Leading Educational
Change in Michigan
Getting to Know Your State Board
of Education
Even before it achieved statehood, Michigan was a leader in public
education. In 1809, judicial districts created schools and levied
taxes to support them. Twenty years later, The Territorial Council
divided the districts into school districts and gave the state
the right to supervise schools. Michigan’s first Constitution
created a Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1835. John D.
Pierce, a frontier missionary, was Michigan’s first superintendent
and the first independent administrator of education appointed
under a state Constitution in the United States. The State Board
of Education’s current responsibilities were established
by the 1963 State Constitution. The leadership legacy continues
as Board members lead the way in improving public education through
recommendations and actions that result in key legislative changes.
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John C. Austin, Treasurer
Co-Chair, Ensuring Excellent Educators
Task Force
Democrat-Ann Arbor, Term Expires 1/1/2009
Mr. Austin was elected in 2000. He is a senior partner
with Public Policy Associates, a research and consulting
firm based in Lansing. Mr. Austin holds a Master of Arts
in Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of
Government and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political
Science from Swarthmore College. E-mail John C. Austin at
jca@publicpolicy.com.
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Elizabeth W. Bauer
Chair, Embracing The Information Age
Task Force
Democrat-Birmingham, Term Expires 1/1/2011
Mrs. Bauer was elected in 2002. She is a self-employed,
international consultant in human rights and civil society
and a former executive director of the Michigan Protection
and Advocacy Service. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in religions
from Mount Holyoke College and a Master of Arts in education
for exceptional children from Ohio State University. She
has done graduate studies in speech pathology at University
of Minnesota and doctoral studies in education administration
at Michigan State University. E-Mail Elizabeth W. Bauer
at ebauer7400@aol.com.
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Carolyn L. Curtin, Secretary
Chair, Ensuring Early Childhood Literacy
Task Force
Republican-Evart, Term Expires 1/1/2011
Mrs. Curtin was elected in 2002. She is a homemaker and
volunteer. She is a former member of the Evart School Board
and the Mecosta-Osceola County Intermediate School Board.
She attended Ferris State University. E-mail Carolyn L.
Curtin at jccurtin40@hotmail.com.
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Marianne Yared McGuire, NASBE Delegate
Chair, Elevating Educational Leadership
Task Force
Democrat-Detroit, Term Expires 1/1/2005
Mrs. McGuire was elected to the State Board of Education
in 1996. Her background in education began as a fourth-
and fifth-grade teacher in Grand Rapids and Detroit public
schools. She currently serves as the National Association
of School Boards of Education (NASBE) Delegate. She has
worked as a newspaper editor and as a congressional staffer.
Mrs. McGuire holds a Bachelor of Arts in education and a
Bachelor of Fine Arts in communications from Wayne State
University. E-mail Marianne Yared McGuire at mcguiremar@earthlink.net.
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Herbert S. Moyer, Vice President
Chair, Integrating Communities and
Schools Task Force
Democrat-Temperance, Term Expires 1/1/2005
Dr. Moyer was elected to the State Board of Education in
1996. He has served in numerous roles in Michigan's public
school system. He has served as a teacher, school administrator,
and superintendent of Bedford Schools. Dr. Moyer holds a
Bachelor of Arts from Western Michigan University,
a Master of Arts from Columbia University, and an Ed.D from
Wayne State University. E-mail Herbert S. Moyer at lpmandhsm@juno.com.
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Kathleen N. Straus, President
Democrat-Detroit, Term Expires 1/1/2009
Mrs. Straus, first elected to the State Board of Education
in 1992, was re-elected in 2000. She has served as staff
director of the Senate Education Committee and director
of governmental relations for the Michigan Association of
School Boards. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics
from Hunter College. E-mail Kathleen Straus at strauskn@aol.com.
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Reginald M. Turner
Democrat-Detroit, Term Expires 1/1/07
Mr. Turner was elected in September 2003. He is a member
of Clark Hill, P.L.C., where he specializes in government
relations and management-side labor law. For the past year,
he served as president of the State Bar of Michigan. Mr.
Turner holds a law degree from the University of Michigan
Law School and also a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne
State University. E-mail Reginald M. Turner at turnerrm@michigan.gov.
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Eileen Lappin Weiser
Co-Chair, Ensuring Excellent Educators
Task Force
Republican-Ann Arbor, Term Expires 1/1/2007
Mrs. Weiser was elected to the State Board of Education
in 1998. She is executive director of the McKinley Foundation
of Ann Arbor. She graduated from the University of Michigan
and Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
in Music and a Master of Fine Arts in music in piano performance.
She has served on the Executive Committee of the Michigan
Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs for eight years.
E-mail Eileen Lappin Weiser at eweiser@weisernet.com.
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For more information, contact:
State Board of Education, Michigan Department of Education, P.O.
Box 30008, Lansing, MI 48909, (517) 373-9434 or visit John A.
Hannah Building, 608 West Allegan St., Lansing, MI 48933.
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