Sherry gay dagnogo
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I’ve been doing a lot of this work because in Detroit, if people identify that you are a problem solver, guess what? My political roots started in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center working for Alberta Tinsley-Talabi and the late Councilman Clyde Cleveland. Gay-Dagnogo has an infectious dedication to transforming Michigan’s education systems, as she knows firsthand the opportunities that a quality education provides.
Gay-Dagnogo emerged with the majority and the momentum, inspired by strong public testimony from supporters across the city. She touted her “institutional memory” and the ability to unite and build a bridge, even to DPSCD.
“There are a lot of common issues we have,” she said.
Gay-Dagnogo pointed to the crowd that attended Tuesday’s meeting to back her bid for ombudsman, including Vitti.
The superintendent, during his allotted speaking time, said that during his nine years as DPSCD’s leader, there’s not been another board member who has worked as tirelessly on behalf of residents as Gay-Dagnogo.
Biographical Information
Born: January 30, 1967 in Detroit
Marital Status: Single
Children: Jordan Dagnogo
Education: Bachelor's degree in Education and Master's degree in Education (Instructional Technology)
Employment/Military Record: Education and Government Relations Consultant, Former State of Michigan Representative, 2014-2020, Former DPS Science Teacher, Former Director of Education Preparedness, United Way; Detroit City Council Legislative Aide
Community Activities: Education Chair, National Congress of Black Women-Greater Detroit Chapter; Member, Michigan Democratic Party, Member, 13th Congressional District, Member, 14th Congressional District, Member, 8th Precinct Police Officers Association, Member, NAACP, and Trade Union Leadership Council
Religion: Pentecostal
Governmental Leadership (Elected or Appointed)
House (1/1/2015 - 12/31/2020)Other Offices: Member of the Detroit Public Schools Board of Education
Elections and Political Participation
U.S.And even those that had another candidate in mind, I’m here to serve all of them, partner with all of them. But we have started conversations with council members. And I’m just thankful. Prior to joining BridgeDetroit, she spent... She will replace Bruce Simpson, whose tenure ends October 5, and resign her seat on the Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education to take the job.
“I think for me now, having served as a city council appointee, having gone into the classroom, having gone to Lansing, having served on the school board, I know even if it’s not a city issue, who to contact for an education issue, who to contact for a Wayne County issue, who to contact for a state issue.
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Although her official start date is October 5, Gay-Dagnogo said she has already begun shaping her agenda.
“It seems as though it has started already.
And in many instances, I’ve had to facilitate receiving these complaints through social media, inbox messages, emails, people seeing me out on the streets, just not knowing where to go, how to go, who to go to address their concern.”
Her preparation for this role, she said, stretches back decades.
“This is work that I started when I was 27 years old, just sitting in the city council offices, taking complaints, having to go out to constituents’ homes and address and hear some of their issues.
Ombudsman Bruce Simpson’s appointment expires Oct. 5. Gay-Dagnogo’s 10-year appointment will run through the fall of 2035.
Gay-Dagnogo told BridgeDetroit that she crafted a 90-day plan in preparation for her tenure.
She said her efforts will begin by sitting down with council members and their staffers and all of the city’s 25 department heads.
In 2022, she made a failed run for the 13th Congressional District, a seat ultimately secured by Democrat Shri Thanedar. “So it’s the same constituency, whether city services or Detroit Public School services. Sherry will bring true honor to our city,” she said.
Gay-Dagnogo, a former teacher and state lawmaker, has served on the school board since 2020 and was reelected to the board in 2024.
While it’s officially in the charter on October the 5th, we’ve already started.”
The appointment also brings an immediate requirement: stepping down from her role on the DPSCD board.
The city’s Legislative Policy Division concluded that the ombudsman cannot hold another compensated post, and the charter bans occupying any other “office of trust or profit.” Gay-Dagnogo confirmed she will resign within 48 hours.
“Somewhat bittersweet,” she said, though she emphasized that her relationships with education leaders will continue.
But officially, I believe the charter speaks to October the 5th as the official date that is enshrined in the charter. So for me, it’s already started.