Board members sworn in
Prior to the Dearborn Public School Board of Education regular meeting Jan. 9, incoming Board Trustee Roxanne McDonald (right) and returning Trustee Joseph Guido (second from right) are sworn in by outgoing Board President James Schoolmaster. McDonald is starting her first term while Guido is returning for his fifth term since 1993.
By DANIEL HERATY
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – The Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education welcomed a new member to its ranks, one with experience working with the district’s students.
Roxanne McDonald, 47, who graduated in 1982 from Dearborn High School, began her term Jan. 9 as a Dearborn Public School Board of Education trustee. She said she had some nerves about stepping into her new role, but is proud of her accomplishment.
“I look forward to working with all the board members,” she said. “There’s a lot to learn. I’m absorbing information like a sponge.”
Married since 1995 to Charles McDonald, an electrician, she served as president of the PTA and Parent Teacher Student Association Council, an umbrella organization comprising the district’s 25 PTA chapters, before becoming involved in the school board.
A graduate of Lawrence Technological University, McDonald said her passion is student achievement and made it a point to get to know the district. Since December, she has toured the district’s schools, reaching about one-third of the buildings, to keep with her strategy of learning by doing.
“There’s quite a learning curve,” she said. “There’s a tremendous amount of information.”
Current board members said they are looking forward to working with McDonald. Trustee Aimee Blackburn said in an email McDonald will benefit from working with district’s schools in the past and said McDonald is very committed to the district, the city and to education.
Trustee Hussein Berry agreed.
“I believe that her passion for education and for the city is going to serve us well,” he said. “She’s only been through a couple meetings so far and (is) asking some very good questions.”
(Daniel Heraty can be reached at [email protected])