Inspiring kids to dream

"I would love to invite lawmakers to come into our classrooms and see what’s really happening on the frontlines so that maybe they can make better decisions about our schools. With all of the challenges that the teachers in DPS are facing, most of us have not walked away. We are dedicat­ed, and most of us love the job. This job is a calling. It’s about love."

Mignon Pierce is a first-grade teacher at Emerson Elementary-Middle School.

Read Mignon's profile here.

"As teachers we have a lot of power to inspire children’s minds. If we are serious about our children’s education, then we’ve got to give them what they need. In many ways, students are like plants. Plants need the correct amount of light, water and earth to grow. Like plants, if children are missing what they need, they will struggle to flourish."

Latha Krishnan is an English language arts teacher at Burton International Academy.

Read Latha's profile here.

"If we are serious about giving kids an authentic education, we need to bring back extracurricular activities that have been proven to enhance students’ overall academic success."

LaRonda Paden is an eighth-grade reading language arts teacher at Brewer Academy.

Read LaRonda's profile here.

"Many of our students come from economically disadvan­taged families. They have big dreams but often don’t see dreams being realized around them. They become discour­aged. That’s where educators come in. We need support to help our students become the best they can be."

Lawrence Glenn is a counselor at Brewer Academy.

Read Lawrence's profile here.

"Detroit teachers are the lowest paid in the tri-county area. It’s disheartening, and more than that, it’s disrespectful. Still, I stay in this school district because there is a need, and I can make an impact. The state, which has controlled Detroit Public Schools nearly every year I have worked here, needs to pay the school debt that it incurred so that there’s more to invest in the per-pupil allowance and the resources students need."

Asenath Jones is a world history teacher at Cass Technical High School.

Read Asenath's profile here.

'It’s time to invest in kids and their dreams'

"How can we say that we value children and their future, but then not respect, recognize and reward the work of the profession­als who are educating our children? What I want for my students is a clean school with all of the amenities suburban schools get—computers, textbooks, opportunities for exposure to different experiences. That’s what they deserve."

Mitzi Davis is a second-grade teacher at Thirkell Elementary School.

Read Mitzi's profile here.