The Election Committee has announced the 2023 election for one (1) executive board vacancy and three (3) election committee members. The executive board vacancy is a partial term (March 2023-January 2025) and the election committee are the full two year terms (April 2023-March 2025). The duties of the Election Committee are outlined in the 2023 Election Committee Guidelines document. Please use this nomination form for either executive board or election commitee. A member must be in good standing and cannot run for two positions. As outlined in the 2023 Spring Election calendar the nominations open today. Voting will take place in person at the March general membership meeting. For any other questions, please reach out to the Election Committee at dft231ec@gmail.com. Please allow them time to respond as they are busy teaching and working during the school day.

It is time to say farewell to Terrence Martin, who has stepped away from his role as President of the DFT. He has been a participating member of Local 231 since his first days of teaching, back in 1998, when he began teaching elementary school with DPS. In his second year with the district, he was elected as building representative and has gone on to be actively involved with the union ever since. He was elected as DFT treasurer, then hired to work in the union office with job duties including labor relations administrator, political action, community engagement and negotiations. These skills served him well when he was named as executive vice president in 2015. He ran for President in 2018 and 2020, winning both elections. He will not be far away from DFT members as he is currently the secretary-treasurer of the state federation and is one of the national vice presidents for AFT. You will see him  out and about in the community as he continues to be involved in many organizations such as the Michigan Democratic Party, the Black Leadership Advisory Council with Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Education Justice Coalition. His legacy of doing what's right and what's fair for students, their families, educators and the community will not be forgotten. Terrence has been an advocate for social, economic and education justice for his entire career and that will not stop. We wish him all the best as he pursues other opportunities.

January marks a change in leadership for the DFT. Taking the reins of the presidency is Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins. Assisting her in the office will be Jason Posey, a former organizer who has been nominated by the executive board to serve as executive vice-president. Elena Brantley-Phillips is returning as Recording Secretary and stepping into the Treasurer's role is Rodney Fresh. Joining incumbent Executive Board Members Lisa Card, Samantha Hoskin, Crystal Lee, Dwan McGrady, Sarah Niemi, Dashmire Sadiku and Marcus Walton are newcomers Marva Needham-Fletcher, Jeff Wasilewski and Everette Whitfield. The three trustees are Cassandra Davis, Mark Duffy and Kaira Gandy. 

Here are the results of the recent DFT leadership team election. These officers will be sworn-in at the next general membership meeting, on Thursday, January 19, 2023.

PRESIDENT

• Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins

VICE PRESIDENTS

• Glenda Booker
• Robin Jennings
• Jason Posey

RECORDING SECRETARY

• Elena Brantley-Phillips

TREASURER

• Rodney Fresh

EXECUTIVE BOARD

• Lisa Card 
• Frank Donner 
• Marva Fletcher 
• Samantha Hoskins
• Crystal Lee
• Dwan McGrady 
• Sarah Niemi 
• Dashmire Sadiku 
• Marcus Walton
• Jeff Wasilewski 
• Everette Whitfield

TRUSTEES

• Cassandra Davis
• Mark Duffy
• Kaira Gandy

For detailed information on vote totals, the information can be found in this DFT Certified Election Report.

Please click the link to view and download the official candidate list for the upcoming election of Officers, Executive Board Members and Trustees. It is possible more names will be added to the list once the grievance process is completed. Online voting begins on Thursday, November 17, 2022 and runs until Friday, November 25.