l o r
I
0 m
#1k
...,
,,
The Candidates
On The Questions
Please provide us with some
biographical information
about yourself.
Why are you running for school board?
Derick Adams
Resident of Southfield for four years. Employed at Amerisure Com-
panies as the assistant vice president of human resources since
1994.1 am a graduate of Cornell University and Wayne State Uni-
versity Law School.
I will bring a fresh perspective. I am a parent with a future stake in
the system's ability to adequately prepare students. I will bring a di-
versity of business experiences. These experiences include balanc-
ing financial constraints with a sensitivity to people's needs. Charter
schools will dilute the quality of public education. The Southfield
schools are high-quality schools, but not everyone perceives them
as such. If parents are misguided about charter schools and place
students in them, everyone in Southfield will lose.
Ann Dillon
Resident for 18 years. Married to Michael Dillon, mother of Andy, 8,
Tom, 16, and Brendan, 14. Occupation: Retired teacher with eight
years' experience as middle-school teacher. Currently employed as
program director at Sisters of Mercy and the director of the South-
field District Educational Foundation. BA - education, history, polit-
ical science; MA in education. Community Service: Southfield Public
Schools: 11 years PTA/0 leadership in five buildings, Southfield Area
Council vice-president, co-chair high school task force, co-chair
Strategic Planning Diversity Action Team, Superintendent's Adviso-
ry Board, co-chair 1994 Millage Finance Committee, Core Planning
for District Parenting Day/Parenting University, NCA school im-
provement steering committee. Non-school service/membership:
Lathrup Village Homeowners. Association, Boy Scout Troop 1682
Committee, Cub Scout Pack 1341 Committee, Village Athletic Club
- swim team president, chair of various parish committees, Parish
Council president, active parish member and associate, Sisters of
Mercy.
My reason for serving on the board is simple. I have a deep-seated
commitment to public education and to this community. I want to
ensure that every child in the district has the best possible educa-
tion. My experiences on PTA boards, parent-program steering com-
mittees, school improvement committees and district task forces
have made me aware of what learning must be for our students, of
the necessity for real partnerships with families and of the need to
be a united community dedicated to excellence for all our children.
Those experiences have given me a broad but deep understanding
of this district. They also developed my skills of being a consensus
builder and to resist the easy-compromise decisions and to search
for the best-for-the-future decisions.
William Seikaly
Children: Michael, 7, and Kristen, 6, both are students in the South-
field Public Schools. Resident: 11 years. Education: JD, magna
cum laude, University of Detroit-1981, MS education, Indiana Uni-
versity-1976 and BA, social science, Michigan State University-
1975. Occupation: 5 years of teaching in public schools. Ten years
experience as a managing partner.
My life has shown me the value and importance of education. I
chose to run for the board as a demonstration of my commit-
ment to the community, and to public education. I have seen the
Southfield school system do an outstanding job in certain areas
and fall short in others. No community can flourish for long with-
out a strong educational system. Unless we make significant changes
to adjust to the new issues of financing, we will lose our long tra-
dition of excellence. I believe that I can work with others on the
board to create a model of how people from diverse backgrounds
can work together to create educational excellence.
Gladys Stallings
Mother of eight children and foster parent to another; all were
educated in public schools and all are gainfully employed. Eleven
grandchildren currently attend Southfield Public Schools. I am
deeply concerned about the quality of education, safety and well-
being, not only for my grandchildren, but for all the children in the
district. School social worker for the past 17 years (retiring this
year), and before thatwas coordinator of schooVcommunity pro-
gramming for almost 20 years. These positions have involved not
only social work responsibilities but various administrative tasks
such as directing a non-profit care center, budgeting and financial
reporting, grant writing and hiring and managing staff. I have a
MSW plus 40 post graduate credit hours in related subjects from
WSU. Selected School Social Worker of the Year by the Michi-
gan School Social Worters Association. Past member Mich. League
for Human Services. Coordinator Summer Program last five years.
While the Southfield School District has a history of providing qual-
ity education to its students, I believe we should continuously strive
towards excellence. I have worked with children and their families
all of my adult life and have gained a great deal of knowledge and
experience concerning the issues affecting their lives. MI, back-
ground in educational social work and administration coffibined
with my sensitivity to children's needs, and strong interest in pro-
moting their well-being has prepared me for the challenge of serv-
ing on the board of education.
Carol Thomas
Personal: Married to Joseph E. Thomas, Jr. Children: Shayla, Joseph
Ill and Daniel. Southfield homeowner. Son graduated from South-
field Lathrup High School in 1994. Education and Training: Michi-
gan high school graduate. Jackson Business University graduate.
Jackson Community College, focused in computers and finance.
Special training in computer programming and management. For-
mer executive secretary for Tri-County Community Action Agency.
Former trust officer with a portfolio of 45 million dollars. Commu-
nity Activities: Member of Southfield Parent Youth Guidance Com-
mission. Tutor at MacArthur School. Volunteer for City of Southfield
Human Services Department. Tutor for Detroit Southwest Presby-
terian Church. Chaired Southfield's 1994 Martin Luther K i ng, Jr. Cel-
ebration. Served as an elder and Christian education chairperson for
Southfield Presbyterian Church. Worked with the Southfield public-
ity/ticket chair for Senior All-Nite Party.
I want to ensure that we maintain a competitive education base in
the Southfield Public Schools. We need quality education, but also
economical. People in Southfield have been taxed enough. We must
use these funds efficiently through a quality educational program.
I am also concerned about the security personnel; it lacks the bite
needed when it comes to enforcement. We need crossover in this
area. I am deeply concerned that school leaders at all levels are
directing a lot of their activities toward second and third agendas
when quality education of our children should be the primary goal.
The consolidation of the two high schools is an example.
(
Southfield Vote for two (4-year term)