Come for a coffee with Liz Bauer, Monday Nov. 1 from 3-7 p.m.

Another one of my thought-provoking friends, Phyllis Davis Williams, is hosting an Open House at which I can talk with folks on a more personal basis. The event will be held on Monday, Nov. 1, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at The Character Cafe, 8626 W. Vernor, Detroit, MI 48209. It is on Vernor between Springwells and Lawndale.

The Cafe phone is 313 849 1111

Please stop by to share your views on education or any other aspect of life in our state. I will be there to learn from you as much as to share my vision for public education going forward.

Conversation with Grace Lee Boggs at the Boggs Center in Detroit

This morning I had the privilege to meet with a group of men and women of all ages in the company of Grace Lee Boggs, Julia Putnam, and Rich Feldman. Students, teachers, advocates for social change and people who walk their talk gathered to discuss education and how it could become more purposeful and meaningful to students in all their diversity. Too many good ideas to recount in this post, but I will be carrying them forward and sharing them in the future. I welcome readers' ideas and suggestions for ways in which we can better involve all members of our communities in the education of our children and youth. Know this. We are surrounded by people with vision, hope and ideas for new directions. We need only listen, learn and act to create inclusive communities.

Grand Rapids Press endorses Liz Bauer for State Board of Education

Just wanted to share the good news. The Grand Rapids Press has endorsed my candidacy for the State Board of Education. This encourages my heart and puts more pep in my step toward election day, Tuesday, Nov. 2. Hope all readers will vote on Election Day. Voting is essential to a participatory democracy.

Heartening News This Morning - Detroit Free Press endorsed Liz Bauer for State Board of Education

What a great way to start the day! A cup of coffee, a newspaper, and turning to the Opinion Page, the delightful discovery that my candidacy for re-election to the State Board of Education has been endorsed by the Detroit Free Press. I am grateful that my contributions during this term "merit a second term." See detailed election information and candidate profiles online at Freep.com/decision2010.

I am off to northern Michigan to receive the Friend of Social Work Award from the Michigan Association of School Social Workers. These men and women perform essential counseling, coaching, assessment, and coordination of accommodations, among other services to students in our schools. I am pleased to have an opportunity to thank them for all they do.

Want to know more about your ballot and the candidates running for election Nov. 2?

Have you checked out Publius.org? Go to www.publius.org. Enter your name and ZIP and you will see a map of your polling place, the ballot as it will apepar at your local polling place, and you can click on candidates' names to see their positions on issues, check their campaign finance reports, and more. This is a wonderful service and makes it easy to be an informed voter.

Speaking of voting...YOU MUST VOTE! Oct. 30 is the last day to get an absentee ballot. You must turn it in by 8 p.m. on Nov. 2. Polls are open 7 am to 8 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Be there!

Michigan State Employees Association endorses Liz for State Board of Education

Great news today. The Michigan State Employees Association has endorsed my candidacy for re-election to the State Board of Education. MSEA represents the people who work so hard every day to make sure our public services are available, accessible, and acceptable to the people of Michigan. As a former state worker (Director of Training and, later, Director of Community Placement for the Michigan Department of Mental Health, now Community Health), I know first hand the expectations of and response by public employees. I am very pleased to have their endorsement and wanted to share the good news with you.

Listening to teachers and students

I always say, policy is best when it is informed by the people it affects. On Thursday, Oct. 21, I had a great opportunity to meet with Detroit educators and students to talk about issues in public education. The event was at Cody High School and I am grateful to all who came to exchange ideas with me. Today I am headed to Phoenix P-8 School in southwest Detroit. I expect it will be an equally rich exchange. Looking forward to it.

Grand Valley State University Student Democrats welcome Liz Bauer and Lupe Ramos-Montigny to Campus

Mike O'Meara, GVSU student convened a meeting of the GVSU Student Democrats on October 11, 2010 which was attended by Democratic Party candidates for State Board of Education, Liz Bauer and Lupe Ramos-Montigny. The candidates spoke about the role of the State Board of Education, ways in which students can influence public policy direction and the importance of participating in the election as a citizen of Michigan and the USA.

Detroit News Endorses Liz Bauer for State Board of Education

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETROIT NEWS

October 4, 2010 http://detnews.com/article/20101004/OPINION01/10040305

Editorial endorsement: For education boards

Voters should pick trustees who will hold down tuition and champion reform
Michigan voters will be asked on Nov. 2 to elect two members to the state Board of Education and two regents each to the boards of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University. Democratic sweeps in the past two election cycles have left these boards with a lopsided political balance.
State Board of Education
Incumbent Democratic Trustee Liz Bauer of Birmingham is seeking her second term. She has been a very active board member, traveling the state to visit schools and talk with parents, teachers and students. She is a loyal supporter of the reforms advocated by State School Superintendent Mike Flanagan and should be returned to the board.
So should Republican Eileen Weiser of Ann Arbor. Although not an incumbent, Weiser served on the state board before being defeated in 2006. She has gained a national reputation for her expertise in measuring student and teacher performance, and is a strong champion of education reforms that bring more accountability to schools.
Also running are Democrat Lupe Ramos, a retired Grand Rapids school teacher, and Republican Richard Zeile of Detroit, a parochial school administrator.

Another endorsement - United Food and Commercial Workers of Michigan

This week the Elizabeth W. Bauer for State Board of Education campaign received the endorsement of the United Food and Commercial Workers of Michigan. It is an honor and privilege to have the support
of the men and women who work so hard for the people of our great state.