T. Michelle Colson for State Board of Education, Ward 4

Michelle is running for State Board of Education because she believes every child in Ward 4 deserves access to a safe, supportive, and high-quality education.

<h2>MEET T. MICHELLE COLSON</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/963473ad-9fea-4971-8e80-7dcba5062ceb/6858619f-183e-411b-afb1-36107a28e8ac/6858619f-183e-411b-afb1-36107a28e8ac.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=145%2C0%2C962%2C562&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="42" variant="base"><h4>T. Michelle Colson is a proud native of Ward 4 Washingtonian and a graduate of D.C. Public Schools.</h4>Her educational journey began at Shepherd Elementary, where she and her fellow first graders proudly authored the book A Caterpillar’s Wish. After earning her high school diploma from Coolidge High School, T. Michelle traveled to East Lansing, Michigan, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Family and Community Services and her Master of Arts in K-12 Administration from Michigan State University.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/963473ad-9fea-4971-8e80-7dcba5062ceb/275f19ee-fb1d-4161-8c7c-0c089cc4dffa/275f19ee-fb1d-4161-8c7c-0c089cc4dffa.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1146%2C667&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" variant="base"><h4>Upon graduation, T. Michelle returned home to D.C. and DCPS, serving alongside her former teachers as Director of Admissions, Administrative Officer, and Dean of Students at schools across various grade levels throughout the city.</h4>Dean Colson recently earned her Doctor of Education in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program from Howard University.In her spare time, Dr. Colson has volunteered as a member and Co-President of the Shepherd Park Citizens Association and the Local School Advisory Team (LSAT), as well as the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) in Ward 4. Dr. Colson is fiercely committed to working with the community to provide the sons and daughters of D.C., especially those often marginalized, with opportunities to expand their life trajectories and increase their economic mobility.

Welcome to our campaign issues page. We focus on school safety, reducing absenteeism, supporting homeless students, and improving postsecondary outcomes to create a better educational environment. Join us in building a brighter future for all.

<h3>Fighting for Our Community</h3>These are some of the top issues our campaign is focused on. Learn more about our issues <a href="/issues" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

Our Campaign’s Issues

<h4>Ensuring a secure environment for students is a top priority for Dr. T. Michelle Colson.</h4>She believes that a safe and supportive school setting is fundamental to effective teaching, learning and overall well-being for students and staff. To achieve this, Dr. Colson is dedicated to implementing a range of comprehensive safety measures:<ol><li>Enhanced Security: Recognizing the importance of physical safety, Dr. Colson supports the implementation of advanced security measures. This includes improved surveillance systems, secure entry points, and the presence of trained security personnel to ensure that schools remain safe havens for students. Moreover, school safety concerns should be shared with community officials for collaboration and preventative action. </li><li>Mental Health Resources: Dr. Colson understands that emotional and psychological well-being is crucial for success. She promotes the availability of mental health resources, such as counseling services, mental health education, and access to professional support for students and staff.</li></ol>By fostering a safe and nurturing environment, Dr. Colson aims to help students and staff focus on their task. She believes when the school collectively feels secure and supported, it is more likely to engage actively in achieving comprehensive goals, participate in extracurricular activities, and build positive relationships. Creating such an environment for students is essential not only for academic success but also for developing well-rounded, resilient individuals prepared to contribute positively to their communities.

Ensuring a secure environment for students and staff is a top priority for Dr. T. Michelle Colson. She is dedicated to increasing transparency, implementing community restorative justice, anti-bullying programs, enhanced security, and mental health resources. By fostering a safe and nurturing environment, she aims to help students focus on their education and personal growth.

