APS School Board candidates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's Kathleen and likely Paul for me -- maybe Larry though I wish he could be a bit more succinct. In the end, I agree we need some on-the-ground school experience on the Board. Agree with a previous assessment of Tapia-Hadley. She's the new Katie or Cristina. No thanks.
Kathleen won me over in a forum where each candidate gave some general position and her answer was that most people (including parents) lack context in staking out positions. Amen!
Chen's main ax seems to be about school transitions - he wants all students from one elementary to go to one middle and one high school. Not really possible in Arlington, especially if you live in the middle of the County.

Chen reminds me of that guy Steven Krieger from a few elections ago. He got really pissed off at a boundary change that he didn't like, ran for school board with no experience or care about anything else, lost, and we never heard from him again.

Chen is this year's Krieger. Pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:AGIA didn’t endorse anyone either. I guess both can before the General but why?

I feel like all of the candidates kinda. Suck. Kathleen is the most qualified, but she's part of the system so nothing will change. Larry was going to be my #2 but him not answering AGIA changed everything for me. Congrats Zuraya. I don't like you, but guess you got my vote. I would write in a candidate before I would vote for Chen. Maybe we should all write in Paul.

Are you kidding? Kathleen has been speaking up loudly for years. She's definitely not "part of the system." She did learn the system, but that's what's needed to be effective.

Here's an article with KC speaking up back in 2022.

https://wjla.com/news/local/bullying-arlington-county-mom-claims-autistic-son-tricked-into-saying-racial-slur-assaulted-after-gym-class-swanson-middle-school-6th-grader-kathleen-clark

Lol. Kathleen is the chair of the strategic plan committee. If that's not the system, I don't know what is.

I'm not saying she's not qualified. I'm saying I don't think much will change with her in the seat.

That’s a parent volunteering and getting engaged. I’m curious what you’re looking for in a candidate - a Trump-like candidate with zero prior involvement or experience? We have two of those for you.

Or people like Kathleen and Larry who have engaged with and know APS well.

I voted for Kathleen, okay? Not Larry because his last real experience was in the early 2010s. (I know plenty of parents who substitute teach. None of them should be running for SB either.) I know that the school board is a thankless job, but I just wish there were candidates that actually want to question and attempt to fix the system, but not in an APE burn it all down sort of way. It seems that most are Hatched out and then we get these crop of losers.

Only reason I am considering voting for Larry is precisely the fact that his APS experience was over 10 years ago - back when the quality of APS education was much better. Having someone who knew what it was like then and can bring that perspective today could be helpful and refreshing. His current substitute teaching in APS gives him the direct comparison, too.

+1

interesting take

It is interesting, I just don't see Larry being the type to ask the hard questions and to push for change. He seems... disorganized at best.

It's been close to two weeks now and his retired behind still hasn't gotten around to filling out the AGIA survey.

Pass.

Exactly, it's a huge red flag. Plus it seems like a conflict of interest to me to run while working as a teacher. Wouldn't the parents of his students feel pressured to donate to him? As a long term sub, he's grading their kids, maybe even writing college recommendations. I don't like that dynamic at all.

Larry retired from teaching in February. He finished the semester and then declared his candidacy...

Then why is he listed as a current staff member on the APS web page?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AGIA didn’t endorse anyone either. I guess both can before the General but why?

I feel like all of the candidates kinda. Suck. Kathleen is the most qualified, but she's part of the system so nothing will change. Larry was going to be my #2 but him not answering AGIA changed everything for me. Congrats Zuraya. I don't like you, but guess you got my vote. I would write in a candidate before I would vote for Chen. Maybe we should all write in Paul.

Are you kidding? Kathleen has been speaking up loudly for years. She's definitely not "part of the system." She did learn the system, but that's what's needed to be effective.

Here's an article with KC speaking up back in 2022.

https://wjla.com/news/local/bullying-arlington-county-mom-claims-autistic-son-tricked-into-saying-racial-slur-assaulted-after-gym-class-swanson-middle-school-6th-grader-kathleen-clark

Lol. Kathleen is the chair of the strategic plan committee. If that's not the system, I don't know what is.

I'm not saying she's not qualified. I'm saying I don't think much will change with her in the seat.

That’s a parent volunteering and getting engaged. I’m curious what you’re looking for in a candidate - a Trump-like candidate with zero prior involvement or experience? We have two of those for you.

Or people like Kathleen and Larry who have engaged with and know APS well.

