Ballotpedia: Austin McDonald

Austin is from South Georgia and holds a bachelor's degree in 2012 from Valdosta State University. He resides in Dunwoody with his wife, Christine and five children. He is a member of the Dunwoody United Methodist Church. 

Austin is currently a Realtor & Real Estate Investor. He previously served as a teacher, sports coach for middle school and college athletes in soccer, cross county, and track and field. 

Austin Mcdonald ran for the Georgia State Senate representing District 40 in 2022, but did not win. 

Decaturish: Candidate Q&A

Wants to install tailored learning plans and interventions for students.

Plans to focus on literacy for both mainstreamed and special education students through implementing literacy programs, interventions focusing on critical thinking skills and professional development, as well as post-graduate resources, such as JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)  and CTAE Career Technical, and Agricultural Education).

Said is committed to advocate for disabled students and students with learning challenges.

Plans to focus on marginalized groups within education, including disabled and economically disadvantaged students to achieve "Educational Equity for All Students..."

- Wants to install tailored learning plans and interventions for students.
- Plans to focus on literacy for both mainstreamed and special education students through implementing literacy programs, interventions focusing on critical thinking skills and professional development, as well as post-graduate resources, such as JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)  and CTAE Career Technical, and Agricultural Education).
- Said is committed to advocate for disabled students and students with learning challenges.
- Plans to focus on marginalized groups within education, including disabled and economically disadvantaged students to achieve "Educational Equity for All Students..."

Access to Education

Plans to ensure financial transparency regarding county investments in education, through uncomplicated budgeting processes, regular fiscal audits, and transparent communication regarding how taxpayer funds are used.

- Plans to ensure financial transparency regarding county investments in education, through uncomplicated budgeting processes, regular fiscal audits, and transparent communication regarding how taxpayer funds are used.

School Curriculum

Wants scholastic funding to be allocated towards school safety,  facility renovations and maintenance, and overcrowding in accordance with the QBE funding formula, e ESSER/CARES and SPLOST transparency audits.

- Wants scholastic funding to be allocated towards school safety,  facility renovations and maintenance, and overcrowding in accordance with the QBE funding formula, e ESSER/CARES and SPLOST transparency audits.

School Facilities & Resources

Plans to prioritize transparency, communication, and listen to community feedback in an effort to meet the needs of all students and their families.

Said Mental Health & Social-Emotional Wellness is a current issue, and plans to decrease the student to counselor ratio in an effort to provide increased student support.

- Plans to prioritize transparency, communication, and listen to community feedback in an effort to meet the needs of all students and their families.
- Plans to prioritize student safety.
- Said Mental Health & Social-Emotional Wellness is a current issue, and plans to decrease the student to counselor ratio in an effort to provide increased student support.

Student Wellbeing

Plans to provide sufficient resources, support, and professional development for teachers to effectively teach literacy skills.

- Plans to provide sufficient resources, support, and professional development for teachers to effectively teach literacy skills.

Teachers

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Austin McDonald

Andrew Ziffer graduated from the University of Florida College of Engineering. He has served as a part-time volunteer and Technology Committee chair at Dunwoody Elementary. He resides in Dunwoody with his wife and son. 

Andrew Ziffer started his career in IT and worked for ABN AMRO, Zurich Financial Services, CitiBank, and State Farm. He later transitioned into facilities management and commercial real estate investment.

Ballotpedia, Andrew Ziffer

Andrew Ziffer's campaign for County Board of Education Member in DeKalb County School Board District 1 is his first entry into politics.

Decaturish, Candidate Q&A

Collected used computers and printers that were repurposed and given to low-income families with school-age children.

- Collected used computers and printers that were repurposed and given to low-income families with school-age children.

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "Developing vocational career program opportunities for students."

Wants to create vocational career program opportunities for students.

Opposes the “Protect Students First Act,” which outlaws the teaching of “divisive concepts” related to race and said, "It is a teacher’s job to teach information, facts, and history and not bring their personal agendas into the classroom, regardless of political party, race, gender, or any other classification.

Opposes the “Parents Bill of Rights" which says parents have a right to “direct the upbringing and education of their minor children" because it "creates a distrust of our teachers and administrators."

- Wants to create vocational career program opportunities for students.
- Opposes the “Protect Students First Act,” which outlaws the teaching of “divisive concepts” related to race and said, "It is a teacher’s job to teach information, facts, and history and not bring their personal agendas into the classroom, regardless of political party, race, gender, or any other classification.
- Opposes the “Parents Bill of Rights" which says parents have a right to “direct the upbringing and education of their minor children" because it "creates a distrust of our teachers and administrators."

Plans to leverage commercial real estate expertise to oversee cost-effective capital improvements, addressing urgent repairs and enhancing all schools, rejecting a binary approach to district-wide facility upgrades.

Plans to leverage commercial real estate expertise to oversee cost-effective capital improvements, addressing repairs in schools and rejecting a binary approach to district-wide facility upgrades.

Said, "Coupled with my 30 years of executive experience in facilities management, real estate and IT, I'm ready to help fix our crumbling schools, shape sound fiscal policy and create the safe, supportive schools that our communities deserve."

