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Candidates Vie for School Board Seats by Sarah Payne
neighborhood news ELECTION COVERAGE
Candidates Vie for School Board Seats
The State Board of Education (SBOE) is responsible for advising the State Superintendent of Education on educational matters including: state standards; state policies, including those governing special, academic, vocational, charter and other schools; state objectives; and state regulations proposed by the Mayor or the Superintendent. The SBOE is also responsible for approving: academic standards and high school graduation requirements. The board establishes definitions for adequate yearly progress and academic proficiency for all educational agencies. It also sets standards for “highly qualified teachers” and supplemental education providers. Other responsibilities include policies for parental involvement, residency verification, attendance requirements and home schooling.
The SBOE is composed of elected, nonpartisan representatives from all eight wards and one at-large member. It holds public meetings twice a month, and each member receives an annual stipend of $15,000. Members serve four-year terms, and elections are staggered so that no more than five members are elected in any particular cycle. This year, there are six candidates running for the one At-Large seat in the Nov. 3 General Election. There are four candidates for Ward 7 seat and three for the Ward 8 seat.
At-Large Candidates
Jacque Patterson is a former ANC Commissioner and was selected as Capital City Fellow under Mayor Anthony A. Williams. He previously served on the Chancellor’s Parent Cabinet, was appointed to the State Board of Education’s Every Student Succeeds Act Task Force, and currently sits on the Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) of his children’s school. Patterson has lived in the District for more than 25 years and is a long-time commuJacque Patterson nity activist. Patterson believes a student’s zip code should not determine the quality of the education students receive. He is focused on elevating community voices within the schools, increasing resource equity, improving teach-
by Sarah Payne
er retention and dismantling racism both in policy and in practice. Learn more at www.jacque4dc.com.
Mysiki Valentine is a native Washingtonian, teacher and mentor. Valentine previously served as a volunteer teacher with Americorps but left the classroom to pursue change in education policy. Valen- Mysiki Valentine tine has worked for the DC Council as an Advocacy Manager for the Fair Budget Coalition to ensure that the DC budget achieves racial and economic equity. He also serves as board member for Many Languages One Voice (MLOV), supporting efforts to empower the vibrant immigrant community. Currently, Valentine serves as a mentor and raises awareness for LGBTQ and communities of color. Valentine believes that DC’s education system must afford residents learning opportunities, invest in the development of educators, make schools more transparent and accountable, address the chronic underfunding of schools in Wards 7 and 8 and put an end to the racist policies and practices responsible for the achievement gap. Valentine advocates the full funding of the Birth-to-Three Act and making the University of the District of Columbia System tuition-free for DC residents. Learn more at www.valentinefordc.com. Ravi Perry is the son of Ohio educators and has dedicated his life to serving in the field of education. Perry is an urban policy expert and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Howard University. A Ward 7 resident, Perry strongly supports greater investment in vocational and trade skills development. He believes that special attention should be paid to disabled students and Ravi Perry
English language learners. Perry believes that education is under attack and that the White House is “occupied by an ideology that is against education” which inspired him to run in this election cycle. Learn more about Perry and his platform at raviperry4dc.com.
Chris Martin
is an entrepreneur looking to bring a fresh perspective to the state school board. As the father of three young children, Martin believes in the need for parent voices on the board. Martin Chris Martin hopes to close the District’s achievement gap through use of his experience in business while giving parents peace of mind and supporting educators. Martin is also focused on listening to parental concerns about equity, school quality, curriculum and overcrowding. Learn more at chris4education.com.
Le’Troy Murphy
is a native Washingtonian and a graduate of the DC public schools. He is also a parent of a child currently enrolled in DCPS. Murphy plans to focus on early childhood education and teacher reLe’Troy Murphy tention. He believes the teachers deserve to earn a livable wage. He hopes to give a voice to lower income citizens. Murphy has chosen not to accept outside donations for his campaign and does not have a website. Dorothy Douglas is a single mother of three, grandmother of seven and an outspoken voice for Wards 6, 7, and 8 for more than 30 years. Douglas is a former DC public school educator who has been involved with a variety of community education efforts including assisting in fundraising more than one million dol-
neighborhood news ELECTION COVERAGE
lars for the construction of Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Douglas was the first black woman to be the Ward 7 representative for the DC State Board of Education where she participated in efforts to enhance standards of curriculum and to support the transitional infrastructure from classroom to workplace. Douglas is running to ensure that her community in Ward 7 receives its fair share of recognition and resources to secure mem- Douglas Dorothy bers’ needs being met. Learn more at electdorothydouglas. wordpress.com.
Ward 7 Candidates
Karen Williams is the current Ward 7 incumbent and is running for reelection. Williams is a fifth generation Washingtonian who attended and taught in the DC public schools. She has served on the State Board of Education for several years and her leg- Karen Williams islative work on the State Board includes collaborating with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. She served as both president and vice president of the Board and has worked extensively on the development of the “No Child Left Behind” waivers and graduation requirements, with the Board on credit flexibility regulations and the development of the State Diploma for students completing the General Education Development or National External Diploma Program programs. Learn more at karenwilliams.vote.
