Meet

DAYNA

Dayna Polehanki , a teacher for nearly 20 years, has been proudly serving in the Michigan Senate since 2019 and is the Majority Caucus Chair.

Known as a champion for public education in the Senate, she is a two-time New Haven Community Schools' Teacher of the Year.

Dayna graduated from Central Michigan University and has a master's degree in teaching. She lives in Livonia with her husband Jim, a manager at Ford Motor Company.

Achievements and Accolades

  • Two-time "Teacher of the Year" at New Haven Community Schools

  • Majority Caucus Chairwoman - Michigan Senate

  • 2023 Alumni Hall of Fame Recipient - Flushing High School

  • 2023 Brandi Award - Animal Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan

  • 2022 Distinguished Government Service Award from the Ohio-Michigan Association of

  • Career Colleges and Schools

  • 2021 MACUL and AT&T “Excellence in Education” Legislative Award

  • 2021 Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine “Legislative Leadership” Award

  • 2019 Child’s Hope “Child Advocate of the Year” Legislative Award

  • Honorary degree in Applied Arts and Sciences from Schoolcraft College.

  • Holds State of Michigan School Administrator Certificate

  • Master's Degree in Teaching

  • Central Michigan University graduate - magna cum laude

  • Proud wife of Jim Walkup, Team Manager in manufacturing at Ford Motor Company

Dayna’s New Map

Dayna’s new senate district map includes the communities of Livonia (partial), and all of Canton Twp., Westland, Garden City, and Inkster.