Education isn't just about textbooks and high-stakes testing. For Dr. Theodore Jones, it’s actually a family legacy that pulled them out of poverty. You might have seen his name on the Michigan ballot recently. He was running for a seat on the Theodore Jones State Board of Education race back in 2024, and honestly, he made a massive splash even though he didn't secure the win.
He didn't just come out of nowhere. Jones has been a fixture in Detroit’s education scene for years. He’s worked in the trenches as a teacher and a school social worker. Later, he moved into the central office of the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). People usually talk about politicians like they’re distant figures, but Jones feels more like a guy who’s actually seen what happens when a classroom roof leaks or when a kid doesn't have a laptop at home.
The 2024 Election Reality
Let's look at the numbers because they tell a wild story. In the November 2024 general election, Jones pulled in 2,413,996 votes. That is a staggering amount of support for a first-time statewide candidate. He actually led the Democratic ticket in terms of raw vote counts in places like Wayne County and Oakland County.
Ultimately, he finished third in a "vote for two" race. The two Republican incumbents, Nikki Snyder and Tom McMillin, kept their seats. Snyder got about 24.5% of the vote, and McMillin followed with 24.2%. Jones was right on their heels at 23.6%. It was a nail-biter. Basically, he lost by a hair's breadth in a state that was seeing some pretty intense split-ticket voting that year.
What was the platform anyway?
Jones didn't just run on "better schools." That’s what everyone says. He had some very specific, kinda bold ideas that shifted the conversation in Michigan.
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- Constitutional Right to Literacy: He argued that the Michigan Constitution shouldn't just promise "an education" but specifically a high-quality one. He wanted to give parents the legal standing to sue if their kids aren't actually being taught to read.
- Universal Pre-K: He’s a big believer that if you don't catch kids at age four, you're already behind.
- One-to-One Tech: He pushed for every single student to have their own computer. In a post-COVID world, he saw this as a necessity, not a luxury.
- Mental Health: This was personal for him given his background as a social worker. He wanted more "wraparound services" in schools—basically, having therapists and health clinics right there in the building.
The "Dr. Jones" Background
He’s got the credentials to back up the talk. We're talking about a guy with a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University. He also went to the University of Michigan for his Master’s in Social Work and did his undergrad at Hampton University.
Before his run for the Theodore Jones State Board of Education seat, he was working as the Senior Director of Talent Initiatives at Global Detroit. It's a nonprofit that helps immigrants get integrated into the economy. It’s all connected—education, jobs, and community growth. He lives on Detroit’s east side and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, so he’s deeply embedded in the local culture.
Why the Board of Education actually matters
Most people skip the "down-ballot" races. They vote for President, maybe Governor, and then they're done. But the State Board of Education is where the real power lives for your kids' daily lives.
They hire the State Superintendent. They decide on the curriculum standards. If you're annoyed about how history is being taught or why the math scores are dropping, the Board is who you hold accountable. Jones argued that the state has "chronically disinvested" in schools since 2008, claiming that Michigan had fallen to 41st in the nation for education. That’s a pretty grim stat if you’re a parent.
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The Challenges of a Statewide Race
Running for a board seat is tough. You don't get the TV ad budget of a Senator. You have to rely on grassroots support and being "vetted" by parties. Jones was nominated at the Democratic convention alongside Adam Zemke. They were the "progressive" choices, backed by the AFT-Michigan and the Michigan Education Association.
But Michigan is a purple state. While Detroit and the suburbs loved him, the more rural areas tended to stick with the Republican incumbents. It's a classic geographic divide.
What's next for Theodore Jones?
Even though he isn't sitting on the board right now, he hasn't exactly disappeared. He’s still active in the Detroit community. In 2025, there was some buzz about him running for Detroit City Council in District 5, though he hit some paperwork hurdles there.
The point is, he represents a specific wing of the education debate: one that views school funding as a civil rights issue. Whether he runs again in 2026 or 2028 is the big question. Michigan’s education system is still in the middle of a massive recovery effort after the pandemic, and voices like his usually don't stay quiet for long.
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Actionable insights for Michigan voters
If you're following the Theodore Jones State Board of Education story, you're likely interested in how the system works. Here is what you can actually do:
- Watch the Board Meetings: They are public. You can see how the current board (including Snyder and McMillin) handles budget allocations and charter school oversight.
- Check the "M-STEP" Scores: This is Michigan's benchmark. If you want to see if the "chronic disinvestment" Jones talked about is affecting your local district, the data is all on the MiSchoolData portal.
- Voter Education: Remember that Board of Education terms are long—eight years. The people elected in 2024 will be there until 2032. It’s worth researching these candidates as much as the big-name politicians.
Education policy is moving fast in the Midwest. With shifts in school choice laws and new funding formulas being debated in Lansing, the influence of people like Dr. Jones—even from the sidelines—continues to shape the path forward for Michigan's nearly 1.4 million public school students.
Next Steps for Researching Education Policy
- Review Michigan's current ranking in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to verify the "41st in the nation" claim.
- Examine the 2026 election cycle for upcoming State Board vacancies to see if new candidates are adopting the "Right to Literacy" platform.
- Contact your local school board to ask about the current ratio of mental health professionals to students in your specific district.