
Kath Edsall: The priority has been and should continue to be putting any and all COVID funding into making our buildings environmentally safe (air quality and access to the outside) as well as remediating those students who are lagging behind and addressing the mental health issues of all students.
Tali Faris-Hylen: With our elementary school rebuilds and renovations, many HVAC and structural issues necessary for disease mitigation were thankfully addressed in new building plans and infrastructure. I am in support of improvements being made within the middle and high school as well, if deemed helpful or necessary. With any additional ELPS ARPA funds, I encourage continued emphasis and support to maintain and boost mental health initiatives and support to hire more mental health professionals.
Mike Feldpausch: The priority should be getting students caught up who didn’t fare well during the pandemic. Hiring tutors and/or extending the school day a little. Hiring therapists/counselors to help with those who suffered mentally or emotionally during the pandemic. Funding additional help for special education students so they do not get left behind.
Jim McEvoy: ELPS should be utilizing ARPA, Inflation Reduction Act funding and other SAMHSA school-based funding sources to continue adding mental health resources for our students. We should continue to take advantage of any funding opportunities that came out of learning loss related to the time students were not in the classroom.
Tyler Allan Smith: ELPS has done a great job so far getting students back into the classroom, while still maintainingan appropriate level of caution with regard to the pandemic. A top priority should be identifying and remediating any lost learning for students, and also addressing the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students who may not have been in a classroom in years.
Rob Sumbler: The district’s priority should be ensuring that students who have been left behind are supported by tutors, resource teachers, and classroom assistants who are available to assist with learning within full classes, or one on one using evidence-based practices. Student teachers from MSU’s College of Education could bring new, cutting edge teaching methods to students. ELPS should take advantage of every possible partnership we can to increase the number of student-facing employees who care about the students and are invested in their success, giving all our students a hand up, and providing an equitable learning community.
On gun violence among young people
Lind Brown-Wren: As a parent who has seen firsthand the struggles that students had during this most tenuous chapter, in my experience, students are better able to reach their potential when their whole selves are supported. ELPS needs to continue to prioritize mental health support and offer competitive wages for staff who support the social emotional development of students.
Terah Chambers: Thankfully, there have not been any shootings in our schools. However, providing a safe environment for students to learn is critically important. We have invested in safety upgrades throughout the district, including security enhancements in elementary buildings, secure building access with video in all schools, and ongoing trainings for students and staff. However, we must also use our platform as school board members to advocate to the state and federal government for increased measures to promote school safety and protections from gun violence. This is not an issue ELPS can solve alone and I am committed to advocating for change.
Amanda Cormier: I'm very supportive of having more therapists in schools. I've worked with a lot of children who needed emotional support and there is very stark difference in school culture when a child feels they have someone to talk to versus when they're left to deal with their emotional learning on their own. I would also support more training for teachers on how to emotionally support their students as well as finding ways to emotionally support teachers. Our teachers have been through a lot in the last few years and they can't emotionally support their students if the school district and community doesn't take care of them. The board should work with community partners who can provide services for families and children in need and making sure our students and families know the options available to them.
Steven J. Davis: No response
Kath Edsall: Shortly after the horrifying events at Uvalde, the ELPS BOE passed a resolution, which I wrote, to demand our elected officials pass legislation to decrease access to guns. We previously passed a resolution to prevent concealed carry on school grounds. Lastly, we have provided parents information on warning signs and how to safely store guns and ammunition.
Tali Faris-Hylen: I support a school environment that continues to build trust between students and school staff, as research shows that students are more likely to come forward with info that could curb violence when they trust their teachers. It’s important to value our students’ voices, invest in staff resources, and create space for relationship building. Additionally, I believe continued advocacy for mental health, wellness practices, fostering a connected community, and social/emotional support encouraging our students — namely our male students — to be emotional beings can make a world of difference. This centers around dismantling toxic masculinity and takes work on every level.
Mike Feldpausch: Make sure lines of communication to parents and caregivers are open, notifying parents/caregivers of changes in a student’s behavior, making sure the school is as secure as possible. Give parents/caregivers information and guidance from proven professionals on how to address these issues with their student(s).
Jim McEvoy: ELPS has already taken a lot of great steps, like building out a safety committee and continuing to grow and finetune the scope of their Mental Health Advisory Committee. ELPS should continue to pursue all of the great work their staff are doing related to Trauma-Informed Care teaching, de-escalation strategies, and harm reduction focused strategies. I will work with ELPS irrespective of whether I am elected to continue trying to bring in additional funding and resources for mental health care in the schools.
