SELMA — Frances Coles has announced her candidacy for the Selma City School Board seat in District 4 in the Oct. 27 election.

Coles is a Selma native. She is a consumer of the school system with grandchildren enrolled in the schools.

Coles said she understands education from all perspectives.

An educator, Coles said she has taught in public and private schools.

She has a bachelor’s in elementary education with a history minor.

Coles worked at Fritsche Middle School in Milwaukee as a substitute assistant principal, while holding down a staff position as computer lab resource teacher.

Before returning to education she worked with the Network 13 Coordinating Council for End-Stage Renal Disease Inc. While there, she pursued a master’s in health care administration from Cardinal Stritch College.

Since returning to her hometown in September 1990, Coles has worked as a substitute teacher in Dallas County Schools . She is also a volunteer on many community projects.

Cole believes the Selma City School Board needs fresh faces with new ideas and talents to heal divisions.

“The community must learn to work together in earnest and in good faith, regardless of one’s ethnicity,” she said.

Coles said motivated and innovative educators eventually lost their hope because they didn’t get the support they deserved.

“We must develop the holistic approach to teaching to reach our future leaders,” she said. “All people must be treated with respect and valued in our schools and/or community.”

Coles has two children. One graduated from the system and another attended but finished in the county system.