I voted for Kathleen, okay? Not Larry because his last real experience was in the early 2010s. (I know plenty of parents who substitute teach. None of them should be running for SB either.) I know that the school board is a thankless job, but I just wish there were candidates that actually want to question and attempt to fix the system, but not in an APE burn it all down sort of way. It seems that most are Hatched out and then we get these crop of losers.

Out of curiosity, not trying to be combative which I know is hard to convey in anonymous forums, but what experience or indicators of a desire to fix the system are you looking for in an ideal candidate? We agree on the anti-APE stance but we differ on seeing those two candidates as having experience and a desire to make things better rather than seeing them as part of the system.

I think I'd like to see people run who actively try to change the system positively for *all* students (not just their own - hi APE!), and not those who think they can change the system by being on the inside. CCPTA, ACTL, while nice, is just really working to perpetuate the system. Nothing meaningful has come out of either for a long time. The only person who came close to being that person of change was Symone Walker who ran in 2020. (We all know what happened there, and I don't want to rehash it.) Whatever you think of her, the previous NAACP Ed Committee forced APS to adopt structured literacy after years and years of advocacy.

Now everyone (including APS leadership and APE) wants to take credit for their work.

Honestly, if Chen or Zuraya had any new innovative thoughts and initiatives and had worked within and amongst APS and community advocacy that supports the schools before throwing in their hat, I would have been happy to vote for them. But they just seem like opportunists.

You’re looking for a unicorn. It’s hard for people on the outside to get enough experience to understand how the inside works. And have enough votes to change it. I’d love to vote for someone from ASHPA or NAACP and voted for Symone. I voted for Miranda second time around so I guess I voted for APE too.

I actually know people who are amazing who I wish would consider running for the school board. There are unicorns everywhere who are doing amazing things for APS and the community. But not this crop.

Sorry you voted for Miranda. I just left my ballot blank last year because they were all awful. I guess we get what we deserve each year. All I know is that Mary better run again next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AGIA didn’t endorse anyone either. I guess both can before the General but why?

I feel like all of the candidates kinda. Suck. Kathleen is the most qualified, but she's part of the system so nothing will change. Larry was going to be my #2 but him not answering AGIA changed everything for me. Congrats Zuraya. I don't like you, but guess you got my vote. I would write in a candidate before I would vote for Chen. Maybe we should all write in Paul.

Are you kidding? Kathleen has been speaking up loudly for years. She's definitely not "part of the system." She did learn the system, but that's what's needed to be effective.

Here's an article with KC speaking up back in 2022.

https://wjla.com/news/local/bullying-arlington-county-mom-claims-autistic-son-tricked-into-saying-racial-slur-assaulted-after-gym-class-swanson-middle-school-6th-grader-kathleen-clark

Lol. Kathleen is the chair of the strategic plan committee. If that's not the system, I don't know what is.

I'm not saying she's not qualified. I'm saying I don't think much will change with her in the seat.

That’s a parent volunteering and getting engaged. I’m curious what you’re looking for in a candidate - a Trump-like candidate with zero prior involvement or experience? We have two of those for you.

Or people like Kathleen and Larry who have engaged with and know APS well.

I voted for Kathleen, okay? Not Larry because his last real experience was in the early 2010s. (I know plenty of parents who substitute teach. None of them should be running for SB either.) I know that the school board is a thankless job, but I just wish there were candidates that actually want to question and attempt to fix the system, but not in an APE burn it all down sort of way. It seems that most are Hatched out and then we get these crop of losers.

Only reason I am considering voting for Larry is precisely the fact that his APS experience was over 10 years ago - back when the quality of APS education was much better. Having someone who knew what it was like then and can bring that perspective today could be helpful and refreshing. His current substitute teaching in APS gives him the direct comparison, too.

+1

interesting take

It is interesting, I just don't see Larry being the type to ask the hard questions and to push for change. He seems... disorganized at best.

It's been close to two weeks now and his retired behind still hasn't gotten around to filling out the AGIA survey.

Pass.

Exactly, it's a huge red flag. Plus it seems like a conflict of interest to me to run while working as a teacher. Wouldn't the parents of his students feel pressured to donate to him? As a long term sub, he's grading their kids, maybe even writing college recommendations. I don't like that dynamic at all.

Larry retired from teaching in February. He finished the semester and then declared his candidacy...

Then why is he listed as a current staff member on the APS web page?

