In July, Yanelle Powell will be sworn in as the newest member of the Milford School District Board of Education. Powell will take an at-large seat vacated by Jean Wylie who chose not to run for another term. There was no challenger for the seat which means there will not be an election.
“I decided to run for school board to focus on early intervention, family and community engagement and creating a supportive environment for students, staff and families,” Powell said. “My experience in public health, policy and leadership has prepared me to address literacy challenges and ensure equitable access to resources. We need to focus on education, not on the never-ending social qualms and politics. I also bring a unique skill set to the board and am committed to open, honest conversations, supporting our educators and partnering with families to ensure very student can thrive.”
Born and raised in Milford, Powell grew up adjacent to the historic Vineyard Shipyard. Powell attended Benjamin Banneker Elementary School and still recalls her first day of kindergarten.
“My mom and I took Pete’s Cab from Columbia Street to Banneker,” she recalled. “I was wearing pink shorts and a white tank top with the wors “Fresh as a Daisy” in pink letters with a daisy in the middle. I remember the anxiety I felt when my mom let go of my hand and left me.”
Powell attended Milord schools until attending high school at Sussex Tech. Her background is in public health, social services, workforce development, policy and advocacy, postsecondary education administration, youth mental health, first aid, as well as community engagement.
“I have successfully managed community health programs, secured funding and built strategic partnerships,” Powell said. “My leadership on two national and local boards has provided valuable experience in policy and development, budget oversight and stakeholder engagement.”
In addition to her work experience, Powell holds an undergraduate degree in marketing and is currently pursuing dual master’s degrees in business with a minor in healthcare management as well as a bachelor’s in law, policy and political science that will prepare her for law school. Powell is also an active volunteer, providing her expertise to the Milford Museum and Landmarks Commission, Senior Center of Milford, Rotary Club of Milford and the Milford Public Library. She stated that servitude has always been and will continue to be, a priority in her life.
“My goals on school board are to strengthen family and community engagement, support early intervention and literacy programs and ensure all students have access to resources they need to succeed,” Powell said. “I will focus on the unique aspects of our district and create supportive, inclusion learning environments. By working closely with educators, families and the community, we can help every student thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Personally, my goal is to become more acclimated with the district’s policies operations, etc. This will be my first time working in K-12 education.”
Powell feels that the biggest challenge facing public schools today is the influence of politics.
“I have read articles about how political school board elections are, as well as the implementation of policies and curricula,” she explained. “Politics have transitioned to social media, where man commenters complain or add politics to the mix. Ironically, many of these children either do not have school-aged children nor have they had any of their children attend our district schools. My mantra is “’f you don’t like something, don’t complain about it – DO something about it.’”
The Milford School District Board of Education reorganization meeting, where Powell will be sworn in, is July 7, 2025, at 6 PM.
