September 28, 2018
Friday, Sept. 28, 2018
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the reappointment of Punita Dani Thurman of Novi, Ja’Nel Jamerson of Flint, Amanda Price of Holland, Cynthia Pape of Saginaw, John Kennedy of Kentwood, and Naomi Norman of Ann Arbor to the PreK-12 Literacy Commission.
Housed within the Michigan Department of Education, the 13-member commission advises and assists in matters relating to assessment, professional development, education programming, socioeconomic challenges, best practices, collaboration, parental engagement, and teaching of literacy.
"These Michiganders have a wide range of skills and experience working in education and with Michigan’s youth in different ways," Snyder said. “I am confident their input will continue to better our education system.”
Thurman is a program director for the Skillman Foundation in Detroit, where she previously worked as a senior program officer of education. She is a trustee and the Strategy Committee chair for the Novi Educational Foundation. She also serves on the Leadership Team Planning Committee for the Council of Michigan Foundations P-20 Education Affinity Group and is the VOICE parent organization president and Superintendent’s Inter-School Council representative for Village Oaks Elementary School in Novi. Thurman holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems and finance from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in management and organizations from Duke University. She will continue to serve as the nominee of the House Minority Leader.
Jamerson is the executive director of the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan League of Public Policy and for Flint Kids Learn. Jamerson holds both a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in secondary urban education from the University of Michigan – Flint. He will continue to serve as the nominee of the Senate Minority Leader.
Price is a former state representative and currently serves as a district director for Michigan Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof. She is a founding board member of Conservatives for Education. Price holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in public administration from Western Michigan University. She will continue to serve as chair at the pleasure of the Governor and the nominee of the Speaker of the House.
Pape is the president and director of READ Association of Saginaw County and previously served 28 years as a Title I teacher for Saginaw Public Schools. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in reading specialist from Saginaw Valley State University. She will continue to serve as the nominee of the Senate Majority Leader.
Kennedy is president and CEO of Autocam Medical and previously served as president and CEO of Autocam Corporation. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for Grand Valley State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Detroit Mercy and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan.
Norman is the assistant superintendent of achievement and systems support for Washtenaw Intermediate School District. She serves as co-chair of the MAISA GELN Early Literacy Task Force and is a founding member of the General Education Leadership Network. She holds a bachelor’s degree in botany and a master’s degree in educational studies from the University of Michigan.
Thurman, Jamerson, Price and Pape will serve two-year terms expiring Oct. 31, 2020. Kennedy and Norman will serve four-year terms expiring Oct. 31, 2022.
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