My name is Sharon El-Amin and I am your District 2 Minneapolis School Board Member.
My husband and I have been married for 28 years. We have three children that graduated from Minneapolis Schools. Minneapolis has been our home for 29 years and I have been serving within my community for over two-decades. I have served as the President of Minneapolis North Polar Parent organization, and a current member of North High School Site-council. I owned and operated a business for 15 years, and have valuable experience managing budgets, governing operation & establishing policy; El-Amin’s Fish House & Tiny Tots Daycare both located in the heart North Minneapolis neighborhood.
I am Muslim, and a member of Masjid An’Nur located in North Minneapolis. I am Social Coordinator at Masjid An’Nur, and for the last 3 years, on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month, I cooked and prepared 100 hot meals for families in need. I currently sit on The NorthSide Commercial Real Estate Advisory Committee for Philips Foundation. I was a member of Neon’s Board of Directors for three years. I have earned a number of awards and recognitions, including the Start Up Business of the Year 2002, 2010 Small Business of the Year, 2010 Longevity & Sustained Impact Award, and the 2010 Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained Nominee at Women Venture.
My Vision for Minneapolis Public Schools
I am running for School Board to be a voice for students, parents, staff and the community within Minneapolis! My vision is for our Schools to be fully funded and a safe learning environment that provides the best experience for our youth from Pre-K through 12th Grade. We need to make sure our youth are ready for life beyond High School.
I understand that we all have different needs and I want to be that voice for all of us!!! As a mother of three, I realize the need for more staff within the schools, more educational resources, more parent involvement, and more staff training.
Improving Minneapolis Public Schools will take all of us. I will be that voice for you. I will work diligently to make sure that all needs are considered at the board. I will be the voice that will bring balance and experience from living, working and worshiping within Minneapolis. This is my life. I am a vested in Minneapolis and I will work hard to make a difference. Thank you for putting your trust in me and supporting me to be the next School Board Member. I will work hard for what we need and want for our families. I am excited to get to work for your family! With your support Together We Win!
Stay healthy and well and remember Sharon for District 2.
My Focus
Accountability - Holding all stakeholders responsible for high performance in our schools and investing in support & resources for our teachers, parents and most of all our students.
Community - "It takes a village to raise a child", creating paths for community resources to support our schools, enriching our students, addressing social determinants, and preparing students for success both inside and outside the classroom.
Transparency -Starting with a foundation of openness to learning new ideas and encouraging Innovation. Being clear with parents and teacher about what the goals are and where we are headed. Over communication should be the rule to ensure everyone is engaged at MPS.
Innovation- In 2020, COVID-19 has forced our education system to be more creative on how we function, and primarily how we educate our children; it is importan that we have fresh new ideas on the school board that represents and support our families during unprecedented times.
Opportunity- Many students on the Northside lack opportunities upon graduation; this is partially due to the lack of alternative success pathways. We need to invest in vocational training, entrepreneurship, and personal development if we want our students to succeed.
Next generation- In the decision-making process, we should continuously reflect on how our decision will impact Northside students' future generations. We must make decisions that improve the future trajectory of our students that have yet to enroll.
With A.C.T.I.O.N, Together We Win!!
I am honored to have the following distinctions and endorsements:
Nekima Levy-Armstrong, Former Minneapolis NAACP President
Friends, As you know, for many years I have joined the chorus of parents, community members, and even some who work within the school system in calling for a paradigm shift within Minneapolis Public Schools. Too many of our students of color, students who receive free and reduced lunch, and students with disabilities do not get the academic support that they need to be proficient in reading and math. Minneapolis has consistently ranked at the bottom nationally for its failure to properly educate Black students. That being said, we need to elect people to the Minneapolis Public Schools Board who will be champions for our children.
After careful thought and deliberation, I wholeheartedly endorse Sharon El-Amin to represent District 2 (North Minneapolis) on the Minneapolis Public Schools Board. I have known Sharon for many years and I have seen her commitment to our children, her love for community, and her strong, unwavering voice and passion for a high quality public education system. Sharon is a wife, a mother, a surrogate mother to children in the community, an entrepreneur, and a problem solver. She will listen to the voices of our community and will bring those concerns and ideas forward to effect change. I am sharing a powerful clip of Sharon speaking boldly and unapologetically on behalf of our children. This is the same energy that she will bring to her role as a Minneapolis Public Schools Board member, if elected. Sharon El-Amin deserves our support and our children deserve her commitment to fight for them.
Vote on or before Tuesday, November 3rd.
Larry McKenzie, North Polars Coach, Pillsbury United Communities
With just about 20 days to go, many of us will be tasked with making some tough decisions as to who will best represent our voice in elected office. One decision of the utmost importance is that of Minneapolis Public School board, the people making decisions about our future: our kids, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren!