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School Safety

<h4>Reducing absenteeism is crucial to keeping students engaged and present in their education.</h4>Dr. T. Michelle Colson recognizes that consistent attendance is vital for academic success and personal development. To tackle chronic absenteeism, she focuses on several key strategies:<ol><li>Identifying Underlying Causes: Dr. Colson aims to understand the root causes of absenteeism, which can vary widely among students. These causes may include health issues, family challenges, transportation problems, or lack of engagement in school. By identifying these factors, we can revise policies and monitor implementation for success.</li><li>Targeted Interventions: Once the underlying causes are identified, Dr. Colson advocates for targeted interventions to address them. This may involve working closely with social workers, counselors, and community organizations to provide comprehensive support. Interventions could include offering health services, providing transportation assistance, or connecting families with resources to overcome personal and economic challenges.</li><li>Support Services for Families: Dr. Colson understands that family support is essential for reducing absenteeism. She promotes initiatives that engage families and provide them with the resources they need to support their children's education. This could involve offering parenting workshops, facilitating access to community services, and creating strong communication channels between schools and families.</li><li>Engaging and Relevant Curricula: Dr. Colson emphasizes the importance of creating culturally relevant pedagogy to keep students interested in attending school. This means developing programs that are both academically rigorous and aligned with students' interests and future workforce goals. Incorporating hands-on learning experiences, career-oriented courses, and extracurricular activities can make school more appealing and meaningful for students.</li><li>Fostering a Positive School Culture: Dr. Colson believes that a positive and inclusive school culture is key to encouraging attendance. She supports initiatives that create a welcoming and supportive environment for all students. This includes implementing positive behavior reinforcement programs, promoting student leadership opportunities, and fostering a sense of belonging and community within the school.</li></ol>By addressing the root causes of absenteeism and implementing these targeted strategies, Dr. Colson aims to create an environment where students are motivated to attend school regularly. Her goal is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed academically and personally by being present and engaged in their education.

Reducing absenteeism is crucial to keeping students engaged and reaching academic goals. Dr. Colson aims to identify the underlying causes of chronic absenteeism and develop targeted interventions to address them. This includes offering support services for families, creating engaging and relevant curricula, and fostering a positive school culture that encourages attendance.

Absenteeism

<h4>Providing essential support to homeless students ensures equal educational opportunities.</h4>Dr. T. Michelle Colson is deeply committed to addressing the unique challenges faced by students experiencing homelessness to help them succeed both academically and personally. Her approach includes several key strategies:<ol><li>Collaborating with Local Organizations and Agencies: Dr. Colson understands the importance of a community-based approach to supporting students experiencing homelessness. This begins by educating the community on homeless youth. She actively collaborates with local organizations, shelters, and government agencies to create an efficient process to identify students experiencing homelessness and connect them to a network of support. This collaboration ensures that students experiencing homelessness and their families have access to comprehensive services that address their immediate and long-term needs.</li><li>Offering Stable Housing Solutions: Recognizing that stable housing is a critical foundation for student success, Dr. Colson will support works to connect homeless students with housing resources. This may involve partnering with housing authorities and nonprofit organizations to secure temporary shelters or permanent housing solutions. Providing a stable living environment helps students focus on their education without the stress and uncertainty of homelessness.</li><li>Ensuring Access to Basic Needs: Dr. Colson is dedicated to making sure that students experiencing homelessness have access to essential resources such as food, clothing, and healthcare. She advocates for programs that provide free or reduced-cost meals, access to clothing banks, and connections to medical services. By addressing these basic needs, she will collaborate with others to helps remove barriers that can hinder students' ability to attend and succeed in school.</li><li>Dedicated Educational Support: Dr. Colson emphasizes the importance of tailored educational support for students experiencing homelessness. This includes providing academic tutoring, mentoring, and counseling services to help students overcome the educational disruptions caused by homelessness. She will continue to work to ensure that students experiencing homelessness receive the individualized attention they need to catch up academically and thrive in the classroom.</li><li>Creating a Supportive School Environment: Dr. Colson is committed to fostering a school environment that is understanding and supportive of students' unique circumstances. She promotes training for teachers and staff on how to recognize and address the needs of homelessness sensitively and effectively. Additionally, she encourages the implementation of programs that build a sense of community and belonging for all students, regardless of their housing situation.</li><li>Advocating for Policy Changes: Beyond immediate support, Dr. Colson advocates for broader policy changes to address the systemic issues contributing to student homelessness. She will work with policymakers to push for legislation that increases funding for students experiencing homelessness, improves data collection to better understand the scope of the issue, and ensures that schools have the resources they need to support students experiencing homelessness effectively.</li></ol>By implementing these strategies, Dr. Colson aims to provide students experiencing homelessness with the stability and support they need to succeed in school and beyond. Her commitment to addressing both the immediate and underlying causes of homelessness helps ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential and build a brighter future.

