Four candidates are on the Nov. 6 ballot seeking three, four-year seats open on the Van Buren Schools Board of Education.
All those running are Van Buren Township residents.
Current board member Darlene Loyer Gerick, who was appointed to fill a vacant seat, is running for election to the position. Board members Kevin English and Allison Bennett have not filed for reelection.
Candidates filled out questionnaires for the Independent readers and here are their responses.
Dionne Falconer
Dionne Falconer, 45, of 43705 Dorchester, has lived in the school district for six years.
She has been married to Vincent G. Falconer for 15 years. They have a daughter Alessander Falconer and sons Trevor and Myles Falconer, students at Tyler Elementary School.
Her occupation is Regulations Agent.
“I am a proud product of Detroit Public School District,” she said. She earned a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from Ferris State University and a master’s degree in Business Administration/E-Business from University of Phoenix.
Falconer is vice president of AGAPE Uniting Families for Christ couple’s ministry. She has been active at the Tyler Elementary School PTO since the 2014 school year.
She has never been appointed to public office and this is her first run for elective office.
Why is she running for this office?
“As an active parent and PTO member, I have seen first-hand the reward of giving back and engaging with students, staff, educators, and administrators. I’m ready to take on this challenge at a higher level to increase the positive impact I can make in my own backyard. I recognize the need for the school board to be representative of the diverse ethnic landscape that makes our district such a wonderful place for our children to learn and grow. We need active parents on the board with students currently enrolled in the Van Buren school system. The real time engagement of parents who see first-hand the needs of students, faculty and staff will help me as an asset to the board. I can give a perspective that is relevant and current to the immediate needs of the district based on first-hand knowledge. As a parent I am my children’s first teacher. When they started school, I became a part of a larger team of educators to assist them in reaching their maximum potential as individuals and students.”
Falconer said her goals once elected include:
• Champion efforts to create a task force to address the need for retention and recruitment of a more culturally diverse workforce.
• Support funding and training to address students with special needs.
• Help the district create tools which help parents support classroom learning at home by leveraging technology as well as one-on-one interaction with their children.
• Work to expand the implementation of effective programming and support systems for bullying and conflict resolution.
• Promoting increased parent interaction within the schools. “As a child, I knew that I could grow up and be a professional teacher, principal or business person because I saw people who looked like me doing those jobs.”
Darlene Loyer Gerick
Darlene Loyer Gerick, 51, of 47675 Martz Rd., is running for election to the board after her appointment in 2017 to fill a vacancy. She was unsuccessful for a board bid in 2016.
She has lived in the school district for 50 years. She is married to Ron Gerick and their daughter is Marina, a freshman at Belleville High School.
Gerick is a Facilities Manager. She has a bachelor of arts in Computer Science/Organizational Leadership. She is active in Girls Scouts (leader, district leaders support), Belleville Tigers Youth Football & Cheer, and Van Buren Area Little League.
Why is she running for this office?
“I grew up here, graduated from BHS (1985), my child will be a 2023 graduate of BHS. I care about our schools and our community.”
Do you have any goals once elected?
“Many things in our district have improved in the last couple of years and more needs to. Our student growth is OK. It is not great. Our proficiency is not where it should be. We need to keep working, keep improving.
“We need to keep our focus on our kids, keep improving how we teach and what we teach,” Gerick said.
Calvin H. Hawkins
Calvin H. Hawkins, 54, of 43658 Revere, has lived in the school district for 21 years. He is married to Trunita Hawkins and they have six children: Paris, Deral, Angelica, Camille, Joshua, and Lashez.
He is a Manufacturing Manager with a bachelor of arts in Business Administration. This is his first bid for elective office.
His hobbies include fishing, camping, bowling, classic cars, coaching Youth Football, basketball, male chorus, and choir director.
Why are you running for this office?
“There’s a great need to improve education for area children at all levels. Children are our future and it’s a must that we invest in them. They’re our leaders for tomorrow.”
Do you have any goals once you are elected?
“Make Van Buren Public Schools one of the best in the nation. Want to see children on all levels performing at a high level.”
Amy Pearce
Amy Pearce of 49092 Peninsular Dr., returned her questionnaire by First Class Mail, but it was not delivered to the Independent. Her information will be printed in the Oct. 11 Independent.