Jason Strayhorn

Jason Strayhorn

Democratic Party

Prior offices

Michigan State Board of Education

Successor: Marshall Bullock

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Education

Bachelor's

Michigan State University, 1998

Personal

Birthplace

Indianapolis, Ind.

Profession

Real Estate Broker

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Personal LinkedIn

Jason Strayhorn (Democratic Party) was an at-large member of the Michigan State Board of Education. He assumed office on January 1, 2021. He left office on July 29, 2022.

Strayhorn (Democratic Party) ran for election for an at-large seat of the Michigan State Board of Education. He won in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Strayhorn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Strayhorn was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in 1998. Strayhorn's career experience includes working as a real estate broker, as a Fox Sports broadcaster, and in the finance industry. Strayhorn is a member of the Brightmoor Church, the Oak Pointe Church, the MSU Football Players Association, and the Michigan Broadcasters Association.

Political career

Michigan State Board of Education (2021-2022)

Strayhorn was first elected to the board in November 2020 and took office in January 2021.

Elections

2020

See also: Michigan State Board of Education election, 2020

General election

General election for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Michigan State Board of Education on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ellen Lipton (D)	24.6	2,472,087
✔		Jason Strayhorn (D)	23.5	2,368,523
	Submit photo	Michelle Frederick (R)	23.0	2,316,051
		Tami Carlone (R)	22.8	2,291,915
		Mary Anne Hering (Working Class Party)	1.5	147,345
	Submit photo	Bill Hall (L)	1.2	124,758
	Submit photo	Richard Hewer (L)	0.9	91,661
	Submit photo	Hali McEachern (Working Class Party)	0.8	82,700
	Submit photo	Karen Adams (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan)	0.8	80,299
	Submit photo	Tom Mair (G)	0.6	58,397
	Submit photo	Douglas Levesque (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan)	0.3	34,033

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,067,769
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic convention

Democratic convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)

Ellen Lipton and Jason Strayhorn advanced from the Democratic convention for Michigan State Board of Education on August 29, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Ellen Lipton (D)
✔		Jason Strayhorn (D)

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican convention

Republican convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)

Tami Carlone and Michelle Frederick advanced from the Republican convention for Michigan State Board of Education on August 29, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Tami Carlone (R)
✔	Submit photo	Michelle Frederick (R)

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Green convention

Green convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)

Tom Mair advanced from the Green convention for Michigan State Board of Education on June 20, 2020.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Tom Mair (G)

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)

Bill Hall and Richard Hewer advanced from the Libertarian convention for Michigan State Board of Education on July 18, 2020.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Bill Hall (L)
✔	Submit photo	Richard Hewer (L)

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention

U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)

Karen Adams and Douglas Levesque advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention for Michigan State Board of Education on July 25, 2020.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Karen Adams (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan)
✔	Submit photo	Douglas Levesque (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Working Class Party convention

Working Class Party convention for Michigan State Board of Education (2 seats)

Mary Anne Hering and Hali McEachern advanced from the Working Class Party convention for Michigan State Board of Education on July 26, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Mary Anne Hering (Working Class Party)
✔	Submit photo	Hali McEachern (Working Class Party)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Strayhorn's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jason Strayhorn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Strayhorn's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Indianapolis and I'm a product of public schools. My father is a non-denominational pastor who always drove home the value of education.

I'm honored to have earned a scholarship at Michigan State University, where I played football, was team captain, and All-Big Ten consensus first team. Upon graduating with a degree in business management, I began a career in real estate and broadcasting. I've been married for 15 years and we have three kids and live in Novi.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest" which is a quote from Benjamin Franklin.
• Every Michigan child deserves a quality education.
• We need transparency and honesty at all levels of government.

   Featured local question

Are you supportive of legislative education reforms in recent years, including teacher tenure and evaluations? Be specific.

I was not supportive of the Bush Administration's educational reform effort, No Child Left Behind. It unfairly targeted teacher performance in districts that were disproportionately challenged with poverty, a lack of funding, and an absence of resources.

   Featured local question

Do you think online learning, including virtual charter schools, is a good option for some students?

