Exit Interview

“Thank you to all who supported me in this endeavor. With prayer and consideration I withdraw my candidacy for School Board. I solicit your prayers and love as I continue to focus on my faith and perfecting my walk with Christ, my family, and ministry.  The best is yet to come! I will always be a advocate for my city and community and most of all the future "our youth!"  I stand to fully endorse my friend, Kevin Starlings who's commitment to our young people speaks volumes. As chair of the SHAB He brings people together to fight for the wellness of our students in RPS.  Continue to pray for me as I move forward.  You ain't seen nothing yet.... 1 Corinthians 2:9 🙏” (From Facebook  , captured June 12, 2024, 10 am)

I've had so many thoughts and reflections concerning this turn of events. It will take me some days to process it all, collect my reactions, and ponder next steps. In the meantime, I offer a metaphor by way of this image found on Reddit . Whether or not it is real, I hardly care. They tried to chop off our president by the knees. Her union comrades, here in Richmond, in Chesterfield, and further afield; and her community, including elected officials like Kenya Gibson and school board candidate Charlene Riley , have all stepped in to lift her up. We're not going to let the REA President get chopped down.  We are going to supply her the spiritual, emotional, and collegial support she needs to survive this attack. This retaliatory strike against the REA president was never about just one person. This was a signal to anyone who might be thinking of assuming a leadership role in our union that they will be immediately placed on a [metaphorical*] hit list. This is a classic union-bu...

ANALYSIS SOON.... I submitted a FOIA request for this information a few days ago.* I think I am the first to report the complete list. I'm excited - this is why I started this blog - to bring timely information concerning hyper-local education issues of interest to RPS educators and community members. Here is the final list of community members who have submitted their names for consideration to be appointed to the school board seat vacated by Jonathan Young. Demetrios Axarlis,  Chris Bacon, Willie Barley, George Braxton, Amber Brown, Sheron Carter‐Gunter, William Craig, Angela Fontaine, Wesley Hedgepeth, Derek Redwine, Garrett Sawyer, Taylor Jeffrey, Albertina Walker, Thomas Washington, Jr.  *My original FOIA was sent April 22. The School Board clerk kindly suggested I wait for the candidate deadline to pass.  I also appreciate that RPS did not charge me for this information. However, not all FOIA's are free.  If you found this content useful, please consider "buyin...