NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
A Crowded Race for Ward 7 Representative for DC State Board of Education by Charnice A. Milton
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stablished in 2007, the DC State Board of Education has considerably less power than the defunct DC Board of Education. Instead of having complete control over DC Public Schools (DCPS), its policies and the budget, the board can only approve state standards as recommended by the superintendent. Despite the lack of power, each representative can be seen as an ombudsman, bringing the concerns of his or her ward to the government’s attention. Next month, voters will choose a new representative from four wards (plus an at-large representative) for the State Board of Education. The most crowded, with four candidates, is the Ward 7 race.
Dorothy Douglas
“I always felt that I have been called towards the youth,” says Dorothy Douglas, the Ward 7 representative for the DC State Board of Education since 2008, and the first African-American woman to hold the position. Douglas formerly
served as a teacher in the DC Public School System (DCPS) for 12 years, an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) for 7C and 7D, and the director of Deanwood Youth Services for five years. She also assisted former Mayor Adrian Fenty with the Passport to Work Program, which helped provide summer jobs for teens. Douglas is a grandmother, aunt and former foster parent. Her passion for Ward 7 children’s education shows in her work with the State Board. Missing only 8 out of 17 State Board meetings, Douglas worked on committees that helped enact policies such as the Healthy Schools Act of 2010, win grants through the Race to the Top District competition, and modernize DCPS. She also voiced her opposition to potential school closings. “According to DC law, parents and the community at large should have input about these things,” Douglas said, adding that she will participate in any upcoming meetings addressing the issue. She also suggests that the DC government should look at alternatives such as combining under-enrolled schools, and welcomes a collaboration between traditional and charter public schools, having helped bring charters such as KIPP DC, Educare, and Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy to Ward 7.
Villareal Johnson
Dorothy Douglas
Villareal “VJ” Johnson, who serves as chairman of ANC 7A, is one of the youngest candidate in this race. A native of Hillsdale in Ward 8, Johnson calls himself a
32 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE
| OCTOBER 2012
schools, the traditional schools have become under-populated and the city loses money as a result. Therefore, Johnson believes that the city doesn’t need more charter schools. “Charter schools give a good option for parents because they promise quality education,” he says, adding, “I just don’t like the fact that anyone can open one.” If elected, Johnson will support evaluations for existing and upcoming charter schools to see which will deliver the promise of quality education.
Karen Williams
Villareal Johnson
“modern-day graduate of DCPS.” He is also a former teacher who worked at Anacostia Senior High, a public school, and Friendship-Edison Collegiate Academy, a charter school. Johnson has served as an ANC Commissioner since 2006 and became chair in 2011, bringing a sense of advocacy to both roles. “I see the state board seat as I do the ANC,” Johnson said. “It is an advisory role with great influence to effectuate change.” Running under the campaign theme “Building Bridges and Connecting People,” Johnson builds his platform on communication and advocacy. If elected, he plans to help the board create a “one city” platform for DCPS, as well as an outreach and engagement committee to increase family and community involvement. He also plans to lobby the City Council to increase the state board’s operations in order to increase staffing. Although Johnson opposes possible school closures in Ward 7, he understands the reasoning: with 41 percent of children going to public charter
Unlike Johnson and Douglas, Karen Williams has a limited political background, serving as the president of the Hillcrest Community Civic Association for the last 6 years. She does, however, bring experience as a special education teacher in DCPS, as well as 8 years as the director for Big Momma’s Children Center. Under her leadership, Big Momma’s received and has maintained accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children since 2006. A Ballou Senior High School graduate, Williams believes that she had a strong foundation in DCPS and is concerned with potential school closures. “Many schools are the hub of the community,” she explained. “If schools are being closed because of low student population, I would like to see some of those buildings being converted
Karen Williams