Benjamin Straker, Sr., a Democrat, is seeking his second term as a member of the Clayton County Board of Education for District 9, which is around the Rex community. He is facing Republican challenger Kimberly Cowan-Keane.
Straker graduated from Bernard Baruch College of the City University of New York with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is finishing an MBA degree from Clayton State University. He has worked in the insurance industry. In New York, he was involved as a leader in in community outreach and education, which is where he says he learned how to work with elected officials. Straker’s four children have attended Clayton schools, and he got involved initially in school issues as a member and president of the Adamson Middle School PTSA.
He was recently appointed to the Georgia School Board Association’s Rural Task Force.
Some of Straker’s top issues are making sure schools are prepared for their critical role in preparing students to successfully enter the workforce, funding and equity across the system, and teacher recruitment and retention.
“There is a growing gap between the skills needed by companies and what graduates have,” Straker said. “As a Clayton County board member, my colleagues and I have worked collaboratively with the superintendent, principals, teachers, students, families, business and community partners to bridge the growing skill gap.”
Straker is proud of the strides the district has made, noting that the number of students who are college and career ready is increasing with graduation rates. Clayton’s graduation rate, at 71.7 percent, is lower than the state average but has been improving faster than some of its neighbors.
The district has also increased the number of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education programs that prepare students for the workforce in areas such as aviation, film technology, law enforcement, forensic science and firefighting.
Straker wants to work to find ways to get equitable funding for Clayton students and to make sure money is spent wisely.
He said a national study shows that high-poverty districts get on average $1,200 less per student. “That leads to inequity in education and opportunity,” he said. He has worked with the board to be fiscally responsible and manage funding equitably among all schools, he said.
“We are a high-needs, high-poverty school district, and it is imperative that board members are knowledgeable about the business side of education.” His business experience and MBA are assets when faced with critical issues in funding, he said.
He is also concerned about teacher recruitment and retention. “There are fewer students going into teaching, and many are leaving the profession. Meanwhile, student populations are growing. Teacher quality is basic to providing a good education.”
He wants to continue working with the board to ensure teachers are recruited and retained, Straker said.
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