Said, "I’ve rolled up my sleeves for years in service to DeKalb students... spearheading electronic equipment drives so all students have the tools they need for learning..."

The candidate's website says, "Creating an enforceable policy that ensures classroom trailers are only short term solutions and are replaced after their useful life."

Wants to, "[Create] an enforceable policy that ensures classroom trailers are only short term solutions and are replaced after their useful life."

Said, "Contracting multiple architectural firms and contractors so our renovations and new buildings get done in a timely fashion. Delays in construction these days end up costing more than double."

Plans to, "[Contract] multiple architectural firms and contractors so our renovations and new buildings get done in a timely fashion. Delays in construction these days end up costing more than double."

The candidate's website says, "Continue to ensure every student has access to a Chromebook and internet in our entire school system, including proper IT support for DCSD-owned devices."

Plans to, "Continue to ensure every student has access to a Chromebook and internet in our entire school system, including proper IT support for DCSD-owned devices."

Said, "Currently, DCSD is operating with two financial systems, wasting more than $23 million on a never-ending software transition... we need to provide taxpayers with more transparency on how our money is being spent."

- Plans to leverage commercial real estate expertise to oversee cost-effective capital improvements, addressing repairs in schools and rejecting a binary approach to district-wide facility upgrades.
- Said, "Coupled with my 30 years of executive experience in facilities management, real estate and IT, I'm ready to help fix our crumbling schools, shape sound fiscal policy and create the safe, supportive schools that our communities deserve."
- Said, "I’ve rolled up my sleeves for years in service to DeKalb students... spearheading electronic equipment drives so all students have the tools they need for learning..."
- Wants to, "[Create] an enforceable policy that ensures classroom trailers are only short term solutions and are replaced after their useful life."
- Plans to, "[Contract] multiple architectural firms and contractors so our renovations and new buildings get done in a timely fashion. Delays in construction these days end up costing more than double."
- Plans to, "Continue to ensure every student has access to a Chromebook and internet in our entire school system, including proper IT support for DCSD-owned devices."
- Said, "Currently, DCSD is operating with two financial systems, wasting more than $23 million on a never-ending software transition... we need to provide taxpayers with more transparency on how our money is being spent."

Said, "I want to work with you to ensure a safe, supportive school environment where all DeKalb students can have a strong start in life..."

The candidate's website says, "To achieve our vision of safe and thriving schools... where the environment allows all students the best start to their futures, the School Board must get back to basics."

Believes "To achieve our vision of safe and thriving schools... where the environment allows all students the best start to their futures, the School Board must get back to basics."

The candidate's website says, "Students and teachers cannot succeed when they feel unsafe, ill-equipped or overly burdened. We need to focus on the safety and mental health of teachers and students so our schools are places where children can learn. I propose:"

Believes "Students and teachers cannot succeed when they feel unsafe, ill-equipped or overly burdened. We need to focus on the safety and mental health of teachers and students so our schools are places where children can learn."

The candidate's website says, "Developing innovative safety protocols & procedures, including timely and accurate communications about safety issues to parents."

Wants to, "[Develop] innovative safety protocols & procedures, including timely and accurate communications about safety issues to parents."

Supports allowing transgender students to use school facilities that align with their gender identity and said "I...believe that no children should be bullied or ridiculed for trying to use a bathroom, and all students deserve to feel included in a way they see fit."

- Said, "I want to work with you to ensure a safe, supportive school environment where all DeKalb students can have a strong start in life..."
- Believes "To achieve our vision of safe and thriving schools... where the environment allows all students the best start to their futures, the School Board must get back to basics."
- Believes "Students and teachers cannot succeed when they feel unsafe, ill-equipped or overly burdened. We need to focus on the safety and mental health of teachers and students so our schools are places where children can learn."
- Wants to, "[Develop] innovative safety protocols & procedures, including timely and accurate communications about safety issues to parents."
- Supports allowing transgender students to use school facilities that align with their gender identity and said "I...believe that no children should be bullied or ridiculed for trying to use a bathroom, and all students deserve to feel included in a way they see fit."

The candidate's website says, "Allowing teachers autonomy to focus on what they do best - teach - and lessen the burdensome administration requirements."

Supports, "Allowing teachers autonomy to focus on what they do best - teach - and lessen the burdensome administration requirements."

The candidate's website says, "Creating a robust professional development program for all classroom-based teachers."

Plans to, "[Create] a robust professional development program for all classroom-based teachers."

Said, "I believe the Vice Principals and Principals work for the teachers – not the reverse. Developing this culture starts at the School Board level, we just need leaders with the will and desire to implement it."

- Supports, "Allowing teachers autonomy to focus on what they do best - teach - and lessen the burdensome administration requirements."
- Plans to, "[Create] a robust professional development program for all classroom-based teachers."
- Said, "I believe the Vice Principals and Principals work for the teachers – not the reverse. Developing this culture starts at the School Board level, we just need leaders with the will and desire to implement it."

LinkedIn

Andrew Ziffer

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. The Board of Education is entirely independent from the rest of the county government.
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and appoint the superintendent to run the schools day to day.
- Board of Education members are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.