I've known Lydia Lee as long as I can remember. She was originally at Marcy Open, and migrated over to Anderson Junior High where she was my algebra teacher. She was very good, knew how to reach middle school kids, and with me anyway, was able to impress upon me the importance of understanding numbers.
She's addressed everything that I would have a concern about. She's advocated developing a long range plan with strategic goals, understands that the Board is likely going to have to spend within current constraints for the foreseeable future, encourages parental interaction, and knows that a good education is not only about book learning, but includes things like personal safety, student and parental responsibility as well at teacher accountability. I'm going on. Lydia Lee is a spectacular candidate. I also believe that everything she's stumped for, she has practiced as a teacher and curriculum developer. Some of the points from her web site that she is advocating, and I can say that I personally experienced as her student, are... "Schools must be de-institutionalized and must become more personalized. There are no unmotivated students. It is the school's responsibility to find what motivates them; the culturally competent teacher finds ways to inspire students. All students are recognized as individuals, understood as learners and supported in their achievement. Maintain high and realistic expectations for all students; curriculum is rigorous and challenging. Provide the context for learning in environments rich in words and experiences. Every child has the right to be challenged at their intellectual capacity. Learning occurs in safe environments where students are valued and cared for." I don't care who endorses who or who says what. I tend to look at the long term results of actions, and Lydia is the bomb. Jeremy Wieland Northeast -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dorian Eder Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 12:55 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] School Board candidates David Brauer wrote: >Peggy Flanagan, David Dayhoff and Lydia Lee are new to the electoral scene. >Anyone have first-hand experience with either person's work - to clue the >rest of us in on how they might do as board members? > > I'll disclose that I am a personal friend of Peggy's and am familiar with her work, though I play no official role in the campaign. I was also fortunate enough to take part in a candidate screening for endorsement, and heard all but Dayhoff and Miller speak to the challenges facing the MPS (Neither of them sought endorsement from my specific org). Peggy and Lydia were by far the most articulate candidates about heir vision and ideas for improving MPS. I believe that is the reason - and the only reason - they have both been endorsed by vitually everyone, including the DFL. They are very different from each other - Peggy is outspoken, articulate and not afraid to make unpopular decisions if they are the right thing to do. Lydia is softer-spoken, but with a wealth of classroom and curriculum experience that will be welcome at the board level. I was particularly impressed with her focus on the middle grades, since middle school is the time when many students begin to struggle (and seldom recover when they falter). Yes, there is anti-incumency sentiment, but the fact remains that neither of the current board members seeking re-election could offer ANY substatnive ideas for improving the schools. I went into the screening pre-disposed to supporting Sharon, especially, but she failed to answer a single question with a concrete answer, including "When are we going to hire a new Superintendent?" (I believe the screening took place in late April). As for Dennis, I was impressed by his ideas and innovative thinking, but failed to see how those ideas had had any impact at all on the school board during his tenure. I am the mother of a child in the schools and I am disgusted by the ineptitude of the Board over the past two years. They have a hard row to hoe, to be sure, but they must have the capacity to make decisions and stand by those decisions even when people are pissed off. There is no excuse for a lack of community engagement, but if you're going to go that way, then stick by your choices and tough it out. I'm not sure that anyone currently serving deserves re-election if they were all up this year, and hopefully those who remain will get the message that parents expect results before their number comes up. -Dorian Eder Windom Park I am the parent >Sandra Miller served previously on the School Board (elected 1997, served >one term 1998-2001). What were her accomplishments? What was her style, >effectiveness as a board member? > >Denny Schapiro and Sharon Henry-Blythe are on the current board that's taken >a lot of battering. How much specific blame to they deserve for things the >board has been criticized for? What credit do they deserve, perhaps for >things that don't get as much credit as the problems? Any individual >strengths or weaknesses people can cite (hopefully based on experience)? > >These are just to get the discussion started. I hope members will use the >month remaining before election day to educate each other about a race that >is truly up for grabs... > >David Brauer >Kingfield > >REMINDERS: >1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. >2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > >For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html >For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract >________________________________ > >Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy >Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > > > REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
