Inspire, Spring 2012

Elected to Serve “I never, ever, thought I’d run for local office,” said Birgit (Kass) McQuiston ’85. No one is more surprised than she is that a certified nutritionist with a nursing degree would become vice president of the Lake Orion, Michigan, school board. “But I’m a parent,” she explained, “That’s how it all began.” Located 45 minutes north of Detroit, Lake Orion is a community of 35,000 people, more than 8,000 of whom are students in kindergarten through 12th grade. McQuiston and her family moved to Michigan in 2000 where her husband is employed in the auto industry. They chose Lake Orion in part because of the quality of the public schools. Willing to Help “I wanted to be involved in my children’s education,” McQuiston said. Her oldest was entering first grade, and her youngest was turning 3. “I was willing to be a room mother, work as a volunteer, join the parent-teacher organization, or help in any way I could.” Each level of service opened opportunities for deeper involvement, and she soon became a parent representative on the school improvement team monitoring benchmarks of student achievement. Over time, she grew closer to both the issues and the decision-makers, and she assumed a more vocal role in holding school board members accountable. “As a volunteer, I always felt that my input and concerns were heard, but my influence to affect change only went so far,” she said. When others suggested that she run for a seat on the board, she dismissed their promptings — being the “watch dog” was too much fun. Her husband gently suggested she could likely do more to make the changes she was fighting for from the other side of the table. His prompting began to tug at her heart. She felt it would be a privilege to serve as an elected official; although if she didn’t win, nothing would change her passion for public education. “If I didn’t run,” she said, “I’d always wonder what I could have achieved.” By December of 2010, she announced her decision: “I’m in.” Ready to Lead McQuiston and her friend Melissa launched coordinated campaigns in January of 2011. That May, among 13 contenders, they were both elected to fill two of four open seats on a school board of seven. In her first year on the board, she is struck by the significance of the responsibility she and the other board members have assumed. “Collectively, school board members are among the largest group of elected officials in the United States,” McQuiston said. “I am working alongside more than 3,700 school board members in the state and more than 90,000 in the country to influence the education of our children — indeed the very future of our communities.” McQuiston has heard the rhetoric about “failing public schools,” but her experience has shown her that the issues vary significantly in each community and are far too complex for such a blanket verdict. She is also aware of strong opinions some Christians hold against public education, but she remains confident this is the right choice for her family. “This is where God has placed us to serve,” she said. “He has put Christians in my path at every step — teachers, parents, and administrators. It excites me to see their passion, and I enjoy working alongside them to make a positive difference in our children’s lives.” Lake Orion school board member Birgit (Kass) McQuiston ’85 has testified before Michigan House and Senate education committees to improve public education. Seeking a Seat by Carol Lee ’96 Two alums ran for local school boards. One was elected and one was not, but both learned a great deal about what it means to serve. 14 SPRING 2012