To all who supported my campaign. Perhaps, I will run again. Next time, I need to do some serious fund raising. I learned a lot. This should be the last post for quite a while.
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This was created by Michael Alves.
With nearly 3000 hits to my web page in just over three weeks, I am very excited about my chances on May 8th. That is this Saturday! I want to make a few of my platforms perfectly clear. In the coming years, RISD is going to have a budget shortfall. When that happens, tough decisions have to be made. One of my campaign promises is to never vote for a reduction in teaching staff and I will always stand by that pledge. I support better pay for teachers, adhering to the traditional school calendar, less reliance on standard textbooks, more local control of curriculum standards and increased parent and community involvement in schools. As someone who has dedicated his adult life to public education, I have the work and life experiences necessary to serve all of the educational stakeholders within Richardson ISD.
On Saturday, I will traveling around to different polling locations with my son, trying to make a bit of a difference. I have some volunteers who will hit some polling locations as well. I am very thankful for the people who have helped my campaign. Win or lose, it was a very interesting experience. Today, I had a nice meeting with the Superintendent of RISD. Dr. Waggoner is a very nice person who will serve the district well.
Please keep emailing anyone you know in Richardson and have them vote on Saturday. With the bond package on the ballot, turn out should be high.
2,500 hits on my website in a month. Thank you to all of the people who have supported my campaign to be on the RISD Board of Trustees. Please keep spreading the word via email. That is the only way to win. Over a 1000 people voted early. If you want to help out and hold a sign at a polling place on Saturday, May 8th, please contact me at darrylrs@hotmail.com.
For over a decade, I have been an adjunct professor at Richland College. Richland College is part of the Dallas County Community College system and is located in Richardson. Most of my students come from RISD public schools and choose to continue their education via Richland College. My experience as an English professor has helped shape my educational philosophy and adds to my qualifications to be on the Richardson ISD Board of Trustees.
Whew, the last major campaign event was last night as all the candidates answered questions at the Richardson High School Band Hall. It was attended by about 50 people. The audience provided the questions and each candidate had a minute and a half to answer each question. Most of the questions were relevant, but a few pertained to issues outside of the responsibilities of a local school board. However, I did not mind answering any of them. Now, it’s time to get out and shake some hands and get people to the polls. Early voting is going on now and the election day is 10 days away. My main opponent has outspent me greatly, but I know I’ve got my message across that a current educator deserves a place on the board. In 3 weeks, I’ve had over 2,200 hits to this website. Thanks to everyone who has emailed and called to support my campaign.
Please get up and vote early if you want to beat the rush that always happens on voting day (May 8th). I have made the decision NOT to saturate each polling place with dozens of signs. My opponent has spent thousands of dollars on signs. Besides not having the financial wherewithal to purchase that many signs (my wife would probably divorce me!), I think it is environmentally unfriendly. Also, the Internet has made getting a candidate’s name “out there” much easier than plastering signs all over town. If I win, it’s because people did more than simply choose a name they had only heard of previously.
This just went on line:
Posted by Carol Toler on Apr 21, 2010 at 08:01 AM in Education, Elections, RISD, Toler, Advocate Mag, Lake Highlands
I felt a little rusty attending last night’s Candidate Forum for the RISD School Board. There’ve been few contested races lately, so I had to re-learn how to listen with a discerning ear to candidates answering tough questions.
Everyone on the panel was bright and earnest, and each described their years volunteering in the district and parenting successful RISD students. All applauded the fine job the RISD is currently doing, and all – including the incumbents – stressed plenty of things the district could and should be doing better.
Frankly, the attendance wasn’t very good. If you weren’t able to attend, you can read my impressions here. My opinions are my own.
Vying for the Place 3 seat vacated by retiring David Tyson were schoolteacher Darryl Smyers, businessman Kris Oliver and write-in candidate Elaine Johnson, a systems analyst for an IT company.
Smyers was strongest when discussing the classroom, expressing his frustration at the over-teaching to TAKS tests and the touting the benefits of athletics and other extra-curriculars in keeping kids interested. Smyers has recruited, hired and fired teachers, and he said he feels that his career in education makes him uniquely qualified to serve. “A good teacher makes all his students feel like they are gifted and talented,” he said.
Oliver’s appeal was evident when he discussed the skills students must acquire to succeed in the work-world when their education is finished. Critical thinking and creativity will be stronger, he said, if we shift our focus from baseline TAKS testing to Advanced Placement preparation and project-based learning. Extracurricular activities have important life lessons, he added, teaching flexibility and teamwork. “It’s important to feel a part of something larger than yourself.” He also touted his experience as a CPA and corporate CEO as preparation for managing the district’s $250 million budget.
Johnson, a late-comer to the race, said the growth & development of teachers and students alike must be measureable, and she stressed the value of the diversity she brings to the board as an African American. “I believe in the public school system,” she said, and diversity “will make it even more effective.”
Twelve year veteran of the board, Lanet Greenhaw, was poised and confident when answering voter-submitted questions and able to relax a bit since her Place 4 opponent recently dropped out of the race. Greenhaw highlighted the need to hire the best teachers available and present a “challenging, rigorous and relevant” curriculum plan for students with a variety of capabilities. She said her experience, along with an “amazing” RISD financial staff, helps in handling the “constant battle” of managing district finances.
When Carol Kent was elected to the Texas legislature, Karen Holburn filled her unexpired term on the school board and is running for re-election in Place 5. Raj Chari is the challenger seeking to bring “newer ideas to the board.”
As a current board member and past president of the RISD Council of PTAs, Holburn was strongest when stressing the strengths and successes of the district. “All of our schools are rated Exemplary or Recognized,” she said adding, “One of the things that make RISD strong is parental involvement.” She also had praise for RISD financial guru Tony Harkleroad. “It’s important to make sure your money is going where your priorities are,” she said.
Chari decided to run for the school board after “being asked by teachers and other parents how I was getting such great results with my own children.” He added, “We are lacking in advanced academics for high achievers.” Chari graduated from Nagpur University in India. In his bio, he wrote “I bring a diversity of experience, culture and educational values to the board, which is lacking at this time and is much over-due.”
There were no fireworks – not even a spirited debate – from this group that tended to agree than they disagreed. I encourage you ponder the qualities you think most important in a school board member and exercise your right to vote on May 8.
19 Days until Election Day! Campaign is going well. Remember to check out the opportunity to vote early. Tomorrow, I will be at the D/FW Realtors Association at 2:00 and the League of Women Voters’ Candidate Forum at 7:00. On Thursday, I will be at the Retired School Personnel meeting at 10:30. Next Tuesday, I will be at a forum hosted by the Richardson Area band Clubs. Whew! New signs should be going up this week. Lots of walking around town, handing out material. Please keep the word about my grass roots campaign flowing.