Video from last night's candidate forum, hosted by Arlington Young Democrats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v-aR5tOiyw

Video from last night's candidate forum, hosted by Arlington Young Democrats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v-aR5tOiyw

Anonymous wrote:I am not one of the PPs who has been conversing with you, however I’m a voter and at this point you don’t have my support.

It’s great that you’re talking to that many people. Beyond counting your own friends, Ashlawn’s PTA and your own children’s teachers, how many of these people did you engage with prior to let’s say the beginning of this calendar year or the school year?

How many board meetings or office hours with board members did you attend in the last 2-5yrs? Any engagement with APS committees or CCPTA? Any record of participating in any of the Engage processes or community hearings?

The sense I get is that you’re diving deep now and you’re committed, but there’s no history or context. You’re learning on the fly which isn’t good for APS. Keep learning, keep engaging. Join one of the APS committees. Get smart and run again in the future but right now I’m not convinced you have the knowledge and experience that APS needs.

Thank you for your candor and detailed message.

I have been drinking from the firehose and am a very fast learner, but I will readily admit that I as not as well versed in education as people like Mary or Bethany. What do I bring to the table is extensive experience solving organizational issues -- issues that I believe currently prevent APS from making the best proposals and decisions. My current work at a large company is creating verifiable transparency and decisions systems -- systems that allow you to trace the data used to produce a proposal or decision within a complex ecosystem. I also have a strong science and IT background (physics, computer science, AI). With my background and experience, I think that I have a set of skills that would be complementary to the current School Board.

I understand your viewpoint though. I wish I started being more involved earlier, but I'm involved now. I'll continue to help out where I can and work to improve our schools, and if I don't prevail this year I hope to earn your vote next time.

Anonymous wrote:Also, Chen, if you don't know what groups and people to talk to who influence APS and their culture, that concerns me. There are a lot of people and organizations who do put in the fundraising and the volunteer work to make a school system function, and I happen to know that you haven't reached out to many of them.

You need more experience. Come back in a few years.

I feel like you're very much misrepresenting me. And if you're working for one of the other campaigns, this is not the Arlington way.

I've spoken with:
* School board members, past and present (all except CDT)
* PTAs
* CCPTA
* principals
* teachers
* parents
* AEA
* APE
* some CivFed members
* some of the advisory committee members (mostly Facilities as I had some questions)
* outdoor lab
* Sierra club
* other key individuals

If you have a suggestion on other people I should talk to, let me know.

Anonymous wrote:Chen, your views and your website mirror APE's viewpoints. Right now you're #4 on my list.

My main goals are:
* Community engagement and more transparent decision making processes
* Supporting Teachers
* Academic Excellence

Looking at their websites, that's actually very similar to what both Kathleen and Zuraya have as well.
Only the last one seems to overlap APE, and is also on both Kathleen and Zuraya's websites.

Can you expand more of (a) what comparisons you're seeing, and (b) what your actual concerns are about my positions?
Feel free to email me at chen@chen4arlington.org to start a dialog. I would like to hear from different viewpoints.

Anonymous wrote:

I am quite active in one of the groups Chen claimed to meet with by name, and no, he did not meet with us.

May I ask which group? I don't think I've claimed to meet with any group I haven't met with. If you wish, email me directly at chen@chen4arlington.org.

Anonymous wrote:I'm just going to gloss over the discussion of Chen's supposed racist comments and just say I'm not voting for the guy. He has no experience. He didn't even live in Arlington until a few years ago.

Zuraya is a smooth talker; who knows how long she'll care about the School Board office.

Kathleen is nice, she has my vote.

Larry is old but he's been a teacher, he can have my second vote.

I've lived in Arlington for 11 years and counting now. Kathleen is honestly great -- recently after a school board meeting she invited me to join a SEPTA meeting, where everyone was wonderfully welcoming. I know I have a lot to learn, and I am going to continue being engaged. I'm not only going to listen, but also reach out to different communities -- especially ones that tend not to be as vocal. Public schools are such an important institution -- it has the ability to lift so many, as it has for me.

Here is my 3rd person bio:

Chen is the proud father of an APS third grader and rising kindergartener. Chen’s running for School Board to improve outcomes for students and teachers, reaffirm a culture of excellence for every child, and take actionable steps to solve challenges currently facing the school system. He views public education as the cornerstone of the community and seeks to position APS to expand upon its reputation as a premier school system that values students, teachers, and parents.

As an immigrant who learned English in public schools, he knows the amazing futures that a good public education offers. Chen's career focuses on using technology to assess complex problems, compare solutions, and measure quantifiable outcomes. Adding this expertise to the School Board will enable the Board to proactively address community input and forge lasting solutions to the important issues of our day: learning loss still lingering from the pandemic, teacher burnout, and preparing our children for 21st century careers.

