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Ferndale School Board Welcomes Sandra N. Dukhie as Trustee

(C. Proxmire, March 17, 2017_

Ferndale, MI – Sandra N. Dukhie was appointed March 2017 to complete a six-year term of the Ferndale School Board that will conclude December 31, 2018.

A statement from Ferndale Schools stated “Sandra is an Eagle through and through. Her family’s relationship with the city began when her great-grandfather moved to Ferndale. Her sons are fourth generation eagles; Sandra, her mother and her grandmother are all also products of the Ferndale School District. Sandra has worked in public education for eighteen years, including working for the Ferndale Public Schools. She was recently named the Director of Student Services for the Pontiac School District. Sandra is an active volunteer for Ferndale Schools serving as the lead facilitator for the African American Parent Network. She is also involved in the FMS Coding Club, marching band and is an avid supporter of the theater program. Sandra and her wife Keisha thoroughly enjoy their five sons who supply them with a constant source of joy and excitement.”

Here are her answers from her application:

Why are you interested in serving on the Ferndale School Board?

I am passionate about Ferndale Schools and all we have to offer. I believe in serving my community and being the voice for those who struggle to find theirs. I believe in the students of Ferndale Schools and want to be a part of the team making the decisions in their best interest. I advocate for all children, so I am constantly involved with the school district. I believe that it would be an honor and a privilege to serve on the Ferndale School District Board of Education. Between my dedication to the Ferndale School District, being a mother of children in the district, and my knowledge of the public school system through my career I think I would be an asset to the board.

 

Please describe your professional strengths, areas of expertise, and how they would be applicable to serving on the School Board

Professionally, I have worked in many facets throughout the public school system starting as a Title I math aide with Ferndale to my current position as Director of Student Services for the Pontiac School District. Being a pupil accountant for over ten years has helped me build an in-depth knowledge of pupil accounting and state reporting. Throughout the years I have worked intimately with school data, helping to analyze and interpret, whether assessment data, enrollment, or pupil accounting data.

 

Please tell us about other volunteer positions you have held or currently hold:

I believe in our students and will work tirelessly to ensure access to as many opportunities as possible. I am currently the lead facilitator for the Ferndale African American Parent Network, as well as, a member of the newly formed diversity committee. I volunteer on behalf of our students through many of our parent groups including the PTAs, Fine Arts Boosters and Youth Assistance. I have held PTA executive board offices in previous years as well. I am a member of the Oakland County Parent Engagement Network hosted at Oakland Schools and the Ferndale Inclusion Network. I also have worked extensively to help bring new extra curricular educational programs to Ferndale Schools, specifically with the new Ferndale Middle School Coding Club

 

Please share any other information, that you feel may help us better understand your interest and commitment:

I am an eagle through and through. My roots are here in Ferndale thanks to my great-grandfather who moved his family to a community called Urbanrest in search of a better life. Within a few short years Urbanrest became the city of Ferndale. My sons are fourth generation eagles. My grandmother and mother products of Ferndale Schools as am I. Being a third generation eagle fills me with pride, stories of past and a vision for the future. Not only am I a product of Ferndale Schools, but a former employee as well. As a public schools employee, I understand what it takes to work with, and for, people of very diverse backgrounds and personalities. I’d like to give back to our school district and advocate on the behalf of all children in Ferndale Schools.

 

Want to hear what all of the candidates had to say? Then visit the Ferndale Schools YouTube page at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwKccwAacIo