Welcome!
Students are the leaders of tomorrow and their success is essential to our collective future! While there has been a lot of great work on behalf of students, families, teachers, educators and communities across Michigan there is still much that remains to be done, and I am up for the challenge! As a board member I’ll be bringing bring my experience as a parent, union leader, 20+ year community member, and school based health nurse practitioner to serve as a nexus amongst teachers/workers, students, families, policy makers, and the administration.
Jeremy is the ONLY candidate running who works directly with AAPS students in the school setting.
About Jeremy
My name is Jeremy Lapham and I am running as a candidate for Ann Arbor Public Schools Board. In addition to being a long-term Ann Arbor resident (23 years), I have been a registered nurse for sixteen years, working as a school-based nurse practitioner in adolescent health at for the Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools for the past six-years.
I aim to turn my passion for health equity, education, community-based participatory action, and labor activism into policy and practice that works to improve the quality of education for all students in Ann Arbor Public Schools. In addition to my experiences as a Clinician, Community-Member, educator, Labor-Leader and Researcher and single-parent I bring a great deal insight from experiences working collaboratively with educators, families, students, non-profits, and the community at large.
As a board member I will be an advocate for the implementation of high-quality research into the issues facing public education, ensuring the voices of Michigan’s rank-and-file educators, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members are part of any proposals to help our students succeed.
I aim to turn my passion for health equity, education, community-based participatory action, and labor activism into policy and practice that works to improve the quality of education for all students in Ann Arbor Public Schools. In addition to my experiences as a Clinician, Community-Member, educator, Labor-Leader and Researcher and single-parent I bring a great deal insight from experiences working collaboratively with educators, families, students, non-profits, and the community at large.
As a board member I will be an advocate for the implementation of high-quality research into the issues facing public education, ensuring the voices of Michigan’s rank-and-file educators, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members are part of any proposals to help our students succeed.
Additionally, I am a single-parent of 3rd and 6th grade AAPS students, a graduate of Charlevoix High School, a first generation college student holding degrees from: Washtenaw Community College, Wayne State University, and two Masters degrees from University of Michigan school of Nursing and the Rackham Graduate School. I currently serve as vice-president of my union—The University of Michigan Professional Nurses Council; and hold board memberships on the Michigan Nurses Association; Huron Valley Area Labor Federation of the AFL-CIO, and the Huron Valley Worker Organizing and Research Center.
Top Priorities
EQUITY
Closing equity gaps in education both systemic and those exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes reopening and expanding before and after care programs for school age children; offering high quality educational opportunities for middle and high school students; and ensuring equity in transportation, technology, and facilities needs
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
Ensure AAPS prepares students for the demands of a modern global society and workforce by working with stakeholders to craft new, high-quality, student-centered system for AAPS–that helps every student succeed in school, their careers, and in life. Would also encourage investments that will introduce AAPS children to a variety of post-high school options.
EVIDENCE-BASED IMPROVEMENT
Ensure AAPS adheres to evidence-based improvement to curriculum, systems, and services. I will advocate for implementing high-quality research from organizations such as Launch Michigan, The Skillman Foundation, and National Center for Educational Excellence
LETTING EDUCATORS EDUCATE
Let educators educate. I will advocate for high-quality research into the issues facing public education, and ensure that the voices of Michigan’s rank-and-file educators are part of any proposals to help our students succeed.
SCHOOLS AS COMMUNITY
Make Schools Community Centers Again! I will work with administrators and principal's on plan to increase access to our schools to civic organizations, leaders in business, education, labor, parents, and philanthropy to ensure high quality offerings to AAPS’s students.
Closing equity gaps in education both systemic and those exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes reopening and expanding before and after care programs for school age children; offering high quality educational opportunities for middle and high school students; and ensuring equity in transportation, technology, and facilities needs
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
Ensure AAPS prepares students for the demands of a modern global society and workforce by working with stakeholders to craft new, high-quality, student-centered system for AAPS–that helps every student succeed in school, their careers, and in life. Would also encourage investments that will introduce AAPS children to a variety of post-high school options.
EVIDENCE-BASED IMPROVEMENT
Ensure AAPS adheres to evidence-based improvement to curriculum, systems, and services. I will advocate for implementing high-quality research from organizations such as Launch Michigan, The Skillman Foundation, and National Center for Educational Excellence
LETTING EDUCATORS EDUCATE
Let educators educate. I will advocate for high-quality research into the issues facing public education, and ensure that the voices of Michigan’s rank-and-file educators are part of any proposals to help our students succeed.
SCHOOLS AS COMMUNITY
Make Schools Community Centers Again! I will work with administrators and principal's on plan to increase access to our schools to civic organizations, leaders in business, education, labor, parents, and philanthropy to ensure high quality offerings to AAPS’s students.
Public Statement on RecEd aftercare program made to AAPS BOE
| aaps_boe_public_comment.pdf |
Leadership Profile
- Current Chief Steward for Advance Practice Nursing, University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council (UMPNC)
- Former Vice President | University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council (UMPNC) (Past Secretary).
- Board Member | Michigan Nurses Association
- Past Board Member | Huron Valley Areal Labor Federation AFL-CIO
- Former Member at Large | Lincoln High School Sex Ed Advisory Board
- Treasurer | Huron Valley Worker Organizing and Research Center
Professional Experience
- Family Nurse Practitioner | Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools Scarlett Middle School — 7-years
- Registered Nurse — Various Roles 18-years
- Part-Time Lecturer | Eastern Michigan University—7-years
- Lecturer & Clinical Instructor| Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology/Komfo Anyoke Teaching Hospital — Kumasi, Ghana (past).
Political Affiliation
- Current Member | Michigan Democratic Party
- Current Member | Huron Valley DSA
- Current Member | Working Families Party
Detailed policy priorities
Equity & Access
Equitable access to high-quality affordable education is essential to addressing inequality in our communities and to close the opportunity gap. In order to achieve an equitable public-school system the district ought to implement a comprehensive DEI strategy with quantitative measures of equity. I would also engage the educators, parents, the business community students, and everyone with a stake in public education to collectively determine a plan for funding and implementing the strategies from the Launch Michigan Framework (www.launchmichigan.org; the National Center of Educational Excellence and the Economy (www.ncee.org); Detroit Disability Power (https://www.detroitdisabilitypower.org); Center for Disability Justice (www.disabilityjustice.org) and the Therapist Neurodiversity Collaborative (www.therapistndc.org).
Effective Teachers, Principles, and Administrators
I’m a strong advocate of collective bargaining and believe that workers have the best knowledge of what’s needed to be successful in their roles. In the case of teachers then know how best to advocate for their students. As a board member I'll bring my experience as a parent, union leader, 20+ year community member, and school based health nurse practitioner and will be a nexus between teachers/workers, students, families, and the administration. Strategies and policies I would pursue include:
Before and After-School Programming
Increasing funding to after-school programs is important, by ensuring that children have safe and enriching places to go after-school is associated with increased lifetime socio-economic opportunities, improved mental health. For older children improving access to after-school programs and career training opportunities results in declines in the number of youth involved in risky-behaviors and the juvenile justice system. Policies and strategies I would pursue include:
Socio-emotional Health of Students
A student's ability to learn is determined by a number of factors outside of the classroom(e.g., hunger, homelessness, poverty, exposure to violence, mental illness, and unsafe environmental conditions). All of these factors significantly impact a student’s ability to learn therefore we need a comprehensive approach to ensure that students have access to high-quality health care, financial support, and out-of-school opportunities that support their success. Towards these ends I would pursue the following policies and strategies:
Community based participatory strategic planning
Transforming AAPS to meet the unique social and educational needs of our students to increase their opportunities to thrive in our city and beyond can only be done together. Towards this end I would pursue the following approaches:
Equitable access to high-quality affordable education is essential to addressing inequality in our communities and to close the opportunity gap. In order to achieve an equitable public-school system the district ought to implement a comprehensive DEI strategy with quantitative measures of equity. I would also engage the educators, parents, the business community students, and everyone with a stake in public education to collectively determine a plan for funding and implementing the strategies from the Launch Michigan Framework (www.launchmichigan.org; the National Center of Educational Excellence and the Economy (www.ncee.org); Detroit Disability Power (https://www.detroitdisabilitypower.org); Center for Disability Justice (www.disabilityjustice.org) and the Therapist Neurodiversity Collaborative (www.therapistndc.org).
Effective Teachers, Principles, and Administrators
I’m a strong advocate of collective bargaining and believe that workers have the best knowledge of what’s needed to be successful in their roles. In the case of teachers then know how best to advocate for their students. As a board member I'll bring my experience as a parent, union leader, 20+ year community member, and school based health nurse practitioner and will be a nexus between teachers/workers, students, families, and the administration. Strategies and policies I would pursue include:
- Implementing evidence-based strategies around teacher training, licensure, attraction, and retention ensuring that teachers are adequately resourced and supported.
- Recruiting diverse and talented educators to our district and the profession with incentives to stay.
- Ensuring that partnerships with local teacher education programs have strong foundations in content pedagogy and action research.
- Working with educators to support a career progression model that supports and rewards the sharing of expertise and experience.
- Supporting access for leadership development for principles and administrators to learn how to lead schools and systems more effectively.
Before and After-School Programming
Increasing funding to after-school programs is important, by ensuring that children have safe and enriching places to go after-school is associated with increased lifetime socio-economic opportunities, improved mental health. For older children improving access to after-school programs and career training opportunities results in declines in the number of youth involved in risky-behaviors and the juvenile justice system. Policies and strategies I would pursue include:
- Improving support of early childhood education, focusing on areas of greatest need first.
- Working to increase access to quality, affordable childcare and early childhood education so children can be cared for when their parents go to work or school.
- Increasing funding and increasing access for licenses high quality community agencies to operate before and after school programs in district buildings.
Socio-emotional Health of Students
A student's ability to learn is determined by a number of factors outside of the classroom(e.g., hunger, homelessness, poverty, exposure to violence, mental illness, and unsafe environmental conditions). All of these factors significantly impact a student’s ability to learn therefore we need a comprehensive approach to ensure that students have access to high-quality health care, financial support, and out-of-school opportunities that support their success. Towards these ends I would pursue the following policies and strategies:
- Identify and implement research-based modalities for improving social, emotional and physical needs of students.
- Improved services and implement evidence based strategies to help children struggling with mental health illnesses and disorders, like anxiety, depression, ADHD and PTSD.
- Ensure that teachers, students, and administrators, and paraprofessionals are educated on neurodiversity perspectives including autism acceptance and ensuring that non-ABA approaches are also provided.
Community based participatory strategic planning
Transforming AAPS to meet the unique social and educational needs of our students to increase their opportunities to thrive in our city and beyond can only be done together. Towards this end I would pursue the following approaches:
- Encouraging a community-based participatory district-wide strategic planning process that includes educators, parents, students, administrators, and other key stakeholders at the local, state, and regional levels to determine where the greatest needs are in the district.
- Developing a revenue strategy that focuses on providing student-centered funding for all kids, with specific emphasis on improving outcomes for students experiencing poverty, geographic isolation, English language learners, special education, and career and technical education.