My Priorities
Every child deserves a great public education.
Grand Rapids Public Schools has incredible students, dedicated educators and staff, and so much to celebrate. We also have work to do.
Too many students still face barriers that make it harder to succeed. I believe every student deserves the support, opportunities, and sense of belonging they need to thrive.
As a Board member, I will focus on the areas where I believe I can make the greatest impact.
Focusing on Student Achievement
Every student deserves an education that provides endless opportunities for their future.
As a Board member, I will focus on student achievement by:
- Prioritizing strong reading, math, and learning experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
- Investing resources where students need them most while listening to students about their experiences and needs.
- Celebrating student growth, strengths, and successes while creating more opportunities to recognize the brilliance of our students.
Expanding Student Access & Opportunity
Every student deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their race, neighborhood, language, disability, or life circumstances.
As a Board member, I will focus on expanding student access and opportunity by:
- Identifying and removing barriers that prevent students from fully participating in school.
- Ensuring multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and students who need additional support have equitable access to the resources and services they need to succeed.
- Using data and community voice to assess how we are serving our students and develop plans to best support them.
Supporting Educators & Staff
Great schools begin with great people, and when we invest in our educators and staff, we invest in our students.
As a Board member, I will support educators and staff by:
- Advocating for open, transparent, and fair collective bargaining.
- Investing in efforts to recruit and retain excellent educators and staff by ensuring they have the resources and working conditions they need to succeed.
- Listening to educators and school staff while leading with transparency, accountability, and integrity.
Partnering with Families & Community
Strong schools are built when families, students, educators, and community organizations work together.
As a Board member, I will partner with families and community by:
- Working with students, families, educators, and community to make decisions.
- Strengthening multilingual access by ensuring families can receive district communications, educational materials, and important information in the language and format they understand best.
- Building trust through meaningful partnerships and consistent communication.
How I'll Lead
Every decision begins with one question: How does this impact students?
Serving on the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking thoughtful questions, listening with curiosity, using data responsibly, and making decisions that keep students at the center.
The framework below reflects how I will approach every decision as a Board member and the values that will guide my service.
Paid for by the Committee To Elect Ismalis Nunez
1038 Benjamin Ave SE