Toni Bassett, a Southfield resident and parent of six children, is running for the Birmingham Public Schools Board of Education in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Bassett is the only candidate listed for a nonpartisan seat with a term ending Dec. 31, 2030, according to Oakland County’s official candidate list. The partial-term contest is separate from the election for two six-year seats.
Bassett responded to the Birmingham-Bloomfield Bulletin candidate questionnaire on Oct. 5. Unless otherwise noted, the information and responses below come from that questionnaire.
Asked why she is running, Bassett emphasized advocating for students.
“I want to advocate for all children in our school district,” she said. “Everyone deserves a free, safe, and exceptional education.”
Candidate information
Residence: Southfield, according to county election records.
Party affiliation: The school board election is nonpartisan.
Education: Bassett said she graduated from Wayne State University and Wayne State University Law School.
Occupation: Bassett described herself as a licensed attorney who became a stay-at-home mother.
“When I started my law career, I wanted to advocate for children,” she said. “As we had more children, my focus shifted to advocating for children in a different way.”
Family: Bassett and her husband, Chuck, have six children, including two sets of twins.
Family in public service: Bassett said her husband is a firefighter and her father worked for the Romulus Department of Public Works.
Previous public office: Bassett said she has not held elected or appointed office.
Experience and public service
Bassett cited eight years of involvement in district parent-teacher associations as experience that would prepare her for board service.
“Over the last 8 years, I have been an active, trusted leader in multiple PTA units within our district,” she said.
“I have had to juggle budgets, responsibilities, public input, and being a mindful team member while holding these positions.”
On the issues
Consistent policies: Bassett identified consistency across the district as its most pressing challenge.
“The most pressing challenge facing students and schools in the district is the lack of consistency throughout the district,” she said.
She said she would review policies to determine whether they benefit students and examine ways to make those policies clearer and more consistently applied.
Academic achievement and student mental health: Bassett said schools should support academic success and mental health together.
“We should be supporting both of these priorities equally,” she said.
“School safety, teaching staff, special services staff, and infrastructure will all have an impact on student mental health and academic success.”
She said evaluating the district’s needs should guide decisions about which areas require attention.
Advice that guides her
“One of the best pieces of advice ever shared with me is to share my story and listen to others tell theirs,” Bassett said.
“Many times people just want to be heard, validated, and appreciated.”
This profile draws primarily on Toni Bassett’s responses to the Birmingham-Bloomfield Bulletin candidate questionnaire, with additional information from Oakland County election records. Responses have been excerpted and paraphrased; direct quotations retain her wording.
