If you ask Amy Hamilton what her hobby is, she will be the first to tell you that it’s her kids.
‘I will get a hobby when the kids are grown and out of the house,? Hamilton said. ‘Until then, they are my hobby.?
That’s why Hamilton has decided to become a school board candidate. As a mother of three (Gage, 15, Tate, 13 and Liam, 11), two of whom attend Oxford Schools, and aunt to five nieces and nephews in the district, she’s concerned about their education.
‘It’s nothing any more complicated than that,? she said. ‘I want to do something to help make sure these kids get a good education.?
Hamilton has lived in Oxford for 20 years and been married to her husband Mike for 19. Prior to Oxford, she grew up a Dragon in Lake Orion where she graduated in 1992. From there, she went on to Oakland University where she received her BA in Nursing and has been employed at McLaren Oakland for 18 years.
After working on the floor in the cardiac telemetry unit for 14 years, she went back to school and got her masters degree in nursing and went into management.
What are some highlights?
As far as highlights go, Hamilton likes the IB (International Baccalaureate) program.
‘I appreciate and am very proud that my children are apart of the IB program,? she said. ‘But somewhere along the line I want to make sure they’re getting their basic education.?
Hamilton did admit that not being on the board currently and able to listen to everything that goes on behind the scenes that she can’t make a total judgment.
‘I think the public obviously should not hear all and does not hear all, so to judge on the decisions they make on whether they are right or wrong I don’t think is right for me to do,? she noted.
What are her concerns?
Hamilton believes that it’s important that the board have members who currently have children attending school in the district.
‘What they need on the school board (is people) to actually listen to parents,? she said. And I think they need people that understand that (when it comes to mistakes) kids are kids.?
While there is nothing the board has implemented that she thinks is inappropriate, she does question whether things have been implemented more for political reasons rather than ‘what’s best for the kids.?
‘I want to make sure we do what’s best for the children, not just what’s best for the image of the Oxford Schools,? she added. ‘We need to take care of our teachers and we need to make sure we’re doing what we need to do to make sure our kids get a quality education.?