On Nov. 3, Michigan voters will choose two members for the eight‑person State Board of Education, the body that guides policy for the state’s 1.4 million public‑school students. The board currently has six Democrats and two Republicans, and the election could produce a 4‑4 partisan split, giving families and faith‑based communities a stronger voice in education decisions.
Who’s on the ballot?
Terence Collins (Republican, 61) works as a senior financial analyst for General Motors and lives in Grosse Pointe Park. He argues that Michigan is waiting too long to require phonics training for every teacher and proposes a summer‑break funding mechanism to get teachers certified quickly.
Bree Moeggenberg (Republican, 47) is a recruiter for a canvassing firm and a licensed child‑care provider in Mt. Pleasant. She praises the state’s new “science of reading” focus but says instructional focus must be restored, warning that even the best curriculum won’t help if classrooms lack stability and parental support.
Tiffany Tilley (Democrat, 49) serves as an adjunct professor and realtor in West Bloomfield. She sponsored a resolution last year for mandatory teacher training and emphasizes local‑control models that have succeeded in other states, urging Michigan to adopt proven literacy policies.
Judith Pritchett (Democrat, 75) is an education consultant and retired public‑school administrator from Washington Township. She stresses the importance of supporting teachers, smaller class sizes, and parental reading at home, noting that the board already has the pieces in place to improve outcomes.
Key issues shaping the race
Michigan’s third‑grade English language‑arts proficiency has hit a new low, prompting the state to require districts receiving funding to adopt “evidence‑based” reading curricula or explain why they have not. Grants are also available for districts to purchase new materials. Starting next school year, districts must screen students for dyslexia, and by the 2031 school year, elementary teachers will be required to complete “science of reading” training.
All four candidates acknowledge these efforts but differ on how to accelerate progress. Collins wants to deploy Department of Education staff to struggling districts in Pontiac, Flint and Detroit, and he proposes that teachers with master’s degrees in English spend full days teaching phonics until scores improve. Moeggenberg stresses stable, neutral classrooms and parental involvement as prerequisites for any curriculum success.
Pritchett, a member of the board’s new bipartisan special‑education committee, highlights the need for better pay and professional status for paraprofessionals who work with students with disabilities. She argues that supporting general‑education teachers alongside paraprofessionals will improve outcomes for all students.
Tilley sees room for improvement in the Department of Education’s leadership and welcomes the new deputy superintendent, noting that the special‑education committee’s work could lead to better services and partnerships for students with disabilities.
Why this matters to families
The board does not control the state education budget or pass legislation, but it serves as the “general planning and coordinating body” for public education. Its decisions affect curriculum choices, teacher training standards and the structure of special‑education services—issues that directly impact parents, churches and community groups invested in strong, faith‑centered schooling.
With a potential 4‑4 split, Republican candidates hope to bring more parental‑rights perspectives to board deliberations, while Democratic candidates aim to continue the current focus on literacy and special‑education funding. Voters should consider each candidate’s stance on phonics instruction, classroom stability, parental involvement and support for paraprofessionals when casting their ballots.
Other candidates on the ballot
Third‑party options include Charles Essner (Libertarian), William Mohr II and Christine C. Schwartz (US Taxpayers), Wissam Charafeddine (Green), Mary Anne Hering (Working Class) and Kelli Monroe (Natural Law). While these candidates are unlikely to win, they add additional viewpoints to the election.
Michigan voters have the chance on Nov. 3 to shape the future of education policy for the next eight years. Understanding each candidate’s background and priorities will help families make an informed choice that aligns with their values and the best interests of their children.
Original reporting: BridgeDetroit — read the source article.