Identifying and providing essential support to homeless students ensures equal educational opportunities. Dr. Colson is committed to working with local organizations and agencies to offer stable housing, basic needs, and dedicated educational support to help students succeed academically and personally.

Homeless Students

<h4>Improving pathways to higher education and career success is a key priority for Dr. T. Michelle Colson.</h4>She is dedicated to ensuring that all students, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, have the opportunities and support they need to pursue higher education and successful family sustaining careers here in Washington, D.C. Her approach includes several comprehensive strategies:<ol><li>Enhancing College Readiness Programs: Dr. Colson focuses on strengthening college readiness programs to prepare students for the academic, social, and emotional challenges of higher education. This includes offering advanced placement (AP) courses, dual enrollment programs with local colleges, and college preparatory classes that build the skills needed for college success. She advocates for curricula that emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the rigors of college coursework.</li><li>Offering Mentorship and Guidance: Recognizing the importance of personal guidance, Dr. Colson promotes mentorship programs that connect students with experienced mentors who can provide academic support, career advice, and personal encouragement. These mentorship relationships help students navigate the college application process, explore career options, and develop the confidence to pursue their goals. Mentors can also offer valuable insights into overcoming obstacles and making informed decisions about their futures.</li><li>Increasing Access to Scholarships and Financial Aid: Dr. Colson is committed to removing financial barriers that prevent students from pursuing higher education. She will work to increase awareness of available scholarships, grants, and financial aid literacy. This includes providing workshops and resources on how to apply for financial aid, financial aid repayment, guiding students through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) process, and connecting them with scholarship programs that match their academic achievements and financial needs. </li><li>Building Partnerships with Colleges and Universities: Dr. Colson actively seeks to build additional strong partnerships with colleges and universities to create seamless pathways for students. These partnerships may include articulation agreements that guarantee admission for qualified students, joint programs that allow students to earn college credits while still in high school, and collaborative initiatives that provide students with access to college resources and facilities. </li><li>Providing Career Exploration and Planning: To help students make informed decisions about their futures, Dr. Colson emphasizes the importance of career exploration and planning. She supports programs that offer career counseling, internships, job shadowing opportunities, and exposure to various industries and professions leading to family sustaining careers here in Washington, D.C. These experiences enable students to explore their interests, develop relevant skills, and gain a clearer understanding of potential career paths. </li><li>Creating a Supportive School Culture: Dr. Colson believes in creating a school culture that values and supports higher education and career success for all students. This includes fostering high expectations, celebrating academic achievements, and providing resources and support for students' postsecondary goals. She encourages schools to create environments where college and career readiness are integral parts of the educational experience, and where students are motivated to strive for family sustaining careers.</li></ol>By implementing these strategies, Dr. Colson aims to empower students to achieve their full potential and secure economic mobility. Her commitment to enhancing college readiness, offering mentorship, increasing access to financial aid literacy, and providing career exploration opportunities ensures that students are well-equipped to succeed in higher education and beyond.

Improving pathways to higher education and career success is a key priority for Dr. Colson. She focuses on enhancing college readiness programs, offering mentorship, and increasing access to scholarships and financial aid to empower students to achieve their full potential and secure economic mobility.

Postsecondary Outcomes

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<h2>Why I'm Running for SBOE Ward 4?</h2>I am running for SBOE Ward 4 because I believe every student in D.C. deserves access to a safe and high-quality education, leading to a family-sustaining career at home here in Washington, D.C. With a focus on school safety, reducing absenteeism, supporting homeless students, and improving postsecondary outcomes, I aim to create policies for equitable learning environments and outcomes. My commitment is to support all students, especially those marginalized, to achieve their full potential and secure economic mobility. Together, we can build a brighter future for Ward 4's children and families.

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"I believe every child in Ward 4 deserves access to a safe, supportive, and high-quality education. My journey from Shepherd Elementary to earning my Doctorate in Education has shown me the importance of community involvement and equitable opportunities for all students. Together, we can address the critical issues of school safety, absenteeism, support for homeless students, and improved postsecondary outcomes to create a brighter future for our children." – Dr. T. Michelle Colson

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