e-Edition
Sign up for email newsletters
Sign up for email newsletters
e-Edition
With the recent resignation of two members of the Dearborn Heights School District No. 7 Board of Education, openings had to be filled.
One position, which runs through 2024, was given to Hamzah Abusalah. Tyler Elkins was appointed to the other position, which expires in a few weeks.
The two new board members both said they have a plan for their time in office.
“I am married and a proud father of three students in District No. 7,” Abusalah said.
He is a golf club manager, with more than 15 years of professional experience in culinary and management.
“I believe this makes me a unique candidate for the District No. 7 board,” he said. “My experiences, dedication, and passion for my community and our children make me eager to create a change for our district. I believe that I will bring a new vision and a fresh perspective to District No. 7 that will move our community forward and ensure a brighter future for all students.”
Abusalah said his experience running a business and looking at budgets is something many other board members likely do not have.
“My professional experience overlooking budgets, executive level planning, and managing employees has equipped me with the necessary skills to make hard decisions, solve problems, and relate to others to understand different perspectives,” he said. “I hope to use my leadership skills and passion for my community to bring a new and independent voice to District No. 7. My promise is to make ethical and decisive decisions that are in the best interest of all students, teachers, faculty, and community members.”
Elkins is a coach in the district.
He said he saw the opportunity to serve the district he graduated from and to learn about the process.
“I saw it as an opportunity to serve the community and learn more about local politics and the education system,” Elkins said. “I’m not trying to change anything, per se. I just want to be an active and productive member of the community. The only thing I want to accomplish is being an advocate for the students and families of D7. If I can do that, I’ll consider it ‘mission accomplished.’”
Elkins, who first applied for the longer seat, said the appointment process was “great.”
“The board had some great questions and it was a pleasure to participate,” he said. “Once my coaching career winds down and I have a little more time, I’d love to try and serve on the board again.”
Elkins, who works as a digital marketing consultant, comic book writer and professional wrestler when not coaching football and wrestling, said he has a passion for the district.
“I think my biggest asset is my love and passion for the district,” he said. “I’ve been a D7 community member for 35 years and coach in the district at Annapolis and Best. I try to talk to the kids and parents and see how they feel about D7, at the same time sharing my experiences and why I think D7 is a great community.”
We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.
Sign up for email newsletters
Copyright © 2022 MediaNews Group