Candidate Profile: Colleen Worden For Grosse Pointe Schools

Colleen Worden, a Grosse Pointe Woods resident is running for Grosse Pointe Public Schools.

Age: 52
Party affiliation: N/A
Family:Husband, David Worden who is a local Grosse Pointe attorney and daughter age 10, who attends Parcells Middle School.
Occupation:Current job: Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, Special Victims Unit. Previous work - Municipal Attorney for 16 years, representing cities and townships in southeast Michigan, 23 years as an attorney.
Previous elected experience:N/A
Family members in government:No.
Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/colleenworden4gpschools

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
There are two critical issues facing our state: 1. Getting our kids back to school Face to Face safely during the pandemic and 2. Addressing the devastating state and federal cuts in public education. In addressing these issues, I will work to get our kids back to school, Face to Face, as quickly as possible with safety precautions. I will also prioritize the financial stability of the district, as the district faces budget cuts, by maintaining a reasonable fund equity balance, going through the budget with a fine tooth comb, and by working to ensure that we do not cut programs, resources or teacher salaries that make our district so excellent. I will also work to bring families back to GPPSS who left during the pandemic and work on marketing to recruit families to our district.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
In my job as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Special Victim’s Unit, I fight hard for children, and I will not be afraid to make tough choices in this difficult and challenging time. I want to move the district forward, and I offer a fresh perspective as a working mom with a child in school in the district. I will be ready on day one to make tough decisions and address the issues our district is facing. I am not a single issue candidate and offer viable reforms and solutions. I will be ready to ask the new superintendent candidates tough questions about their qualifications and vision for the district and how we can heal the district following reconfiguration.
I was a municipal attorney for 16 years and provided legal counsel to cities and townships in balancing budgets. I have experience in reviewing budgets with a fine tooth comb. As an attorney, I pride myself in acting in a respectful and civil manner at all times. I am a consensus builder. I have been a volunteer in GPPSS since my daughter entered kindergarten 6 years ago. I have been on the PTO, chaired and planned events, and volunteered at every available opportunity.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
In my job as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Special Victim’s Unit, I fight hard for children, and I am not be afraid to make tough choices in my job every day. I will use this skill as a board member in this difficult and challenging time. I will be ready on day one to be a voice and advocate for children who do not have a voice, because I have been a passionate advocate for children. As a municipal attorney, I have extensive experience in managing government budgets. I am proud to be a dedicated GPPSS volunteer in the classroom, on the PTO and at GPPSS events. I have fostered relationships with teachers and staff through my volunteer work.
My candidacy was endorsed by the Police Officers Association of Michigan and by the Grosse Pointe Administrators Association.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
Economic recovery depends on protecting public health and bolstering human capital. To bolster local businesses in this financial crisis, the state should focus on liquidity support to make sure the local businesses can stay open. Additionally, the state should tap into help from existing institutions that provide long-term. low interest loans. The state should also help the families who own the businesses maintain their health care and child care in this economic crisis.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
As a board member, I will take steps and support measures and policies to end inequities that exist in the district. Some of these measures include (but are not limited to):
1. Hiring educators (teachers, administrators and staff) who are diverse and reflect our community.
2. Adopting and advancing curriculum and materials that incorporate and embrace diversity.
3. Continue and expand development programs such as implicit bias training.
4. As an assistant prosecutor who sees inequities in the justice system on a regular basis, I would like to adopt and expand more programs like the restorative practices model, which focus on the harm to the victim and address disciplinary practices in a more equitable manner.
5. As GPPSS works to address declining enrollment, I would work to adopt policies and practices that demonstrate the district's commitment to diversity and tolerance. I would like our district to be known for its commitment to access in an academically rigorous setting.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
My platform addresses the multitude of challenges our district faces. I am not a single issue candidate, and I offer solutions with viable reform. I am a person who prides myself on getting along with others and in building consensus. Even if we disagree, we have to listen to our community, listen to each other and build consensus.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I am running because I want to maintain the excellence of our schools and keep our district as a top tier district. Excellent schools and teachers are what make our community so wonderful. Teachers are the district’s greatest assets, and as a board member, I want to make sure that we retain and attract high quality teachers and staff, and maintain the high standards of curriculum to keep our district a top tier district. I am a fiscally responsible person and will prioritize the financial stability of the district as we face federal, state and local budget cuts. We have to make sure that we do not cut programs, resources or teacher/staff salaries and maintain a reasonable fund equity balance to preserve the district’s financial stability. I will focus on making sure that our teachers are listened to, valued and compensated accordingly.