A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
When I stepped back from teaching high school after 14 years, a lot of people asked me if it was because of the pay. Well, no. Not exactly. I can tell you I didn’t leave because of the kids (the future is definitely brighter because of Gen Z) or the communities (I taught in one rural and one suburban high school, and both were filled with strong, loving families), or my colleagues (the best people I know work in schools).
But overall funding for schools certainly contributed to me leaving. School funding in Michigan declined significantly from 2002-2017, and so did teacher salaries. Between the combination of the challenges COVID-19 presented after 15 years of budget cuts—which resulted in less funding for support staff, social workers, supplies and more—and pay freezes, it’s no wonder that teachers are leaving the profession in high numbers. On top of that, benefits like health insurance, paid time off, and opportunities for professional development were cut.
That’s what teachers have faced. And of course, what teachers face, students face. Their favorite teachers leave for better opportunities. Their friends who struggle with mental health can’t get the support they need because the school doesn’t have the resources. They aren’t able to access a broad range of academic, social, and career and technical programs.
All districts in the state are dealing with these issues. But we know that problems are more acute in urban and rural areas, where students are more likely to be economically disadvantaged and face barriers like racial discrimination (primarily in urban areas), language access, isolation (primarily in rural areas) and more. Disparities in education can be traced to public policies that limit employment and housing opportunities and fail to recognize the added costs of teaching children who live in high-poverty areas.
Michigan State University’s new education policy report, Educational Opportunities and Community Development in Rural Michigan, released earlier this month, focuses on some key opportunities Michigan has when it comes to improving educational and community outcomes in rural areas, in particular. And the Michigan League for Public Policy and our partners have long advocated for a weighted funding formula for schools, meaning the schools with the highest needs receive more targeted funding. We need to improve opportunities for students in both rural and urban areas—districts in those areas have students with the most to gain from our investments.
I grew up in a rural area and taught in one for five years. The school district truly was the heart of the community. It’s where people gathered for family recreation, concerts, sporting events, senior citizen activities and more. The report reflects this. But it’s no secret that rural areas are facing unique challenges. The new report delves into history of what has caused opportunities in rural areas to decline, including stagnant employment, the movement of young people (and their talents) to more metropolitan settings after graduation, a lack of affordable housing, and I’d add access to child care, healthy foods and transportation to the mix. It also highlights five key problem areas: Teacher recruitment and retention; Serving students with mental health needs; broadband access; Funding; and state reporting requirements.
According to the report, Michigan has seen a 71% drop in teacher preparation completion since 2006. We lead the nation in that rate of decline. And teachers are leaving in high numbers, likely due to some of the same issues I struggled with in the profession. And in rural areas, issues like lower pay and geographic isolation make it even harder to attract and retain teachers.
The 2023 school aid budget will go a long way in improving outcomes for schools. It definitely addresses the dire need for teachers to join the profession and stay in it, with $575 million to recruit teachers and provide bonuses to current teachers. $313 million will go toward behavioral health services. The budget also includes $500 million for the School Consolidation and Infrastructure fund, which will allow districts whose facilities are in decline to invest in improvements. But it will take time for all of this to truly improve outcomes, and for this funding to have the biggest impact, it must be targeted to places with the highest need and provide the right supports for districts.
Of course, we know one of the biggest factors in strong schools is making sure that communities are strong. That’s why the League is also dedicated to improving outcomes by strengthening supports for families, including access to affordable housing and child care, improving food and cash assistance programs, and promoting the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
