JoLynn Clark, Principal of Frankenmuth High School, has been appointed to the Student Recovery Advisory Council of Michigan. This is the second time that Ms. Clark has been tapped to serve in an advisory capacity by Governor Whitmer. The Council is composed largely of the members who served on the Return to School Advisory Council this past spring and includes educators, parents, and students who will work closely with the governor to provide a set of recommendations for state policy makers and guidance for school districts to maximize successful recovery for students.
“I am very pleased to see that JoLynn Clark will serve on the Student Recovery Advisory Council of Michigan," said Wendy Zdeb, MASSP’s Executive Director. "Mrs. Clark is a proven leader, and we're grateful that Governor Whitmer continues to seek input from building leaders about the challenges students and schools have faced throughout this pandemic. As educators across the state work tirelessly to support our students in recovering from this crisis, we welcome the opportunity to engage with policy makers to provide students with a safe and healthy learning environment moving forward.”
According to a press release from the Governor's office, the Council is specifically tasked with:
- Developing and submitting recommendations to the governor, state superintendent, and state budget director regarding student recovery.
- Recommending actions to develop and improve systems for academic support for students who experienced learning loss due to COVID-19.
- Recommending actions to develop and improve systems for mental and physical health for students impacted by COVID-19.
- Recommending actions to develop and improve systems to support high school students transitioning into postsecondary education.
- Recommending actions to develop and improve out-of-school time supports, including, but not limited to, summer school, before and after school programs, and extended school years.
- Assembling critical voices from the education and public health communities to assist in identifying key challenges students face due to the pandemic.
- Providing other information or advice or take other actions as requested by the governor.
- Reporting regularly to the governor on its activities and make recommendations on an ongoing basis.
The Council has a preliminary timeline of four months to deliver their recommendations to the Governor, though that timeline is flexible and the group may produce interim recommendations along the way as needs dictate. MASSP has emphasized with Governor Whitmer's office the importance of getting any recommendations into the hands of schools sooner than later so educators have time to plan.
The Council members are appointed for a term of service commencing immediately and expiring December 31, 2021. The complete list of Council members is available in the full press release.
JoLynn Clark is a career educator with 18 years in Michigan's public school system. She has worked in Frankenmuth as a building administrator for the past 12 years and was an English and Psychology teacher for the six years preceding her work as a principal. JoLynn holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Interpersonal & Public Communications (1999, CMU); Bachelor of Science in Education - English and Psychology double major (2002, CMU) and a Master of Arts Teaching (2004, SVSU) and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (2007, SVSU). She currently represents Region 4 on the MASSP Board of Directors.