APS School Board candidates?
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Anonymous
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 would write in a candidate before I would vote for Chen. Maybe we should all write in Paul.
Anonymous
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. |
Anonymous
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. |
Anonymous
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. |
Anonymous
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. |
Anonymous
| Has anyone noticed that you can't write anyone in online? I was going to put in a vote for Independent AEM teacher but can't. Maybe I'll vote in-person instead. |
Anonymous
Because this is the Dem caucus for the four candidates seeking the Dem endorsement. |
Anonymous
In a democratic system though, you should be able to write in candidates. Even for the Democratic endorsement. I feel like I've written in candidates before in the primary. It's just ArlDems protecting their own. |
Anonymous
+1 interesting take |
Anonymous
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. |
Anonymous
It's been close to two weeks now and his retired behind still hasn't gotten around to filling out the AGIA survey. Pass. |
Anonymous
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. |
Anonymous
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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. |
Anonymous
Larry retired from teaching in February. He finished the semester and then declared his candidacy... |
Anonymous
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. |