Jamie Rawcliffe, a longtime district volunteer and PTA leader, is running for the Rochester Community Schools Board of Education in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Five candidates are competing for two six-year terms in the nonpartisan contest, according to Oakland County Times’ election coverage. Voters may choose up to two candidates. The other candidates are Lawrence D. Halushka, Lisa Halushka, Michael Frink and Sherry Wynn Perdue.
Rawcliffe responded to the Rochester Register candidate questionnaire on Oct. 7. Unless otherwise noted, the information and responses below come from that questionnaire.
Asked why she is running, Rawcliffe emphasized her commitment to district students and families.
“I have spent the past 14 years volunteering my time in the district through PTA, and now I'd like to take that knowledge, experience and the relationships formed during that time to the next level to continue to have an impact on this school district and help it move forward,” she said.
Candidate information
Residence and family: Rawcliffe said she and her husband have been married for 22 years and have lived in Rochester Hills throughout that time. They have two children who attended district schools, one now in college and the other in high school.
Education: Rawcliffe reported earning a bachelor’s degree from Albion College. Her campaign biography identifies her field of study as English and her graduation year as 1999.
Occupation: Rawcliffe previously worked in publishing as a writer and editor before becoming a stay-at-home parent. She now works part time at a bookstore and volunteers with several organizations.
Previous elected or appointed office: Rawcliffe said she has never held elected or appointed government or political office.
Party affiliation: Rawcliffe reported no official party affiliation. The school board election is nonpartisan.
Family in politics or government: Rawcliffe said no family member works in politics or government.
Experience and public service
Rawcliffe’s campaign biography describes three years as Rochester Community Schools PTA Council president, following three years as council vice president.
Her volunteer work has included PTA leadership at Meadow Brook Elementary and West Middle School, planning districtwide events and working with school administrators and parent leaders.
She also serves on the Authors in April board, according to her campaign biography.
Asked what accomplishments prepare her for the school board, Rawcliffe pointed to that districtwide experience.
“I have spent years planning and executing large-scale, district-wide events; supporting students and teachers; and collaborating with parents, teachers and administrators across the district to serve the needs of our students and families,” she said.
She also cited experience leading meetings, overseeing elections and balancing budgets.
On the issues
Student achievement and preparation: Rawcliffe said the district faces several important priorities rather than one overriding challenge.
She identified academic achievement, preparing students for life after high school, manageable class sizes and appropriate technology use as areas requiring attention.
Learning environments: Rawcliffe said she wants to evaluate whether the district offers the settings and schedules different students need.
“One of my personal priorities is looking at the types of learning environments our students need and ensuring we're meeting those needs, whether it's alternative or hybrid schedules, special education classrooms, the alternative center for education, etc.,” she said.
She said working with teachers, administrators, students and parents would be an important starting point.
Balancing priorities: Asked how schools should balance academics, mental health, safety and teacher recruitment and retention, Rawcliffe emphasized seeking guidance from people with expertise in each area.
“The key to success here is to listen to the experts in each of the subject areas (curriculum, mental health, school safety, teacher retention, etc.) and learn from them, making use of best practices while always keeping what is best for students at the forefront of the decisions,” she said.
Community relationships: Rawcliffe said her PTA Council work has connected her with people throughout the district, beyond the schools her own children attended.
“My work with the PTA Council in our district has allowed me the opportunity to work with students, parents, teachers, administrators and staff throughout the district to enhance existing educational experiences, and advocate for our parents and students,” she said.
Endorsements and distinction
The Rochester Forward campaign website lists endorsements for Rawcliffe from the Rochester Education Association, Rochester Paraeducator Association, Rochester Support Personnel Association, Michigan Education 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 the distinction is not an endorsement.
This profile draws primarily on Jamie Rawcliffe’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.
