Question 1:
Age: 21
Occupation: Student; Temp. Receptionist
Education: Information Systems, B.S., Strayer University - In Progress
Qualifications for office sought: Former President of the National Youth Rights Association, DC Chapter
2010 Candidate for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, SMD 8C03
Question 2 - What State Board of Education policies would you advocate? I will work to advocate a community-based school curriculum, whereas schools in Ward 8 and subsequently, schools city-wide are designed to better serve students so that may be empowered to learn and attain their High School Education. Our youth and young adults are no longer empowered by the words "you have to have"; this is the generation of "choice and `doing me'.
I would furthermore work to eliminate "standardized testing". We cannot expect students in Ward 8 to perform on the same academic levels of students in Ward 1 (vice versa). We have yet to reach that stage as `One City'. Our students in Ward 8 are paying attention to the leadership decisions being made in regards to their education. They are also fully aware that they've been labeled as `the worst ward in the city'. They are referred to as "troubled youth". We have to understand that these are `young adults' with families and responsibilities and they know that they have a "choice".
I believe that a "Catered Education, Empowers Youth" - Is it too often that a child or young adult tells me that they are not in school because they don't relate, care or will ever use what's being taught to them; and that clearly tells me that the problem isn't the teacher. I would love to offer students a choice between a College Preparatory Education, Vocational Skills & Trade Education, etc.
I am strongly eager to advocate for the implementation of a Vocational Skills Training & Licensing Program and having local small and major businesses be proactive partners, trainers and mentors to students seeking to earn a Licensed skilled Trade and High School Diploma.
Question 3 - What are the major challengers to implementing the common core standards of learning? I agree that all students have to have Basic English and Math; in fact I want all students to be proficient in both areas of study. Simply put, if a student is performing badly in English, why would I expect the student to perform well in any subject area those skills are needed, such as History?
However, I don't support the adoption of the Common Core Standards because our city is a hugely diverse nation within itself, and we are divided into "wards" and different communities that each has their own walks of life which is why we cannot "standardized" our education system. There can be a "common goal" but we cannot set the bar on students unless we are in real-time providing what they need, not what they should have.
We have to survey students and communities and build "Community Schools" that address the academic needs of the actual students in that district attending that school. That's when "Common Core Standards" can be adopted based on community needs and expectations.
Questions 4 - Should high school students be required to have a semester of DC history and government? Yes students should take DC History and government at least in their 11th or 12th grade year. It is important that students do know the history of where they live and why certain things were or were not made available to them. However, we have to make sure that students are proficient and reading and writing before they take any history or social studies class.
Questions 5 - Is there a role for the State Board of Education in making charter schools accountable? Yes, if the school is a "Public Charter School" the board could implement how funding is conducted whereas Public Charter schools cannot drop a student and keep the funding they received from DCPS.
No, since charter schools is a "choice", and I support students and parents having "choices".
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