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BARBARA BAREFIELD

on the cover

in
the

Education

Hero

Kathleen Straus retires,
but won’t stop fighting.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ABOVE: Straus with
Eugene and Elaine Driker
at the 40th anniversary
celebration in 2014 of the
Detroit Women’s Forum,
of which Straus was a
founding member.

W

hen Kathleen Straus retired in December at the end of
her three eight-year terms on the Michigan Board of
Education, she was one of the longest-serving board mem-
bers and well-respected for her indomitable commitment to public
education. Her colleagues recognized her expertise and leadership by
electing her board president six times.
Straus’ work for both government and nonprofits spans the eras
from school busing and desegregation to today’s focus on charter
schools and protection of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-
gender) students. Beginning as a classroom teacher and later PTA
president, through both volunteer and professional positions, she per-
fected the skills necessary to get people to work together.
“Straus has great perspective on how the government works
and how to approach people and problems,” says Michelle Fecteau
of Detroit, a state education board member since 2012. Fecteau
describes her as “kind and respectful to other people with a sterling
reputation” in Michigan and Washington, D.C., where the two trav-
eled for meetings of the National Association of State Boards of
Education (NASBE)
When they met with members of the U.S. House of Representatives
on behalf of NASBE, Fecteau said Straus was “well-respected from
both sides of the aisle.” Despite Straus’ age (now 93), Fecteau says, “I

would always be running to catch up with her in Congress. She has a
sure and steady pace.”
David Gad-Harf, director of corporate relations at Henry Ford
Health System, worked with Straus when she was president of the
Jewish Community Council (now Jewish Community Relations
Council-AJC) and he was its executive director. Gad-Harf cites her
ability to bridge ethnic and religious differences. “She is one of the
most down-to-earth people I know. She built strong relationships
with elected officials early in their careers and strongly championed
public education.”
Straus is a past president of AJC Detroit and its first female presi-
dent, David Kurzmann, executive director of JCRC-AJC, points out. At
meetings of past AJC presidents, he says, she “has an ability to look at
challenging issues and a perspective that is so valuable. She is relent-
less in the best way possible.”

ON BETSY DEVOS
On the heels of Betsy DeVos’ confirmation by the U.S. Senate as
Secretary of Education, Straus, who opposed her nomination, is con-
cerned about the potential expansion of charter schools.
“She and her husband supported lifting the cap on the number
of charter schools authorized by universities, which has been very

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February 16 • 2017

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