Alawieh.DEARBORN – On Monday, June 20, the Dearborn Board of Education selected Fadwa Alawieh to fill the vacant seat left by former trustee Aimee Schoelles, who resigned last month after accepting a job in Ohio.

Alawieh was one of 20 Dearborn residents who applied for the position. The school board conducted 15 minute interviews with all the applicants on Wednesday, July 15 and Thursday, July 16.

During the school board meeting on Monday, Trustee Mariam Bazzi made a motion to appoint Alawieh to the board. The motion was seconded by Trustee Mary Lane and passed in a 5-1 vote. 

Alawieh told The Arab American News she was enthused about her new role on the school board and said it is a position she will not take lightly.

“I’m humbled and overjoyed, but I know that this comes with a huge responsibility and I embrace this responsibility,” Alawieh said. “People in this district have entrusted the board with their most valuable treasure, their children. I am ready to actively participate in ensuring that our students are provided with the best opportunities attainable.”  

Alawieh is no stranger to Dearborn Public Schools. She graduated from Fordson High School in 2003.

While a student, she served as president of the Key Club and Senior Class, took part in several school clubs and activities and was awarded “Most Active Student” by the National Honor Society.

“I am a product of the district and I chose to raise my family here,” Alawieh said. “Dearborn Public Schools and Henry Ford College have given so much to me and this is just another way of me giving back.”

Alawieh earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She obtained a law degree from Wayne State University and is now employed as a Wayne County assistant prosecuting attorney. 

She has also been a long-time active member of the community, with her involvements ranging from being a board member of the Government Bar Association and the Islamic Center of America. 

Alawieh is also the Election Day Chair for the American Arab Political Action Committee (AAPAC), an organization she has been a part of for 10 years. 

AAPAC has continued to build strong ties with the Board of Education. The organization had backed Schoelles, in addition to current trustees Bazzi, Roxanne McDonald, Mary Lane and Michael Meade. 

Alawieh is married to current AAPAC President Ali Hammoud. 

She is also currently a volunteer attorney for the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and a member of the Lebanese International Business Council.

Alawieh said the district is unique because it offers many advantages that parents and children could utilize.

In addition to overseeing Dearborn’s preschool-12th grade schools, the board is also responsible for the affairs of Henry Ford College, which recently became a four-year institution. 

Alawieh said the board has done great work to build partnerships with all of the district’s institutions and that she’s looking to build ont top of that.

“The board has done a great job of facilitating growth through the partnership of these institutions,” she said. “There is a lot of work to be done and I’m prepared to do my fair share.”

Schoelles stated in a letter of recommendation that “Alawieh maintains her composure and actively listens to all sides before rendering her opinion. She is thoughtful in her deliberations and very aware of how her actions affect other people.”

Alawieh’s appointment to the board will take effect immediately upon completion of all necessary documents and submitting that information to the state.  

Her appointment to the board is the latest in a string of reshuffling at the district. In addition to Schoelles’ departure and Alawieh’s appointment, former Dearborn Superintendent Brian Whiston stepped down from his position last month in order to take on his new duties as state superintendent. He was replaced by Glenn Maleyko, a longtime employee of the Dearborn Public Schools. 

The School Board also appointed Trustee Roxanne McDonald to the president’s position, following Schoelles’ exit. She had previously served as vice president of the body. The board also appointed Trustee Mary Lane to both the vice president and secretary positions.

Alawieh’s seat will expire in November 2016. If she wishes to continue serving on the body beyond that, she would need to submit her name as a candidate for one of the three seats that will be available during the 2016 election  cycle.  

Her inclusion on the board has expanded its diversity. She becomes the second Arab American to serve on the board, after Bazzi. The district serves an 80 percent Arab American student body.

Alawieh promised to be accessible and responsive to residents during her stint on the board. She said she is prepared to work with parents and her fellow trustees to continue moving the board in a progressive direction.

“The best way for me to represent the people in the district is to have an open line of communication with them,” Alawieh said. “I am here to serve my community, our children, parents and concerned residents. I am their student and I know I will always have a lot to learn. I will listen and hope to be their voice every step of the way.”