Laurin Gracey-Parker is running for a two-year partial term on the Rochester Community Schools Board of Education in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
She faces Deanna Harless for one seat ending Dec. 31, 2028, according to Oakland County Times’ election coverage. Voters may choose one candidate in this contest, which is separate from the election for two full-term seats.
Gracey-Parker responded to the Rochester Register candidate questionnaire on Oct. 10. Unless otherwise noted, the information and responses below come from that questionnaire.
Asked why she is running, Gracey-Parker emphasized student achievement, support for educators and collaboration with families.
“I believe strong schools build strong communities, and I want to help ensure RCS continues to provide an excellent education for every student,” she said.
She said volunteering and serving on district committees helped her understand the district’s strengths and opportunities for improvement.
“Above all, I’m running to keep students at the center of every decision and help move Rochester Community Schools forward,” she said.
Candidate information
Community ties: Gracey-Parker said she grew up in Rochester and chose to raise her family in the community because of its schools.
Party affiliation: The election is nonpartisan. Gracey-Parker said her decisions would be guided by students’ needs rather than party politics.
Education: Gracey-Parker reported earning a bachelor’s degree in English and political science from the University of Michigan in 2003. She also completed technology training through Grand Circus, a coding boot camp.
Occupation: Gracey-Parker previously worked as an information technology business analyst at DTE Energy. She said her responsibilities included evaluating needs, improving processes, developing business cases and supporting organizational decisions.
Her campaign biography also describes previous ownership of a writing and editing business.
Family: Gracey-Parker said she and her husband met at the University of Michigan. They have two daughters: a district graduate attending college and a first grader.
Family in politics or government: Gracey-Parker said her sister works as an administrator for the city of Pontiac.
Experience and public service
Gracey-Parker said her volunteer experience includes chairing Junior Great Books and Kids Night Out committees, serving on the district’s Facilities Planning Commission and serving on her homeowners association board.
She said those roles helped develop her understanding of school needs, long-term planning and financial oversight.
“As an IT Business Analyst at DTE Energy, I worked with teams across the organization to evaluate complex issues, improve processes, develop business cases, and support informed decision-making,” she said.
She said her professional and volunteer work prepared her to listen, examine details and work through difficult decisions.
On the issues
Academic achievement and changing needs: Gracey-Parker identified maintaining educational quality amid changing student needs, enrollment trends and financial pressures as a major challenge.
She supports challenging academics, appropriate student services and opportunities for students to explore their interests.
“As a board member, I would focus on long-term planning, responsible budgeting, and using student achievement data and community input to guide decisions,” she said.
Teachers and staff: Gracey-Parker said supporting educators is essential to student success. Her priorities include providing resources and working conditions that help teachers meet students’ needs.
“I would also prioritize supporting our teachers and staff, because their success is directly connected to student success,” she said.
Mental health and safety: Gracey-Parker said academics, mental health, school safety and teacher recruitment and retention should be considered together.
“Students learn best when they feel safe, supported, and challenged, and teachers do their best work when they have the resources and support they need,” she said.
Budgeting and facilities: Gracey-Parker said the board must consider limited resources and aging facilities while planning for future needs.
She supports reviewing student outcomes, listening to educators and families, and assessing financial implications before allocating resources.
“The goal isn't to prioritize one at the expense of another, but to make responsible, sustainable decisions that support the whole student and keep our schools strong,” she said.
Community collaboration: Gracey-Parker said she would bring a collaborative approach and a willingness to consider different perspectives.
“I want to focus on the work that matters: supporting students and educators, strengthening our schools, and making thoughtful decisions for our community,” she said.
Endorsements and distinction
The Rochester Forward campaign website lists endorsements for Gracey-Parker from the Michigan Education Association, Rochester Education Association, Rochester Paraeducator Association, Rochester Support Personnel Association and National Association of Social Workers’ Michigan Chapter.
Her campaign also lists a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction. The program explains that this designation is not an endorsement.
Advice that guides her
“The best advice I've received was to recognize the difference between intention and impact,” Gracey-Parker said. “We can have the best intentions, but what ultimately matters is how our words, actions, and decisions affect others.”
She said that advice reminds her to listen, consider other perspectives and adjust when an approach is not working.
This profile draws primarily on Laurin Gracey-Parker’s responses to the Rochester Register candidate questionnaire, with additional information from her campaign materials, published election reporting and the Gun Sense Candidate program. Responses have been excerpted and paraphrased; direct quotations retain her wording.