Chen and his wife Jennifer have lived in Arlington for over a decade. In his spare time, Chen volunteers his time to help neighbors and students, teaches ballroom dancing at UMD, tutors undergraduates in computer science, and coaches soccer.

Anonymous wrote:He just needs to edit his statement. If you don’t mean that diversity causes bullying, then say what you want to say in a different way.

Thanks all for bringing my poor wording to my attention. I was trying to merge two things -- academic expectations and the current lack of accountability for bullying behavior. I'll try to fix it soon. My bullet points are better.

Also, after begging AEM to speak at the 2 county board hearings this week, why was he not there?

1. I was out of town helping my parents.
2. I was encouraged, since I'm a school board candidate, to speak to the county board members directly, which I have been/will be doing.

Anonymous wrote:CL, if you're still on here, what does this mean? "Reaffirm high expectations for academic performance and behavior across all cross sections of the student body and put the supports in place for students to live up to those high expectations."

To address learning loss, APS has put in some policies that I think are misguided.
1. Students in HS can retake exams. I'm glad they've updated it so that only those that scored poorly can retake it and can only get a max of 80%.
2. Students in HS can turn in assignments at any time by the end of the quarter.

The tools they've added (some are better than others) like Paper virtual tutoring are only really helpful for those who already know how to navigate the system -- i.e., the students who are already doing well. There are many kids who are falling behind, and I feel like we are not putting in place tools like intensive 1:1 tutoring that will actually help. I'd really like to use all of those 1/2 days we have in the calendar to really focus on the kids that are falling behind the most.

I'm currently tutoring a student who is a HS freshman (and also Latino). It's taken a lot of 1:1 attention to not only figure out where his personal roadblocks were, but also to get him to internalize that he is able to affect his academic performance. I know that's a weird statement, but prior to that he has internalized that he's "just not a bright kid" so if he got C-level grades it was just what's expected of him. I've encouraged him to take some advanced classes at HS, and he's noticed how differently the teachers treat the students. The teachers in the advanced classes really expect a lot from the kids, while some (not all!) teachers in the general classes are very much on the "good job for turning in your assignment". I believe that his difference makes a huge difference on how hard the students try and how well they end up achieving. However, you can't just have high expectations without providing enough support. You really have to have 1:1 tutoring until the students have internalized that they can be successful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is direct from Chen Ling's website:"The diversity of backgrounds has the potential to enrich the experience for all children. It also creates risks that children will fall behind or face safety risks due to bullying or juvenile behavior."

Is he really saying what I think he's saying? Diversity of backgrounds creates safety risks in his world!

As an Asian, there is a lot of antiblackness in our community. Not surprised that Chen says it out loud.

He may be the candidate for the small vocal AEM crowd, but going to his website is eye opening, so thanks for the prodding. I can’t vote for him.

I'm trying to say exactly the opposite of what you're implying. What I'm trying to say (apparently unsuccessfully, and it is clumsily worded), is that right now APS is failing minority students. We need to not only have high expectations for all students, but provide the right support so that all students can be successful. For example, right now APS allows you to retake exams or turn in assignments at the end of the quarter. This benefits students who either already know how to take advantage of these to inflate their grades. Same for the Paper virtual tutoring -- it tends to benefit the already who are already privileged, and fails those students who are actually struggling.

Anonymous wrote:This is direct from Chen Ling's website:"The diversity of backgrounds has the potential to enrich the experience for all children. It also creates risks that children will fall behind or face safety risks due to bullying or juvenile behavior."

Is he really saying what I think he's saying? Diversity of backgrounds creates safety risks in his world!

I'm trying to say exactly the opposite of what you're implying. What I'm trying to say (apparently unsuccessfully, and it is clumsily worded), is that right now APS is failing minority students. We need to not only have high expectations for all students, but provide the right support so that all students can be successful. For example, right now APS allows you to retake exams or turn in assignments at the end of the quarter. This benefits students who either already know how to take advantage of these to inflate their grades. Same for the Paper virtual tutoring -- it tends to benefit the already who are already privileged, and fails those students who are actually struggling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chen Ling is commenting on Facebook now. His comments are very naive.

Commenting where? Please give an example of how he's naive.

Although his kids appear to be preschool/early elementary, he said, on a thread about cell phones, that when his kids are teenagers they won't be addicted to screens because he will make sure they only have flip phones

A parent of young kids telling parents of teenagers how to parent teenagers is second only to non-parents telling parents how to parent in terms of naivete--or maybe its worse, because if you are a parent, you should know what you don't know

Only naivete there, if he's a strong parent who actually adheres to his values and rules instead of caving like most, is assuming flip phones will still be available when his kids are teens. One can only hope that limited-capability phones do indeed become more popular over the next several years !