Probably because they are slow at updating anything. I can confirm Larry ended the semester and officially retired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AGIA didn’t endorse anyone either. I guess both can before the General but why?

I feel like all of the candidates kinda. Suck. Kathleen is the most qualified, but she's part of the system so nothing will change. Larry was going to be my #2 but him not answering AGIA changed everything for me. Congrats Zuraya. I don't like you, but guess you got my vote. I would write in a candidate before I would vote for Chen. Maybe we should all write in Paul.

Are you kidding? Kathleen has been speaking up loudly for years. She's definitely not "part of the system." She did learn the system, but that's what's needed to be effective.

Here's an article with KC speaking up back in 2022.

https://wjla.com/news/local/bullying-arlington-county-mom-claims-autistic-son-tricked-into-saying-racial-slur-assaulted-after-gym-class-swanson-middle-school-6th-grader-kathleen-clark

Lol. Kathleen is the chair of the strategic plan committee. If that's not the system, I don't know what is.

I'm not saying she's not qualified. I'm saying I don't think much will change with her in the seat.

That’s a parent volunteering and getting engaged. I’m curious what you’re looking for in a candidate - a Trump-like candidate with zero prior involvement or experience? We have two of those for you.

Or people like Kathleen and Larry who have engaged with and know APS well.

I voted for Kathleen, okay? Not Larry because his last real experience was in the early 2010s. (I know plenty of parents who substitute teach. None of them should be running for SB either.) I know that the school board is a thankless job, but I just wish there were candidates that actually want to question and attempt to fix the system, but not in an APE burn it all down sort of way. It seems that most are Hatched out and then we get these crop of losers.

Only reason I am considering voting for Larry is precisely the fact that his APS experience was over 10 years ago - back when the quality of APS education was much better. Having someone who knew what it was like then and can bring that perspective today could be helpful and refreshing. His current substitute teaching in APS gives him the direct comparison, too.

+1

interesting take

It is interesting, I just don't see Larry being the type to ask the hard questions and to push for change. He seems... disorganized at best.

It's been close to two weeks now and his retired behind still hasn't gotten around to filling out the AGIA survey.

Pass.

Exactly, it's a huge red flag. Plus it seems like a conflict of interest to me to run while working as a teacher. Wouldn't the parents of his students feel pressured to donate to him? As a long term sub, he's grading their kids, maybe even writing college recommendations. I don't like that dynamic at all.

Larry retired from teaching in February. He finished the semester and then declared his candidacy...

Then why is he listed as a current staff member on the APS web page?

Probably because they are slow at updating anything. I can confirm Larry ended the semester and officially retired.

It's also on Linked In.

[Anonymous]

Y'all. I just got a pop up add for Zuraya while on DCUM. I don't think I've ever seen an APS Sch Board candidate with an internet pop up ad. I guess this is money from Z's out of state lobbyist friends. Must be nice for her. It's a huuuuge turnoff for me.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been getting Zuraya’s ads on IG and the other day got a text the same way I do for things like members of Congress.

This is not normal for a local school board race. Having this much money is a red flag to me that this is a stepping stone.

Hard pass on Zuraya.

[Anonymous]

I've seen ads for both Chen and Zuraya on FB. It's not a big deal - they really are not that expensive. I was impressed that she called me to try to win my vote and talked for a good 10 minutes.

[Anonymous]

As a part of their deal with ACdC, all candidates get phone number lists to do as they see fit. Chen and Zuraya have been blowing up my phone. I’ve seen their ads too on social media.

Kathleen to my knowledge hasn’t elected to send texts, probably because of the quiet confidence that she’ll win. Larry is still MIA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a part of their deal with ACdC, all candidates get phone number lists to do as they see fit. Chen and Zuraya have been blowing up my phone. I’ve seen their ads too on social media.

Kathleen to my knowledge hasn’t elected to send texts, probably because of the quiet confidence that she’ll win. Larry is still MIA.

or maybe KC doesn't want to annoy people by texting them? I recall that blew up in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a part of their deal with ACdC, all candidates get phone number lists to do as they see fit. Chen and Zuraya have been blowing up my phone. I’ve seen their ads too on social media.

Kathleen to my knowledge hasn’t elected to send texts, probably because of the quiet confidence that she’ll win. Larry is still MIA.

or maybe KC doesn't want to annoy people by texting them? I recall that blew up in the past.

It’s also expensive to text. ZTH has a fat campaign fund.