I support progressive and diverse approaches to the educational experience, so long as such strategies remain true to the standards set forth by the State Board of Education and respective school districts. Online learning should be an option presented to parents who feel their children may struggle in traditional school environments.

   Featured local question

Explain your position on charter schools.

There is no question that charter schools are here to stay and some parents are picking charter schools for their kids, but I want to make sure charter schools reach their full potential, just like I want to see traditional public schools reach their full potential, and I'm seriously concerned over the lack of oversight on charter schools in Michigan. I'm also concerned that charters often are pitched to parents who live in communities with struggling schools as better alternatives when in fact they offer no real advantage.

   Featured local question

What do you see as the largest problem facing public education in the state right now?

Inequities in funding from district to district. Equitable funding is critical to shoring up performance gaps in students from various districts. Equitable funding will also raise the overall performance metrics for Michigan's students.

   Featured local question

What do you think the board can and should do to help improve K-12 education in Michigan?

The board should support curriculum revisions and lobby for equity funding for all districts. Also, expanded teacher developmental training and the implementation of parent training programs will prove effective toward improving k-12 education in Michigan.

   Featured local question

Why are you running for the State Board? What qualities make you more qualified than the other candidates?

My parents instilled in me at an early age the importance education would have in my life. As a product of public education, I was able to open many doors both academically and professionally that allow me to provide for my family today. My wife and I work hard everyday to continue to drive that same message to our three children. I feel compelled to use my voice and influence to help the State Board of Education provide equity for all students, teachers and support staff in our great state.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education. It is the tool that will help kids to achieve their dreams, reach their goals, and be successful in their careers and society.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The State Board of Education appoints the State Superintendent. The State Board of Education also holds the state's educational system accountable with the objective to create the best policies for kids, teachers, and parents. The Board has supervision of policy implementation over all public education, including adult education and instructional programs in state institutions.

The Board serves as the general planning and coordinating body for all public education, including higher education, and advises the legislature on any connected financial requirements.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My father. His leadership, humility and wisdom showed me how to weather storms. My father was one of 10 kids and being his father's namesake, he was always with my grandfather. I saw my father deliver his own father's eulogy. I cannot imagine that strength and I can only dream of demonstrating that composure to my sons.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"Lean on Me", movie,----the true story of high school principal Joe Clark and his successful effort to turn around a struggling, underperforming and cash strapped school in urban America.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have a unique skill set. I am trustworthy, loyal, honest, transparent, and have the ability to put partisanship aside for the betterment of everyone in Michigan. Also, my professional life has afforded me a tremendous amount of experience in working with people of diverse backgrounds.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I realized my full potential and that I left everything on the field. I want to leverage as much of myself to help others-it's not about money or fame for me. The campaign for State Board of Education is my attempt to give back and I want to level the playing field for all kids in Michigan.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Challenger explosion, I was 10 years old at that time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a paper boy, and I had that job for two years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Price of Inequality, Joseph Stiglitz. This book takes a hard look at the harsh realities that exist in our current system. In our education system as it stands and how privilege can suppress the impoverished in the presence of inequity.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I would reside in Gotham with a second home in Wakanda. It is a combination of Batman who has no super, extraterrestrial powers, but he is intelligent. And despite being wealthy, he cannot survive himself unless he lives a life of purpose through which he defends victims of crimes.
Along with Black Panther's ability to cross the aisle, evolve and unite. I only feel a sense of personal accomplishment when helping those who need it most. My father's ministry and the missionaries that I have encountered in my life have influenced me to stand up and protect people in need.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Beethoven's 5th symphony

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Potential unrealized...What keeps me up at night is having "potential" and not using it. I wake up with a sense of urgency and purpose each day. I dread anything that jeopardizes realizing my potential. I am convinced that I have what it takes to help give opportunity to the less fortunate and I feel a high level of personal responsibility to ensure I do my part.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

The implementation of policy and educational standards.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The State Board of Education supervises instructional programs in all state institutions, including state correctional facilities.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

The ability to reach common ground, to build bridges and unite people.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

No, I do not believe previous government and political experience is necessary in order to perform the duties required of a State Board of Education member. If elected I will operate without being beholden to the political undercurrents which too often serve interests outside of the well-being of Michigan's students.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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