OK--I still think its a red flag. As a parent of boys, I would never give a girl mom advice on raising girls based on what I think I would do. I know how far I can apply my own experience and when I should listen to others. And since we're talking about someone who wants to be a politician, it matters that he's weighing in on things he hasn't experienced and doesn't have the awareness to recognize that he's not going to be able to dictate what his own kids do, let alone the actions of an entire school system.

My comments were based on the following:
1. Phones in schools have been causing problems.
2. This includes interruptions based on the high number of notifications: https://www.edweek.org/technology/students-get-hundreds-of-notifications-on-their-phones-every-day-even-at-school/2023/09)
3. Research is showing more and more that social media use seems to be harmful to early teens: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/teen-childhood-smartphone-use-mental-health-effects/677722/
4. Some kids need to be able to contact their parent or caregiver

#1-3 has generated a lot of no-phone-whatsoever-in-schools.
I was trying to recommend a compromise (flip phones or the Light Phone) that can accommodate #4.
There are some inexpensive phones and plans for non-smartphones. The kids can use whatever outside of school, subject to what their parents want.

Hi everyone. Sorry I've been unable to answer questions here. I'll try to reply to the many responses when I can.

I also would encourage everyone that are interested to attend the upcoming candidate forums:

[*] Saturday 4/13 9:30-11:30am
Busboys and Poets in Shirlington
Hosted by Arlington Democrats
[*] Monday 4/15 6:30-9pm
Virtual Forum (https://us06web.zoom.us/.../tZAsdOyvqjkuG91CTql2z2exTn0On...)
Hosted by NAACP Arlington
[*] Tuesday 4/16 7-8:30pm
Arlington Mill Community Center
Hosted by Arlington Young Democrats
Recording will be available afterwards
[*] Sunday 4/21 2-3:30pm
Virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82515053277...
Hosted by Arlington Democrats Disabilities Caucus
[*] Tuesday 4/23 3-4:30pm
Virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84727931306
Hosted by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce
[*] Wednesday 4/24 6:30-8:30pm
Lubber Run Community Center, Oak Room
Hosted by the Arlington Civic Federation and the League of Women Voters

Also, registration for the Caucus is open. You can get more information here: https://www.arlingtondemocrats.org/sbev2024

I encourage everyone to vote -- whether you vote for me or not -- our public schools are too important to just discuss on forums. Turnout last year was abysmal. I will work to make sure that the community is engaged, and to make APS as successful as it can be.

If you have any direction questions, please email me at info@chen4arlington.org. I'll respond faster there.

Thanks!

I also would encourage everyone that are interested to attend the upcoming candidate forums:

[*] Saturday 4/13 9:30-11:30am
Busboys and Poets in Shirlington
Hosted by Arlington Democrats
[*] Monday 4/15 6:30-9pm
Virtual Forum (https://us06web.zoom.us/.../tZAsdOyvqjkuG91CTql2z2exTn0On...)
Hosted by NAACP Arlington
[*] Tuesday 4/16 7-8:30pm
Arlington Mill Community Center
Hosted by Arlington Young Democrats
Recording will be available afterwards
[*] Sunday 4/21 2-3:30pm
Virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82515053277...
Hosted by Arlington Democrats Disabilities Caucus
[*] Tuesday 4/23 3-4:30pm
Virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84727931306
Hosted by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce
[*] Wednesday 4/24 6:30-8:30pm
Lubber Run Community Center, Oak Room
Hosted by the Arlington Civic Federation and the League of Women Voters

Also, registration for the Caucus is open. You can get more information here: https://www.arlingtondemocrats.org/sbev2024

I encourage everyone to vote -- whether you vote for me or not -- our public schools are too important to just discuss on forums. Turnout last year was abysmal. I will work to make sure that the community is engaged, and to make APS as successful as it can be.

If you have any direction questions, please email me at info@chen4arlington.org. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Before you vote for Chen Ling, you should read the other thread. He's not commenting in there because it's not going well:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/210/1178059.page

I believe he's the APE candidate without saying he's the APE candidate. So I'm not voting for him.

I am replying to both threads. Someone pointed me to both threads on this forum (which predate me commenting on either one), so I'm replying when I can.

If you have a specific question -- please ask.

Perhaps I'm naive, but I'm not sure what it even means to be the "APE candidate". I know their origins, but at this point they are one of the few groups that attend board meetings and go through proposals and try to extract useful information from them. I've met with their president. I've also met with the the AEA, various PTAs, principals, parents, SEPTA, etc. I think every group has a right to a voice, and if they have good ideas I'm not going to discount them because of whether I agree or disagree with their overall aims.