A Champion for Michigan Students
Ted Jones is committed to ensuring every Michigan student receives a high-quality education. With a background as a former central office administrator in Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), Ted spent four years in the Office of the Superintendent. While there, he played a pivotal role in advancing policies that improved education for all students and assisting the District in navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including ensuring the Board of Education could continue public meetings.
Ted’s experience extends beyond administration. He has served as a Legislative Director in the Michigan House of Representatives, focusing on education policy. He has hands-on experience as a teacher, school social worker, and community organizer in public schools in Detroit. His academic journey includes a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University, a master’s in social work from the University of Michigan, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Michigan State University.
Ted’s diverse experiences give him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in public education. He’s ready to fight for the future of Michigan’s students.
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Why I am Running
I’m running for the Michigan State Board of Education because education is deeply personal to me. My passion for education stems from a lesson I learned from my granddad, Dr. E. Theodore Jones.
When I was 12, I asked him about his early life. He was the third of eight children, growing up in poverty during the Great Depression. To support their family, he and his brothers worked grueling, backbreaking jobs, loading and unloading trains in exchange for basic food supplies such as canned goods, beans, cheese, and rice. During those tough times, my granddad made a vow: one day, he would have a job where he never had to lift anything heavier than a pencil.
That vow marked the start of his journey in education. Through determination and hard work, he graduated from high school, took on various jobs to fund his college education including working for his church and as a butler, and ultimately earned his doctorate in education. He became a pastor and the first Black person to be promoted to Temple University's vice president.
In just one generation, education transformed our family from poverty to the middle class. That’s the power of education, and it’s a power I believe we’re at risk of losing in Michigan. I’m running to ensure that every student in Michigan has access to the high-quality education they deserve. It’s time to reclaim the promise of education for all.
My Platform
I believe that a high-quality education can transform lives. No matter their circumstances, if our students receive the education they deserve, they can overcome any obstacle, including poverty, to take them as far as their gifts and their grit will take them. But right now, Michigan’s education system is failing them.
The commitment of our school districts, principals, teachers, and school-level staff is not to blame. I’ve seen the dedication of our educators firsthand as a former central office administrator. Teachers go beyond their roles, often acting as mentors, surrogate parents, and emotional support for their students.
The fault lies in how our state has underfunded education. Since 2008, Michigan has cut education funding by $5 billion [1], leaving us ranked 41st in the nation [2]. This has real consequences: 72% of our fourth graders are not reading at grade level, 76% of our eighth graders are not proficient at math, and 20% of our high schoolers are not graduating on time.
If elected to the State Board of Education, I won’t be content to sit on the sidelines. I will lead the charge and be at the forefront of the fight to achieve three critical goals:
1. Fight for Increased Education Funding
I will be a tireless advocate for better education funding, working alongside parents, students, and educators to:
- Attract and retain high-quality teachers,
- Provide universal preschool for four-year-olds,
- Offer better interventions for learning and mental health,
- Ensure all students learn in adequately maintained school buildings,
- Move toward a one-to-one student-to-computer ratio in classrooms.
2. Address COVID-19’s Impact on Student Achievement
The pandemic has left our students with learning delays and social challenges. I will advocate for:
- Funding for high-quality tutoring and intensive learning cohorts,
- Increased wraparound services for social development and mental health support.
3. Fight for a State's Right to a High-Quality Education
Michigan’s Constitution guarantees an education, but it doesn’t ensure it’s a high-quality one. I will lead a coalition to amend our Constitution, giving parents the power to demand a truly high-quality education for their children.
Together, these initiatives will create better schools and better futures for all Michigan students.