Tyler Allan Smith: Every school shooting is a tragedy beyond words. In the wake of these terrible events, there is often an impulse to impose stringent security measures on schools, for example by bringing law enforcement into the facilities. I believe that approach disproportionately affects students based on factors unrelated to risk of violence, without actually protecting students. The best approach within the school board’s authority would be continuing to focus on the social, emotional, and mental health of students, while identifying and connecting those in need with the appropriate level of care. I applaud the measures the board has taken in the past to address these issues, and advocate for continued attention to them.
Rob Sumbler: Once again, I believe this can be addressed by fostering a culture of inclusion. Violence is frequently born out of a lack of perceived options for conflict resolution. Creating space for students to have involvement with each other and within the district, through extracurricular activities, clubs, and service groups can make our children see how they are an integral part of a larger community. Quashing the “Us vs. Them” mentality that has been perpetuated for generations, and replacing that with the concept that we are all part of the greater “We.”
Other issues of import
Lind Brown-Wren: Extended School Year programs should be funded, staffed, and expanded to reach more students who are in dire need of ongoing access to school safety-nets and require extra school enrichment for advancement. ELPS should also be leading the area in opportunities, rather than failing to meet the minimum standard. I believe there should be more focus on engaging students outside of school hours in an accessible way including transportation, assistance with fees, and providing a variety of programs to meet the needs and interests of a diverse student population. We need equal access to enrichment activities across the school district.
Terah Chambers: There are so many things that should be on our radar, but I want to end on something positive: our ELPS educators. Our educators deserve to be celebrated. Things aren’t perfect – and our teachers probably know this better than anyone – but that can be true AND we can still admire the commitment to our kids they demonstrate and the standards of excellence they uphold daily. I use my platform as a school board member to sing their praises whenever I can and it is one of the best parts of my role.
Amanda Cormier: Across the US there has been a large push by parent groups and political parties to ban many books in classrooms and school libraries, especially those that are written by authors from marginalized groups. Students deserve to see themselves in the literature they read, and they should be provided with an honest view of the world around them. I would listen to parent concerns about specific books but I would not support the move towards a general policy of banning books in the district.
Steven J. Davis: No response
Kath Edsall: Almost all districts in the state of Michigan have been underfunded for a very long time. Nationally, there is a teacher shortage and many attacks on public education. It is important that citizens who support public education push our legislatures to make K-12 a financial priority. Teachers should be compensated as the professionals they are both to keep good teachers as well as encouraging young people to go into teaching.Tali Faris-Hylen: Anti-CRT laws and book bans sweeping the nation designed to prevent any criticism of our country or history teaching. While I feel as if we live in a forward thinking, progressive space in East Lansing, I never want to take for granted that this could be imposed upon us and I want to be ready to defend the appropriate teachings of our shared history. The banning of certain teachings should never be off our radar, no matter where we live.
Mike Feldpausch: The possible lack of knowledge parents and caregivers have about the role of the board, lack of personal knowledge of those who make up the board and what their goals are. Have a session explaining the roles and functions of the board, have members issue personal and professional profiles for all to see.
Jim McEvoy: Long term, I am concerned about the ability to recruit and retain teachers, support staff and admin staff. According to an NEA article from 2021 the average student loan balance for teachers is approximately $59,000. Meanwhile, the average starting salary for a teacher in Michigan is around $40,000. Long term, we have to find a way to make the math work for people who want to teach kids, not take on an unreasonable amount of student debt and make a wage that is commensurate to their skillset and education.
Tyler Allan Smith: Discipline and justice system involvement. Despite concerted effort by many dedicated educators, some students do not receive appropriate intervention while they are young, and become involved in the criminal justice system.
Rob Sumbler: Expanding the definition of success through support and opportunities for non-college track students. College prep is important, as many jobs require a degree, but primary school alone, along with other supports in the intermediate school district, is capable of preparing our students for success in a lucrative career. Schools should be teaching students how to think, problem solve, and find their place in society where they can be happy and helpful. We should be able to help all students, no matter their background, find their spark and get excited about learning to become who they were born to be.
This story was assembled from email questionnaires managed by LSJ news assistants Jayne Higo, Veronica Bolanos and Jack Moreland. Contact them at LSJ-EAs@lsj.com or 517.377.1112.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Election 2022: East Lansing School Board candidates in their own words
