NPE Action endorses Pamela Pugh for U.S. House of Representatives for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District
The Network for Public Education Action is proud to endorse Pamela Pugh for U.S. House of Representatives for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District. Pamela has a 25 year career seeking to improve the education and health of children as well as the environments in which they live, learn, and play. She was appointed as the Chief Public Health Advisor for the City of Flint in response to the Flint Water Crisis. She also worked for fourteen years within the Saginaw County Health Department. In 2014, she was first elected to the Michigan State Board of Education and currently serves as the board’s President. She also serves as a member of the Healthy Schools Network Board of Directors and a former member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE).
Pamela’s top priority is to continue her lifelong mission of bringing people together to confront Michigan’s most pressing challenges. These challenges include ensuring every child’s access to an equitable, quality education. Pamela is a strong advocate for the “whole child” approach to education. Her passion is fostering the well-being of children through systems and programs that involve the physical, social, and emotional aspects of their development. She was involved in thwarting efforts to marginalize the history of civil rights, social justice, labor union, and LGBTQ+ movements in Michigan’s K-12 social studies curriculum standards. Most recently, she has been a leading voice in opposition to efforts to censor curriculum and/or intimidate Michigan’s K-12 educators in order to prevent the teaching of accurate U.S. history particularly related to slavery, institutional racism, and the lingering consequences of both.
To improve education, Pamela is committed to increasing and equalizing funding to schools. She would support teacher input and fair pay. Expanding access to technology and increasing funding for mental health resources are also important to Pamela. She will expand early childhood education and enhance special education. She will continue to work for school safety and inclusivity as well as support rural education. Finally, Pamela will foster community and parent engagement to create a more effective and supportive education system that meets the needs of all students. Pamela feels that some of the issues facing Michigan education are physical safety concerns, a reliance on standardized testing which has an impact on teaching and learning, and an inability to ensure that students with special needs receive the support and resources they need to succeed.
Pamela’s positions on charters and vouchers are all in line with those of NPE Action. Here’s what Pamela told us.
Charters: “I will continue to advocate for required transparency of CMO and EMOs’ spending of taxpayer money and support a moratorium on charter schools.” “As a U.S. Congressperson, I will continue to support legislation aimed at increasing charter school oversight and accountability. I will support legislation that supports a moratorium on the proliferation of privately managed charter schools.”
Vouchers: “The use of traditional vouchers, Education Savings Account (ESA) vouchers, and tax credits to facilitate the transfer of public funding to private or parochial schools diverts funds from public schools exacerbating resource constraints often affecting schools serving disadvantaged communities.” “Policies should prioritize strengthening public education systems, ensuring equitable funding, and supporting schools in meeting diverse learners’ needs. “Choice” should not come at the expense of undermining public education or widening educational inequalities.”
NPE Action urges Michigan public education supporters to get out the vote for Pamela Pugh in the primary election on August 6, 2024.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. Authorized and paid for by National for Public Education Action, PO Box 227. New York, NY 10156. 646-678-4477.