Novi School Board Candidate: Tracey Cadwell

On the Nov. 8 election ballot, voters in the will vote for two candidates for a fourt-year term on the Board of Education.

Tracey Cadwell is running against incumbent and incumbent Bobbie Murphy. Cadwell submitted these answers to questions asked by Patch.

Age

42

Occupation

Admissions coordinator

Current and past community involvement:

Member of Glen Haven Condominium Association, member of PAASN (Parents of African American Students in Novi), member of the Novi Youth Baseball League and a member of the American School Counselor Association. 

Education

Graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in school counseling from Siena Heights University.

Family

Mother of two sons, Harold III (Tre'), 16, and Stephen, 11.

Do you or did you have children in Novi schools? 

Yes, my youngest son attends Novi Meadows, and my older son attends Novi High School.

How long have you been a Novi resident? 

Six years.

Why are you running for the Board of Education?

I believe that I am knowledgeable about the education process and the role of a school district’s board of education with my previous employment experience and current education. I am a concerned parent and educator about our students and school district and desire to work with a district that strives for being a competitive school district among the top schools in the country.  

What do you think are the biggest issues facing the school district? How would you handle them?

  The top three priority issues facing the Novi school board are as follows:

• Meeting the diverse cultural needs of all students and families as the minority population in Novi steadily increases.
• Bridging the educational gap of students that transfer into the Novi School District and ensuring that they are academically successful; while at the same time sustaining and improving the academic and standardized testing success of students based on Michigan Department of Education requirements.
• Maintaining a high standard of educational success and program offerings while the budget/revenue continues to shrink.

I would address the first issue by providing surveys to families to adequately address their needs and provide resources to assist them with education of themselves and their families. As for the second issue, I would implement an entrance exam for transfer students to test their academic proficiency to assist with their education. In addition, I would implement quarterly standardized testing and provide workshops to address the identified problem areas. As for the third issue, I would implement district wide school fundraisers and recruit corporate sponsors. I would also encourage administration to aggressively search for grants to offset expenditures as much as possible.

If elected, what are some of your goals for the school district?  

I plan to use my professional and educational experience to initiate and implement new programs to address the needs of the increasing diverse Novi population, assist with bridging the educational gap of transfer students into our school district, and sustaining and improving the academic and standardized testing success of students based on the Michigan Department of Education requirements. Addressing these issues will empower our school district to be a viable resource for our families and especially our children, who are our future.

Why should residents in the Novi school district vote for you? 

I am committed to serving the families in the Novi area regarding their children’s education. Vote for me, Tracey Cadwell, as I seek to continue the enhancement our schools by becoming a member of the Novi Board of Education

How can residents contact you?

Name: Tracey Cadwell

School district: Novi

City: Northville, MI

Email: traceycadwell@yahoo.com

Phone: 313-909-8262 (day)

           248-348-1202 (evening)

Website: wix.com/traceycadwell/vote