Coming Thursday: candidates for districts 6 and 7. See all candidates now on MyAJC.com.
All seven seats that survived a redistricting of the DeKalb County school board are up for election May 20. It’s a non-partisan race, so this serves as the general election. Candidates in District 5, in southeast DeKalb, are profiled today.
Each candidate was asked these questions. Their answers were edited only for brevity:
1. What should the school board do to improve test scores and graduation rates?
2. What qualities do you think the district needs in its next superintendent?
3. What should the school board do to ensure all students receive equitable support from funding and resources?
4. How much local control are you willing to cede to schools, and in what administrative areas?
Pia "Chaz Afzal" Bhatti, 26, is a life insurance agent. He did Biblical studies at Luther Rice University and attended Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science. He is married, with a son.
1. Teach school personnel what the test scores mean and how to examine the reports. Students as well as school staff must be educated to believe that tests are a big deal.Take notes from surrounding counties. Increase parental involvement.
2. A clear vision for the district. An instructional leader, good leader, not afraid to take risks or make a commitment, a team player and who is flexible. Has dealt with issues similar to the ones we are facing.
3. Resources must be invested wisely, focusing on key areas such as quality teaching, strong curriculums and programs for struggling students.
4. A great amount of control must be given. I do not believe total control should be given because it leaves no room for accountability. The areas of curriculum and discipline are two main areas.
Jesse "Jay" Cunningham, 54, was a school board member until he was removed by Gov. Nathan Deal last year. A restaurant owner and former McDonald's district manager, he attended Fort Valley State University and graduated from McDonald's Hamburger University. He is married with four children.
1. Ensure the budget includes the funding and resources needed for every school. Appoint top-notch, experienced principals. Recruit top-notch teachers. Identify students who are falling through the cracks and develop individual student plans.
2. Demonstrated success—vision—in improving academic achievement through proven strategies and goals. Strong people skills and the ability to communicate effectively. Welcomes technology and understands the importance of using technology.
3. Make sure the district is identifying and applying for all available resources at the state and federal levels.
4. Day-to-day academic instruction and standards should be the responsibility of the schools.
R. Alexander Fitzhugh, 42, is an entrepreneur in media production, publishing, computer networking and transportation. He is an Army veteran with a degree in film and TV from Georgia State University. He is single with two sons.
1. Improve the moral, that improves the educational experience, and our test scores and graduation rates will rise as well.
2. Understands the needs of all types of students. Accessible, knowabable and gifted in education. A history of success in more than just academics, but also in being able to bring a community together.
3. The school board must have an indepth understanding of the financial needs of every school in the district, and make sure the resources are distributed according to individual school need.
4. The one thing that (principals) seem unanimous on is the need to hire their own staff instead of getting sent individuals through the DeKalb County HR. So I would cede most hiring, and staffing to the local schools.
Thad Mayfield, 58, the incumbent, was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal. He works in business development and management. He graduated from Tougaloo College and has an MBA from Mercer University. He is a single grandfather with two children.
1. Create incentives for superintendents to improve test scores and graduation rates.
2. Proven and tested leadership skills, competencies, and successes running or having prominent management roles in large, complex education organizations, with a consistent record of improving academic performance, business management and parent and stakeholder engagement.
3. Adopt superintendent performance metrics and regular reports (quarterly) that measure the ratio of funding/resource use to aggregate student academic and conduct outcomes. Support development of supplemental sources of funding and/or resources to cover performance gaps.
4. Cede as much local control to schools as individual school leadership teams can accountably demonstrate they can manage and deliver continuous improvements.
Vickie B. Turner, 58, is headmaster of The Augustine Preparatory Academy of Atlanta. She graduated from Bowling Green State University and has a Master of Education degree from Troy State University. She is a married grandmother, with three adult children.
1. Be directly involved in the selection of curriculum, the development of state standards and the standardized testing instrument. Identify the reasons for the low graduation rates. Engage community leaders and business owners to mentor high school students.
2. A skilled communicator, and excellent negotiator and adept at engaging all stakeholders, possessing a proven track record of integrity. Willing to host town hall meetings. Experience as an educator, working through the ranks.
3. Govern without regard of socio-economic background of the students [or] demographics. By disbursing, without bias the funds to each of the schools.
4. School leadership must be given the autonomy to govern the school with the consideration and input from policies set forth by the board.
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