Dontrell Smith
is a native Washingtonian, a parent and DC public school and Howard University graduate. Smith works for the federal government as a program manager reviewing internal controls Dontrell Smith for over 15 departmental organizations to ensure they follow the policy established by the government. He is also a former ANC Commissioner for Ward 7 where he also served as the treasurer. In his personal time, Smith has served as a substitute teacher for DCPS. Smith promises to monitor funding for Ward 7 schools to ensure adequacy of class instruction, strong curriculum, core competencies, adequate staffing and wrap-around
services. He plans to coordinate with experience at the local, state and national level. Previously, parent and teacher organizations to im- Reid served as the preschool special education coordinaprove student outcomes. Smith wants to tor in the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Educare-establish feeder patterns in the direc- tion. In that role, she created training on inclusive praction of STEM, finance, arts and culture, tices for early childhood providers including child care, vocational training, and business to co- traditional and charter public schools and DCPS. Carlene ordinate elementary and middle school also has developed policy and created monitoring systems curriculum progression to high school. designed to protect the rights of children with delays and Learn more at www.DontrellForward7. disabilities. Currently, she manages a portfolio of over $30 com. million in personnel preparation Charles Boston is an alum- grants for institutions of higher nus of Anne Beers Elementary School, the Uni- education. Reid is running to versity of Maryland, and Georgetown Universi- continue the advocacy for equity. He works as an engineer professionally and ty in funding technology, educahas experience in trade instruction for trans- tional programs, and innovative portation and construction as well as school ad- curriculum for students in Ward ministration. Boston is a dedicated youth ad- 8. Learn more at letsreid.com. vocate and engaged coach. He volunteers with LaJoy Johnson-Law is a the Young Marines, First Lego League, Nation- parent support specialist for al Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), Advocates for Justice and Edu-
USA BMX, USA Cycling, and Selective Ser- cation. Holder of a master’s in vice. With two children in the public schools, Public Administration and parhe promises to be the “voice” of Charles Boston ent, she serves the Ward 8 repstudents, parents, and teachers in resentative on the Thrive by Five Coordinating the SBOE. Boston aims to improve Council, co-chairs the Ward 8 Democrats’ comeducation systems east of the riv- mittee on legislative affairs and is a member of the er Learn more at www.charlesfors- Ward 8 Education Council. “Advocacy is not just a boe.com. part of my community work, but it is also a critical
Eboni-Rose Thompson has part of my career,” she states. If elected, Johnsonchaired the Ward 7 Education Coun- Law plans to champion an expansion in SBOE cil since 2012. Thompson attended policy efforts related to special education, transboth DC public and charter schools parency, accountability, mental health and family and received a Bachelor of Arts from engagement. the University of Pennsylvania. She She is parserved three terms as an Advisory ticularly conNeighborhood Commissioner and cerned with is currently a portfolio manager at Eboni-Rose Thompson the challengthe Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. es faced by families Thompson wants to ensure that Ward 7 youngsters have of color. Learn more the same opportunities she did. On the State Board, she about Johnson-Law plans to focus on high school graduation requirements, at www.lajoylaw2020. academic standards and on ensuring children have ad- com. equate academics. Thompson plans to expand both the Ryan Washingquality and quantity of ton (Ward 8) did not the programs offered at respond to a request DC public schools and for comment in time improve transparency for publication. LaJpy Johnson-Law in budgeting and decision making. Learn Sarah Payne is a History and Neuroscience student at The Unimore at ebonirosedc. versity of Michigan interning with the Hill Rag. She writes for com. and serves as an assistant news editor for Michigan’s student newspaper, The Michigan Daily. You can reach her at sarahp@ Ward 8 hillrag.com. u Carlene Reid is a special educator with more than 15 years of Carlene Reid
Monday, October 19th - 6:30 to 8:30 PM
The Forum features all At-Large & Ward 8 Candidates
Participate in a virtual At-large and Ward 8 State Board of Education candidate forum hosted by all of the Ward 8 civic associations. The forum will be co-moderated by Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher of The Washington Informer newspaper, and Andrew Lightman, editor of the East of the River newspaper.
THE FORUM IS HOSTED BY:
Anacostia Coordinating Council District of Columbia Federation of Civic Associations Federation of Citizens Associations of the District of Columbia The Original Great Ward Eight East of the River newspaper The Washington Informer Bellevue Neighborhood Civic Association Congress Heights Community Association Fairlawn Citizens Association Fort Stanton Civic Association Hillsdale Civic Association
Historic Anacostia Block Association Washington Highlands Civic Association
THE FORUM IS A VIRTUAL EVENT HELD VIA ZOOM. HERE IS THE INFORMATION:
Join Via Web @ https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82883630849?pw d=SXYyTUNzeGh5ZkdSK2xkdzFMQmYrUT09 Meeting ID: 828 8363 0849 Passcode: 432950
