About Me

I am seeking a four-year term on the East Lansing Board of Education and would be honored to serve this community I love.

I am a mom of three children within ELPS (with a child in elementary, middle AND high school), wife, PR professional/business owner, active community member and so much more.

I'm an advocate for students, teachers and all support staff and strive to strengthen community through relationship building and inclusivity. I want to ensure all students are given the opportunities they need to succeed.

I'm qualified for this position because I've been doing the work behind the scenes for over a decade. I'm a listener and lifelong learner and will always put the students at the center of it all.

Experience

I began by serving as a classroom parent and over the years held the official roles of Marble’s Parent Council Secretary, President, and Co-Founder and Secretary of Equity Team. I was also instrumental in changing the name from Marble Parent Council to Marble School Community Council to encourage a more inclusive group.

I began chairing Marble’s Fun Run, one of the biggest fundraisers of the year, in 2015, eliminating a third party organization that had previously done the work (and a huge fee that they took so that all money raised went to Marble). In 2018, I worked with the P.E. teacher to revamp the event into a big obstacle ninja warrior course, and it’s since become the Marble Muskrat Movement Mayhem (M4), an annual fundraising event.

After noticing a need for more support in the Marble cafeteria, myself and another parent began volunteering during breakfast every day to encourage kids to “beat the bell.” We would engage with kids while helping them finish in order to make it to class on time. We did this from 2015- March 2020 (due to COVID restrictions.)

I served as the Communications Manager on the YES for East Lansing Schools Bond campaign in 2017, managing the team communications and social media, speaking with community members at forums, and canvassing nearly all of our EL neighborhoods. It’s the work of this committee that helped to pass the Bond to rebuild five elementary schools and renovate one.

I work with MacDonald Middle School administration and staff on equity initiatives and am now serving as the Co-President of Council.

I’ve organized clothing and personal needs drives at both Marble and MacDonald and have helped plan (with Marble Equity Team) three documentaries and subsequent panels at East Lansing High School to promote community engagement (and plan to do more).

I served as co-secretary of the Bailey Community Association Board from 2019-2021 and understand our neighborhood needs and concerns as they relate to our schools.

I feel as if a role on the ELPS BOE is the natural progression of my service as a student, teacher and education advocate.

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votefortali@gmail.com

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