Whitmer announces Michigan Parents' Council members, including Holland parent

Sentinel Staff
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LANSING — The members of the new Michigan Parents’ Council were officially announced Monday, including a parent from Holland.

Established earlier this year through an executive order by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the council will “center parent perspective in the policymaking process and formalize how parent recommendations are included in governor’s education budgets.”

Blanca Astua of Holland is among the initial appointees to the Michigan Parents' Council, established to help provide parent perspective to state policymaking regarding education.
Blanca Astua of Holland is among the initial appointees to the Michigan Parents' Council, established to help provide parent perspective to state policymaking regarding education.

Blanca Astua of Holland, a health promoter for Strangers No Longer, is among the 11 appointees announced Monday, Sept. 19. Other members include LaQuitta Brown of Detroit, Jennifer Figler of Gwinn, Cindy Gamboa of Detroit, Sarah Kucher of Birch Run, Yazeed Moore of Grand Rapids, Bailey Nuss of Traverse City, Ranya Shbeib of Bloomfield Hills, Tracey Troy of DeWitt, Rafael Turner of Grand Blanc and Monique Zantop of Jackson.

Stacy Ann Sipes of Potterville will represent the Michigan Department of Education as the designee of the state superintendent. Stephanie O’Dea will represent the governor’s office and facilitate operations of the council.

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“Parents are their children’s first and most important teacher, and we need their input to help our kids thrive in school,” Whitmer said. “I am proud to announce the members of the Michigan Parents’ Council who will represent the parent perspective and ensure that parents have an empowered seat at the table in Michigan.

“We need parents’ perspectives to help our kids learn in-person, tackle unfinished learning and get on track for long-term success.”

There were initially supposed to be seven appointments, but the council was expanded “due to a significant response from parents all over Michigan.” The appointees include parents of children in public, private and homeschool learning environments ranging from early childhood programs to high school students.

Students and parents arrive for the first day of the 2022-23 school year at Black River Public School.
Students and parents arrive for the first day of the 2022-23 school year at Black River Public School.

They also include parents of children with individualized education plans (IEPs), children who speak English as a second language and children who are in foster or kinship care.

The council will hold roundtables with parents and family members across the state to “strengthen partnerships between parents and schools” in the coming weeks. A report highlighting major themes from these meetings will be submitted to Whitmer by Dec. 9.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland parent among appointees to Michigan Parents' Council