Retired HFC instructor’s teaching experience informs run for public office

Release Date
Mary Anne Hering has short light blonde hair, wearing glasses, and a yellow and blue floral blouse.

Note: Henry Ford College does not endorse candidates for political office. This article is solely for informational purposes about HFC community members.

Retired HFC social sciences instructor Mary Anne Hering is one of eight candidates running for the State Board of Education this November. Hering, of Dearborn, represents the Working Class Party. She says he mission is to represent workers, mentioning examples of auto workers, cooks, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employees, dialysis unit workers, construction workers, teachers. "Our candidates are workers. We go out and talk to people. Public education is such a huge, important issue everywhere,” explained Hering.

Hering taught for 49 years, 47 at HFC

The third of seven children, Hering was born in St. Paul, MN. She graduated from Shanley High School in Fargo, ND. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois Chicago and her master’s degree in ecological psychology from Michigan State University.

“The social sciences were a prominent major when I went to school,” said Hering. “Early on, I assumed I would be active in areas connected to child development, access to quality child care for families, the care and treatment for developmentally challenged people, and access to quality community mental health.”

Hering taught college courses from 1973 through 2022, including Wayne County, Macomb, Davenport, University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Lansing. She came to HFC (then Henry Ford Community College) in 1975, eventually becoming a full-time faculty member and working in Student Activities.

“I really enjoyed working at the College,” said Hering. “The diverse student body challenged me and taught me every semester. I called it, ‘Having my hand on the pulse of what young people are thinking and interested in.’”

Educational opportunities for all children

Hering ran for the State Board of Education in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022. She described the reasons she is running again.

“Many people are fed up with the status quo,” said Hering. “Many people do not vote, because they don’t see their interests being addressed. Public tax money should go to public education and other public services in all school districts.”

Hering believes in broad public access to the State Board. “I want to offer the resources of the State Board of Education office to school employees, parents, and students for whatever they need in their efforts to get the best of funding and other resources for their school districts. I want the State Board to advocate for excellent educational opportunities for all children, eliminating book bans and supporting the teaching of history and other standard subjects,” she explained.

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All Michigan citizens age 18 and over can exercise your right to vote if you are registered.

We encourage you to register as early as possible before the election. Methods and requirements for voter registration in Michigan:

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Visit Michigan.gov/Vote. For questions or more information about HFC's Voter Registration Drive, contact Student Activities at 313-845-9865 or studentactivities@hfcc.edu.