Many talented and dedicated educators have decided to throw their hat into the ring in this year’s mid-term elections. One of these is Dayna Polehanki, a high school English teacher who is making a bid for a seat in the Michigan State Senate.
Dayna is running on the Democratic ticket to represent her state’s District 7. This district, previously held by term-limited Senator Patrick Colbeck, includes the communities of Livonia, Canton, Plymouth, Northville, and Wayne. In the upcoming November general election, Dayna will face off against two opponents: Republican Laura Cox and Libertarian Joseph LeBlanc. Impressively, for this election Dayna has earned the endorsement of President Barack Obama.
Dayna is a long-time resident of Michigan. She graduated from Flushing High School in Flushing, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Central Michigan University; her teaching credentials from Alma College, a private liberal arts college in Alma, Michigan; and her Master’s degree in Teaching from Marygrove College in Detroit. She also earned an administrator credential from the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals. Dayna has taught English in the New Haven Community Schools District for the past 16 years. She currently teaches twelfth grade English at New Haven High School.
For her work in the classroom, Dayna has earned many accolades. In 2018, she was recognized as the Teacher of the Year for New Haven Community Schools, and the year before, she was one of two recipients of the Michigan Schools and Government Educator Advantage Scholarship.
Before Dayna became a teacher, she was the manager of Features Casting at Paramount Pictures. She is also the owner of a small business. For the past ten years she has been the owner of Detroit Casting Company, and she has also served as the Michigan casting director of such productions as Alex Cross, Into the Storm, and The End of the Tour.
To learn more about this chalkboard champion and political candidate, visit her campaign website at www.daynaforsenate.com.