11/03/2022
Hello Friends, Family and Neighbors,
I am running for a school board position in the Melvindale Northern Allen Park School District. I have served on the school board in Melvindale previously from 2016-2020.
About me:
• Served in the United States Navy for 4 years from May of 2000 until May of 2004.
• Graduated from Eastern Michigan University in May of 2008 with a Master's Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Children and Family.
• Worked with children now for 15 years in different capacities.
• Worked at Ozone House in Ann Arbor for 3 years, from 2007 to 2010.
• Worked for the State of Michigan Department of Human Services as a Foster Care Specialist for 6 years from 2008 to 2014.
• Currently work for Dearborn Public Schools as a School Social Worker and have been doing so for over 8 years. Being an educator for the last 8 years has really provided me with a great understanding of what schools need to function efficiently.
• Coached basketball and track for the last 8 years.
• Attended Dasher Elementary for 2 years and then went to Evans Elementary because Dasher was closed. I went to Strong Junior High and then Melvindale High School.
I decided to run for school board this term because I feel like I have a civic obligation to give back to the community I was born and raised in.
I feel that there is a wealth of knowledge in education and working with children that I can bring to the school board.
I believe that there is some areas that we need to improve on as a school district such as test scores and extracurricular activities for our youth as well as vocational opportunities for our high school students.
Regarding test scores I feel that we need to ensure that our school teachers are being supported by providing them the best curriculum to teach our students. Teachers are essential to our students learning and need to be supported and listened to by our central office.
Regarding extracurricular activities I remember having a basketball team in 5th and 6th grade, Evans, Mead and Palmer Elementary would compete against each other. We would practice one day a week and have our games on Saturday morning. This was a great program that I really enjoyed and benefitted from.
I would like to help bring back programs like this for our upper elementary youth.
Regarding vocational opportunities not every student that graduates high school wants to go to college. Some of our students work well with their hands and would like to become mechanics, carpenters, electricians, plumbers and construction workers to name a few skilled trade positions. Connecting with some professionals that work in the skilled trade workforce and some companies that hire them would be beneficial.
As a district ensuring that we advertise these professions and provide our students with the resources they need to pursue these programs would be a great start.
I hope that I can earn your vote in the November election, if you have any questions feel free to message me here and I will get back with you.
Thanks everyone
Malek Saif
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