Monica M. Del Castillo

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ms. Del Castillo opted not to respond to the City Pulse candidate survey, opting instead to provide a biography. 

I was appointed to the Haslett School Board 1 ½ years ago and I’m running to finish out the 2-
year term. I have a passion for education and kids! I’m a retired mental health counselor from
Lansing Community College. I was employed at the college for 25 years and worked with
diverse student populations. I also served as the President of the Academic Senate while at
LCC. Consequently, I have a unique perspective into student needs and services required to
help students be successful. On a personal note, I was born in Cuba. My family immigrated to
the US when I was 5 years old. My parents instilled the value that education was the only path
moving forward. Hard work, and special people along the way (my village) helped me achieve

the “American Dream”. Those same values I passed on to my daughter Katie, who graduated
from Haslett High School this spring. She played sports, was the drum major in the band and a
member of the Honor Society. Katie is taking a gap year to serve in AmeriCorps. As an involved
Haslett parent, I am keenly aware of all the good work that teachers/staff do to support
students. I am also aware that we have opportunities to make Haslett even better. I fully
support and hope to engage in the district’s roll-out of the DEI Plan. I’ll also continue to
strongly advocate for Social Emotional Learning initiatives to support our students. And as a
Latina woman and a member of the LGBTQ community, I bring much needed diversity to the
make-up of the Haslett Board of Education. If kids can’t see it, they can’t be it!