FERNDALE, Mich. — For Ferndale High School alumnus Jonathan Turner, Ferndale Public Schools has always been more than a school district. It has been home.
Turner, a 2017 Ferndale High School graduate, attended Ferndale schools from 2004 to 2017, beginning at Roosevelt Elementary and continuing through Coolidge Intermediate, Ferndale Middle School and Ferndale High School. His mother, Sandra Dukhie, also worked in the district for many years, further connecting his family to the Ferndale community.
“Aside from my family, I give a lot of my accolades and my skills of what I do today to Ferndale,” Turner said. “When I look back at my certificates, leadership awards, citizenship awards, honor roll, perfect attendance, the things I was recognized for then are the same qualities I’m using in my job and in my service today.”
Turner credits Ferndale educators with helping shape his confidence, leadership and ability to connect with others. He remembers teachers who found creative ways to engage students, administrators who made students feel supported and his experience in the Ferndale marching band as lessons that extended well beyond the classroom.
Putting on his marching band uniform for the first time was especially meaningful.
“They taught us the importance of taking care of your uniform and understanding who you represent when you put it on,” Turner said. “That still stays with me. When I put my work badge on now, I know I’m not just representing myself; I’m representing my organization and Ferndale.”
Turner also credits Ferndale’s diverse school community with preparing him to build relationships with people from different backgrounds.
“Having that exposure growing up is one of the reasons I can connect with so many different personalities today,” he said. “I work with directors, teachers, students and families, and that ability to connect started in Ferndale.”
Today, Turner is giving back to the district that helped shape him as vice president of the Ferndale Board of Education. He is the first Black man and youngest person to serve on the board.
“It means the world to me to help shape the future of the same district that shaped me,” Turner said. “Seeing students who look like me, or who are walking a similar path to mine, and knowing I can help make sure they have even more opportunities and experiences than I did.”
His message to today’s Ferndale students is simple: Believe in what you bring to the table.
“Shine your light,” Turner said. “You have so much potential, skill, power and energy that you don’t even realize. Give yourself credit and do the best you can. As long as you’re doing that, you’re succeeding in life.”
Turner’s journey from a Ferndale student to a Board of Education leader reflects the lasting impact of the relationships, opportunities, and sense of community that students experience throughout Ferndale Public Schools.
About Ferndale Public Schools
Founded in 1887, Ferndale Public Schools serves approximately 3,100 students from the communities of Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Oak Park, Royal Oak Township and portions of Hazel Park. The district provides a comprehensive educational experience from early childhood through high school, offering rigorous academics, innovative learning opportunities, award-winning arts and athletics, career and technical education, and comprehensive social-emotional supports. Recognized for its commitment to equity, inclusion and student-centered learning, Ferndale Public Schools empowers every student to discover their potential, achieve academic success and become engaged members of their communities.
To learn more about Ferndale Public Schools, visit the website. To stay up to date on district news, events and announcements, visit the News page.
