Berry (left) with his dad Ali Berry.

DEARBORN — Longtime resident Hussein Berry is looking forward to going back to his passion in public service – on the Dearborn School Board.

Berry, 53, had been a trustee for one term, at one point serving as the president of the board. But in 2014, he left the board to launch an unsuccessful run for state representative in the 9th district. 

In an interview with The AANews, Berry, a father of five, said he’s seeking a return to the School Board because he wants to ensure that the youth of the community have an adequate education. That includes his children and grandchildren, all of whom are products of Dearborn Public Schools.

“I am blessed to have the time and opportunity to serve my community,” Berry said.  “I have always served in the capacity of serving our future and our youth. I render every decision as I would for my own children. My goal is to have all of our children experience the same success that my children have enjoyed.”

Berry, a graduate of Fordson High School, is a familiar face in the community as he’s had a long history of volunteerism, including Dearborn PTA, Dearborn Youth Football and  Dearborn Goodfellows.

“Dearborn has provided me and my family with wonderful opportunities, amazing experiences and a lifetime of memories that I can’t imagine we would have enjoyed anywhere else,” Berry said. 

He acknowledged the improvements Dearborn Public Schools has made in the last decade. He noted that graduation rates have increased, while test scores have also improved in recent years. 

“Many of our graduates have gone on to such prestigious schools as the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and several Ivy League schools,” Berry said.

One area of improvement Berry is stressing during his campaign is parental involvement. Often, language barriers or busy schedules prevent parents from being as involved as they could in their children’s academic efforts. However, Berry said a solution is possible.

“It’s no secret that students achieve more and enjoy greater success when parents are actively involved in the educational process,” he said. “Most parents understand this, but far too many are not actively engaged. I would like to see all parents be held accountable for playing an active role in the educational support process. Toward that end, I would like to see both the parent and DPS sign a contract, spelling out the responsibilities of each party.” 

Berry, a real estate broker for more than 25 years, said he could also bring a unique business perspective to the School Board.

He said he would seek avenues to attract more investors to Henry Ford College and Dearborn Public Schools, as well as keep taxpayers satisfied by assuring that their dollars are being appropriately spent.

Berry noted that the district’s success is also crucial in keeping Dearborn’s property values thriving.

“I believe that we should be held accountable to the taxpayers that finance our schools,” he said. “Are the taxpayers and investors in Dearborn getting a good return on their investments? I can make the connection that schools are part of the formula of our home values, positive or negative. Many of my buyers tell me that the successes of our schools were part of their decision to move into Dearborn.”

Berry is competing against incumbent Fadwa Hammoud and newcomers Khodr Farhat and Adel Mozip for one of two open six-year terms on the School Board in the November 8 election. He said that when voters cast their votes, he hopes they consider his loyalty and commitment to the community.

“I have had the good fortune of calling Dearborn my home for nearly 50 years,” he said. “As a free-thinking adult, empowered to make my own choices, there was never any doubt about where I wanted to live and raise my family. During these years, I was able to combine my life-long concern for local education with my real passion in life, which is the mentoring of our youth– and I hope to continue doing that.”