It’s Time To Say No To The Status Quo! In Latin, Status Quo means “The Mess We’re In” and what a mess we’re in! With the pandemic a spotlight has shined a light on the inequity that currently exist within our educational systems and especially in Minneapolis.
We need leadership who will not be afraid to stand up and stand alone for what is best for kids and families. Who will lead discussions about what can be, someone who is open to new ideas led by students and parents and not the typical we know what’s best for you? Someone who is willing to challenge the status quo.
Please join us on November 3rd or earlier if you can in supporting Sharon El-Amin for Minneapolis School Board District 2, Someone who is willing to “Say No To The Status Quo”
Larry A.McKenzieAuthor, Educator, Dynamic Motivational Speaker, Transformational Basketball Coach, Radio Host, and 2018 Bush Fellow
Mercedes Reynolds, Assistant Principal, South High
“Sharon El-Amin has high expectations for ALL of our students and an unwavering passion for supporting the Northside community. She has my endorsement for MPS School Board because she believes that all students can be successful and so do I!”
Dr. Chanda Green, Former North High Teacher and Alumni
" I am excited to endorse Sharon El-Amin for School Board At Large. I have been an educator for over 20 years and have had the opportunity to work with and get to know Sharon who has consistently supported Minneapolis Public Schools as a business owner, community member and parent. She sincerely believes in our children and in the need for all of us to positively impact students. In the 25 years I have known Sharon I have always admired her dedication to public service. She is a visionary, a leader and a proponent of MPS. I am confident that in voting for Sharon, we are staking a stand for our children."
Sara Spafford-Freeman, Finance Club Leader at North High
I am supporting Sharon's campaign because I've seen her commitment to students & families up close at North High School - she rolls up her sleeves and does the hard work. Sharon is a leader, not a politician - she is focused on doing the right thing for Northside students, and on being accountable to them & their families. I'm proud to call her a friend and look forward to calling her "School Board Director.”
Solana Anderson,
NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center
As a lifelong resident of North Minneapolis, homeowner and North High graduate, I will be casting my vote this year for Sharon El-Amin for school board. Not only will she bring much needed enthusiasm and new energy to the board, She is passionate about our community, especially the quality of education we should expect and receive for our children, from preschool to high school. She is also a mother and grandmother. She knows how to bring people together and bridge gaps so the best ideas can be brought to light. I have personally worked with her on community boards and school projects both at North High School and within the community at large. I feel confident that we can count on her to ignite the necessary changes needed within our schools and help implement those changes effectively. Minneapolis families can count on her to work and fight for their best interest.
Imam Matthew Ramadan,
Former District 7 Metropolitan Council Member
Two years ago, I told Sharon that she should be proud to have gained 47,000 new supporters in her first bid for an at-large seat on the Minneapolis Board of Education. I'm proud to be supporting Sharon again as a candidate for Minneapolis Board of Education District 2.
Steve and Cassandra Johnson, Northside Community Members
We have lived in the heart of the community for over 25 years. We have seen first hand the level of commitment and dedication Sharon has for the communities in which she continuously serves. Her Passion, Vision, Community activism, Transparency, Integrity Leadership, Advocacy for Families and Children are vital to the create space for the multilevel changes we need. It's an Honor and we are proud supporters of Sharon El-Amin for School Board District2!
Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General
I have known Sharon El-Amin for many years; Sharon exemplifies what an involved parent and community member should be. I have always known the El-Amin family to be active and supportive of the Northside community, especially as it relates to our young people's well-being. We live in a time where public trust, accountability, and transparency are more important than ever. I believe that when elected to the School Board, Sharon El-Amin will ensure that our School Board can be trusted, accountable, and transparent. I am proud to endorse Sharon El-Amin for Minneapolis School Board District 2.
Ms. Lutunji Abram, MA,
Founder, Voices of Effective Change, Inc.
Education is our Goal!” –Major Topps Sr.
When it comes to MPS, I know Sharon is who we need as the district 2 representative.
Truth-Education equity for children of Color is a challenge. Sharon understands there is power in numbers and will bring the energy and resources to reduce the debilitating education inequity by her ability to bring persons together from all walks of life for the common good to produce positive results for our children.
Parent Involvement-As a graduate of MPS and a parent of a former MPS student, I am confident Sharon will push for strong parent engagement including the voice of parents, ensuring they are at the table in the beginning of discussions, helping make decisions and actively involved in the execution of parent engagement plans.
I encourage you to continue your research and after doing so, it is my hope you join me in voting for Sharon El-Amin. Believe me, she is what we need during this pandemic and for years to come!
Ms. Lutunji Abram, MA
Founder, Voices of Effective Change, Inc.& Lifelong Northside Resident️
