Laurelle Myhra
School Board
District 5
About
Highlights
About me
I am an Anishinabe woman from the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians in Northern Minnesota. I’m also of Swedish, Finnish, and Norwegian descent from my father’s side. My greatest joy is being a mother and raising my two children, Eloise age 8 and Daniel age 5, to be proud of their heritage, and to love and look out for others.
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My qualifications
I work for my tribe as the Director of Mino Bimaadiziwin ("Good Life"; Mino-B) Wellness Clinic in Minneapolis. I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist and have a doctorate in family social science. My research has focused on racial and health disparities experienced by Native American people, integration of behavioral health and cultural healing practices into healthcare, and healing and resiliency.
Learn MorePriorities
My top priority is to increase access to culturally responsive education, with curriculum that accurately depicts history and experience of Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) including the strengths and resiliency of these communities. Here are some strategies to get there:
- Increase the number of racially diverse or BIPOC administration, staff and teachers
- Increase professional development that prepares administration, staff and teachers to competently teach and serve BIPOC children and families
- Implement accountability measures for administration, staff and teachers to work toward racial equity and decrease personal biases
- Ensure more support staff in the classroom for the benefit of children and teachers
- Enhanced resources and funding for special education programs, teachers, and students
- Increase access to culturally responsive mental health support available to all children and families
- Expand and enhance collaboration with community partners who provide services, resources, mentoring, and post-graduation opportunities
- Address the negative impact of district decisions made without input from BIPOC communities and implement a process to regularly gather community input to inform future decision making
- Provide teachers with literacy training and coaching to increase their knowledge and skill in teaching reading
- Collect data on reading level and report out to parents and community on reading improvements
- Identification of reading issues is not enough, more support and accountability is needed to get students connected with testing and assessments to accurately diagnosis the issues; and work with families to ensure they receive the appropriate level of support, especially when financial and educational barriers exist
Press
Candidate Forum hosted by Advancing Equity Coalition and League of Women Voters Minneapolis
Advancing Equity Coalition and League of Women Voters Minneapolis host candidate forum - attendees from at-large Lisa Skjefte and Sonya Emerick, and District 5 candidate Laurelle Myhra.
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Candidate Forum hosted by Voices for Racial Justice and Educators for Excellence-Minnesota
Voices for Racial Justice and Educators for Excellence-Minnesota invited all MPS school board candidates to share their vision for solutions related to protecting teacher diversity and student wellbeing. Three candidates-- Sonya Emerick, Laurelle Myhra, and Lisa Skjefte--accepted the invitation. The rich discussion that follows, moderated by Alex Leonard, Licensed School Counselor at Patrick Henry High School, features questions from educators, students, and the community.
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Laurelle Myhra wants to see Minneapolis schools ‘partnering with culturally responsive organizations already doing really good work’
Laurelle Myhra, a marriage and family therapist who directs the Mino Bimaadiziwin Wellness Clinic, wants to bring her culturally responsive mental health skills and business acumen to the Minneapolis school board. By BECKY Z. DERNBACH
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Pollen's Minneapolis Public Schools School Board Voter Guide
Pollen's Minneapolis Public Schools School Board Voter Guide! Learn more about candidates and their ideas for protecting teacher diversity and student wellbeing.
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Native Roots Radio - Rock the vote!
LIVE on Native Roots Radio interview with Laurelle Myhra on her priorities for school board!
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Minneapolis school board candidate questions effectiveness of race-based layoff policy: 'It's a bigger issue'
Laurelle Myhra said she 'understood' the policy, but retaining minority teachers would require recruiting, higher pay and support in the school system By Kelsey Koberg | Fox News
Read MoreEndorsements
Life In Our Skin, along with cohosts Lisa Harris and Anahita Champion, are pleased to endorse Laurelle Myhra for Minneapolis School Board – District 5. Advocating for Laurelle Myrha, a member of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe, is in alignment with our mission to support the advancement of women in the middle living between the white and black communities. As under-represented women, mothers, and entrepreneurs, we support Laurelle Myhra for these important reasons which align with our values: 1. Laurelle’s expertise and experience providing culturally responsive mental health care as a licensed marriage and family therapist with her doctorate in family social science. 2. Laurelle’s commitment to systemic change in racial equity within the educational system that include hiring and retaining teachers of color and increasing access to curriculum that accurately depicts history and highlights the strengths and resiliency of BIPOC communities. 3. Laurelle’s business experience and fundraising skills which aide state funding efforts to support these important initiatives. Life In Our skin is a podcast created for women in the middle. Our guests share their American (stories and lived) experiences living between the white and black communities. Join us, Lisa Harris and Anahita Champion, as we share Life in Our Skin... raw and unedited. www.lifeinourskin.com
Life In Our Skin: Podcast |
I believe Laurelle would make a true difference on our school board. From her experience in leadership in the Native American community and her background in social science and mental health, these will serve well in her contribution to our board!
Nicole Miller: MPS teacher, MFT member, and MPS parent
Dr Laurelle Myhra has a strong drive and passion to close gaps on racial disparities for marginalized communities, specifically BIPOC and LGBTQ. She has made great strides making culturally responsive chemical health and mental health care available and I believe she will do the same in education as a MPS School Board member.
Dr Antony Stately: CEO of Native American Community Clinic
Titilayo Bediako endorses Laurelle Myhra for School Board District 5 seat.
Titilayo Bediako: Co-Lead of Racial Justice Network's Education Committee
Dr. Laurelle Myhra District 5 (Southwest Mpls) for MPS School Board! She is an Anishinabe leader and a fierce advocate for our students and families. She's also a seasoned administrator and trauma-informed therapist. Dr. Laurelle Myhra has my vote!
Cheryl Persigehl: Co-Lead of Racial Justice Network's Education Committee
And in the contest for District 5, those with truly progressive aspirations to bring knowledge-intensive education to students of all demographic descriptors will decline to vote for DFL-endorsee Lori Norvelle and give their vote instead to Laurelle Myhra, a member of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe who holds a doctorate in Family Social Science and Marriage and Family Therapy and has training and personal experiences that give credence to her avowed mission to be an advocate for racial equity.
Dr. Gary Marvin Davison: The New Salem Educational Initiative Blog |
Elena Condos, early candidate for School Board District 5 seat, is pleased to endorse Laurelle Myhra for MPS School Board.
Elena Condos: School Board District 5 candidate before primary
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map of District 5
Contact Me
Share your priorities with me. Ask a question. Would you like to volunteer? Would you like a yard sign? Email me at laurellemyhra4schoolboard@gmail.com Miigwech/Thank you!