Terence Collins, a Republican from Grosse Pointe Park, is running for the Michigan State Board of Education in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Ten candidates are competing for two eight-year terms, according to the Michigan Department of State’s official candidate list. Voters may choose up to two candidates.

Collins responded to The Royal Oak Record candidate questionnaire on Oct. 5. Unless otherwise noted, the information and responses below come from that questionnaire.

Asked why he is running, Collins emphasized academic achievement, accountability and parents’ involvement in education.

“I want to bring a focus on results, accountability, and parental rights to the State Board,” he said.

He said his priorities include instruction grounded in the science of reading, clear information for families about school performance and respect for parents’ role in their children’s education.

Candidate information

Party: Republican.

Residence: Grosse Pointe Park. Collins grew up in St. Clair Shores and is a lifelong Michigan resident, according to his campaign biography.

Education: Collins reported earning a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Detroit. He also described company-sponsored training in program management, manufacturing, quality systems and process improvement.

Occupation: Collins said he has worked at General Motors since 2010, after approximately 20 years with a manufacturing supplier.

Family: Collins said he has two daughters and a son. His youngest daughter is a college junior.

Family in politics or government: Collins said no family member works in politics or government.

Experience and public service

Collins served as a trustee on the Grosse Pointe Public School System Board of Education from October 2023 through December 2024, according to his questionnaire and The Tower Pulse’s reporting. He said he currently holds no elected or appointed public office.

He also served on the district’s Finance and Facilities Committee.

Asked what accomplishments prepare him for the state board, Collins cited his experience in manufacturing, purchasing and data analysis.

“At General Motors, I managed a team of six data scientists whose work supported purchasing initiatives that generated more than $600 million in savings between 2018 and 2022,” he said.

Collins also reported receiving GM’s CFO Impact Award in 2025 and developing training programs for purchasing employees.

He said those experiences would help him examine budgets, evaluate evidence and ask questions about whether policies are producing results.

On the issues

Reading and math: Collins identified academic achievement, particularly foundational reading and math skills, as his main concern.

He supports instruction grounded in the science of reading, early intervention for struggling students and effective training and resources for teachers.

“My priorities are straightforward: improve reading achievement, support teachers with effective training and resources, protect parental rights, and judge policies by student results,” he said.

Parental involvement and transparency: Collins said parents should be treated as partners and receive clear information about school performance.

He also supports families’ ability to choose the education that best meets their children’s needs.

Student mental health and school safety: Collins said academic achievement should remain schools’ central mission, supported by safe classrooms, mental health services and strong teachers.

He supports involving families in mental health support, setting clear expectations for behavior, applying consistent discipline and preparing for emergencies.

Teacher recruitment and retention: Collins said attracting and retaining teachers requires competitive compensation, supportive leadership and respect for teachers’ expertise and time.

Spending and accountability: Collins said education spending should be tied to measurable goals, with regular evaluation and changes when programs fall short.

“I would ask of every major expenditure: Does it improve student learning, strengthen safety, or support the people doing that work?” he said.

About the race

The other candidates are Republican Bree Moeggenberg; Democrats Tiffany Tilley and Judith Pritchett; Libertarian Charles Essner; U.S. Taxpayers Party candidates Christine C. Schwartz and William Mohr II; Natural Law candidate Kelli Monroe; Working Class candidate Mary Anne Hering; and Green candidate Wissam Charafeddine, according to the official candidate list.

Party endorsement

Republican delegates endorsed Collins and Moeggenberg for the state board at the party’s March 28 endorsement convention, according to CBS Detroit’s reporting.

Advice that guides him

“Become a person of value to others,” Collins wrote. “Don’t focus solely on personal success; focus on helping others, solving problems, and making a meaningful contribution.”

This profile draws primarily on Terence Collins’ responses to The Royal Oak Record candidate questionnaire, with additional information from official election records, his campaign website and published reporting. Responses have been excerpted and paraphrased; direct quotations retain his wording.