Keep Moving DC schools forward - Vote April 26 for Sekou Biddle

[Anonymous]

Hi DC Urban Moms and Dads - just a friendly reminder to Vote tomorrow, April 26, for the At-Large City Council Seat.

I'm a former teacher and still work in education - Sekou Biddle is my candidate and he should be yours too. Here's why:

We as a city are at a turning point after recent success - our local economy is strong but the budget picture is still tough, the federal government is showing disregard for our autonomy, and school reform is moving in the right direction but much remains to be done.

Sekou was born and raised in DC, attending DC Public Schools. Sekou has worked as a teacher and teacher trainer, outreach director for KIPP Charter Schools, he ran Jumpstart, a non-profit devoted to early childhood education, and served two terms on the DC Board of Education. Sekou also has two children who attend the public schools. Sekou’s experience, expertise, and personal stake mean he will be the independent voice we need on council.

Other candidates may be able to deliver their talking points in a speech but Sekou has dedicated his life to improving education and he knows high-quality DC schools are the key to continuing to move the city forward.

If you’re unsure of where to vote, you can find your polling location here: http://www.dcboee.org/voter_info/find_pollingplace/
Polls are open from 7am to 8pm.

See you at the polls!

[Anonymous]

Sekou Biddle was Ward 4 rep to the "state" school board. What did he accomplish in that position? As a Ward 4 resident & DCPS parent, I was not aware of any work he did on behalf of kids in the ward, and the one time I had a concern about my child's school, he seemed not to understand why I was upset and blew me off.

I've posted this question in the Political forum and have never gotten an answer from a Biddle supporter.

[Anonymous]

Biddle hired Kwame Brown's dad on his campaign. Said dad recently was quoted as saying the "new white people (in DC) care more about dogs than people." Course he fired him after that, which is good. But I'm still not impressed.

[Anonymous]

His chief of staff -- some really young brunette chick who used to work for Fenty is rude and offensive in the way she interacts with community. I cannot vote for someone who hires such a rude person to interface with the public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Biddle hired Kwame Brown's dad on his campaign. Said dad recently was quoted as saying the "new white people (in DC) care more about dogs than people." Course he fired him after that, which is good. But I'm still not impressed.

This is major for me. Also, anyone who uses "born and raised in DC" as an actual selling point is suspect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biddle hired Kwame Brown's dad on his campaign. Said dad recently was quoted as saying the "new white people (in DC) care more about dogs than people." Course he fired him after that, which is good. But I'm still not impressed.

This is major for me. Also, anyone who uses "born and raised in DC" as an actual selling point is suspect.

Why?

[Anonymous]

What are his views on charter schools?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:What are his views on charter schools?

He used to work for KIPP.

[Anonymous]

Shouldn't this be in the poltics forum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't this be in the poltics forum?

I almost reported it as being inappropriate for this forum (particularly since a nearly-identical post recently popped up in the politics forum). Then I started posting here instead. I think it's a bit like Michelle Rhee--something that crosses forum categories.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't this be in the poltics forum?

Yes, I didn't even notice it was in the wrong forum and I even posted in the thread. Thanks for pointing it out. I'll move it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi DC Urban Moms and Dads - just a friendly reminder to Vote tomorrow, April 26, for the At-Large City Council Seat.

I'm a former teacher and still work in education - Sekou Biddle is my candidate and he should be yours too. Here's why:

We as a city are at a turning point after recent success - our local economy is strong but the budget picture is still tough, the federal government is showing disregard for our autonomy, and school reform is moving in the right direction but much remains to be done.

Sekou was born and raised in DC, attending DC Public Schools. Sekou has worked as a teacher and teacher trainer, outreach director for KIPP Charter Schools, he ran Jumpstart, a non-profit devoted to early childhood education, and served two terms on the DC Board of Education. Sekou also has two children who attend the public schools. Sekou’s experience, expertise, and personal stake mean he will be the independent voice we need on council.

That's good enough for me. But ITA that being from DC is not pertinent. I wish Sekou's campaign had focused more on a single message of something like "Sekou for the Sake of Schools". OK, corny, but that's what I've had to explain to my Fenty/Rhee mourning friends and family. We need a council member who understands things like AYP, NCLB, i3, SIF, RTTT, NLNS, ECE, Praxis, CK and that Broad rhymes in road. We don't have time for a new council member to get up to speed on the critical issues. I voted for Mara, but he needs more time in seat.

Sekou's campaign IMHO missed the opportunity to point out the hypocrisy of "guilt by family association". It's easier to campaign than to govern. In Sekou's case, it's probably the opposite. SEKOU FOR SCHOOLS!

[Anonymous]

correction, Broad rhymes WITH road. (No, I didn't go to DCPS.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi DC Urban Moms and Dads - just a friendly reminder to Vote tomorrow, April 26, for the At-Large City Council Seat.

I'm a former teacher and still work in education - Sekou Biddle is my candidate and he should be yours too. Here's why:

We as a city are at a turning point after recent success - our local economy is strong but the budget picture is still tough, the federal government is showing disregard for our autonomy, and school reform is moving in the right direction but much remains to be done.

Sekou was born and raised in DC, attending DC Public Schools. Sekou has worked as a teacher and teacher trainer, outreach director for KIPP Charter Schools, he ran Jumpstart, a non-profit devoted to early childhood education, and served two terms on the DC Board of Education. Sekou also has two children who attend the public schools. Sekou’s experience, expertise, and personal stake mean he will be the independent voice we need on council.

That's good enough for me. But ITA that being from DC is not pertinent. I wish Sekou's campaign had focused more on a single message of something like "Sekou for the Sake of Schools". OK, corny, but that's what I've had to explain to my Fenty/Rhee mourning friends and family. We need a council member who understands things like AYP, NCLB, i3, SIF, RTTT, NLNS, ECE, Praxis, CK and that Broad rhymes in road. We don't have time for a new council member to get up to speed on the critical issues. I voted for Mara, but he needs more time in seat.

Sekou's campaign IMHO missed the opportunity to point out the hypocrisy of "guilt by family association". It's easier to campaign than to govern. In Sekou's case, it's probably the opposite. SEKOU FOR SCHOOLS!

Can you please tel us what Biddle accomplished on the Board of Ed, where his sole focus was presumably on education?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
Can you please tel us what Biddle accomplished on the Board of Ed, where his sole focus was presumably on education?

You will not get an answer. Nor will you get an answer as to why it will help a Council Member to be a specialist in education. The schools were taken over by the Mayor, not the Council. The Council gets to confirm the Chancellor and approve the budget. The Council does not run the schools. Now, if Biddle wants to be Deputy Mayor for Education, I might understand.