Does ZTH support SROs in school? She couldn’t answer the question straight in the naacp forum.

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

Anonymous wrote:

ChenLing wrote:

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.

Chen don't waste your time with these people. They have crossed over from passionate to openly hostile.

+1. He's no more or less qualified than one other candidate who's coasting to a school board seat. Props to Chen for his measured responses.

ChenLing wrote:

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.

Chen don't waste your time with these people. They have crossed over from passionate to openly hostile.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I have to vote for 2 people. Kathleem has my first vote. Larry was falling asleep in a forum. Hard pass.

I’ll take Chen learning on the fly over Zuraya. She’s cake walking to the endorsement and doesn’t deserve it either. PS not affiliated with any campaign.

Falling asleep? He's the only one taking notes when the others are talking! And if you listen to his answers you can tell he's thinking about what they're saying. I get that you're pushing KC but do so honestly.

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.

ChenLing wrote:

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.

Chen, can you please explain your level of engagement with APE?

ChenLing wrote:

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.

This is not the Arlington Way? hahahahah, oh Chen you need a crash course in Arlington!

I agree with all of this. I *might* support Chen in future years *if* he engages over time to become educated and develops a track record so I have a better idea of what he would do as a member.

Not even an option now. NO way.

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.

I have to vote for 2 people. Kathleem has my first vote. Larry was falling asleep in a forum. Hard pass.

I’ll take Chen learning on the fly over Zuraya. She’s cake walking to the endorsement and doesn’t deserve it either. PS not affiliated with any campaign.

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.

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.

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.

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


Zuraya can't give a straight answer if she wanted to. I'm tempted to not vote for her at all.

The only person qualified and has put in the work is Kathleen. Unfortunately there are two seats open. #2 is going to be a big mystery until the end.

AEA can get bent. They lost all credibility.