Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, an educator, former prosecutor, State Representative and Senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. But the most important title she boasts is MOM. Inspired by her family, she’s devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.
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The Michigan Parents’ Council was created by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Executive Order No. 2022-5 as an advisory group to more formally bring parents into the education budget process for the first time in Michigan history. The council will build on Governor Whitmer’s inclusion of the parent perspective in the most recent education budget she signed for the current 2022-2023 school year. The council represents parents from across Michigan, as well as parents of students with a variety of educational needs. The council will convene a series of regional parent roundtables to gather input.
The Council includes appointees who represent various communities and reflect the wide range of experiences and perspectives from across the state. Appointees include parents of children in public, private, and home school learning environments, children in early childhood learning programs, and elementary, middle, and high school students. They also include parents of children with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), children who speak English as a second language (ESL), and children who are in foster or kinship care.
The Council consists of 11 members appointed by the Governor. The Council will dissolve on March 1, 2023, or such other time as the governor directs.
Expanded membership under Section 4(e) Executive Order No. 2022-10
Blanca J. Astua, Holland
LaQuitta Brown, Detroit
Jennifer L. Figler, Gwinn
Cindy E. Gamboa, Detroit
Sarah Kucher, Birch Run
Yazeed Moore, Grand Rapids
Bailey Nuss, Traverse City
Ranya Shbeib, Bloomfield Hills
Tracey Troy, DeWitt - Chair
Rafael Turner, Grand Blanc
Monique Zantop, Jackson
Additional Members:
Stacey Ann Sipes, designee of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Stephanie O’Dea, Governor’s K-12 policy advisor