DeKalb Schools: Parent, education advocate to run for school board seat

May 25, 2016 BROOKHAVEN Allyson Gevertz, co-founder of the Parent Councils United group gives remarks. DeKalb school superintendent Stephen Green, members of the DeKalb school board, students and supporters of the E-Splost gather during a press conference at Cross Keys High School to celebrate the measure's passage Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The school sales tax is expected to bring in an estimated $500 million, with plans to use the money to address overcrowded schools and renovations to several outdated schools. KENT D. JOHNSON/kdjohnson@ajc.com

Credit: Kent Johnson

Credit: Kent Johnson

May 25, 2016 BROOKHAVEN Allyson Gevertz, co-founder of the Parent Councils United group gives remarks. DeKalb school superintendent Stephen Green, members of the DeKalb school board, students and supporters of the E-Splost gather during a press conference at Cross Keys High School to celebrate the measure's passage Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The school sales tax is expected to bring in an estimated $500 million, with plans to use the money to address overcrowded schools and renovations to several outdated schools. KENT D. JOHNSON/kdjohnson@ajc.com

A long-time local education advocate has decided she’s running for DeKalb County’s school board.

Allyson Gevertz, a founder of Parent Councils United, said she would like to see stronger relationships between education leaders, government officials and the business community. She intends to run for the District 4 seat currently occupied by James McMahan.

The announcement came in a mid-morning note Tuesday, a simple press release with no quotes. It mentioned that Gevertz began community advocacy work in DeKalb County after working as a school psychologist for Gwinnett County Schools. She’s worked with various parent groups in the district, and helped form Parent Councils United, described as a grassroots advocacy group focused on educational excellence for all the county’s children, in 2013.

She's served on school district committees for various causes, from redistricting to funding. In 2016, she helped lead the charge to get voters to approve the district's Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.