Dekalb Schools GA, Board of Education

Ballot Pedia, Deirdre Pierce

Candidate Q&A: DeKalb County Board of Education District 3

Said, "I am a lifelong learner, have been a world-traveler, and am a staunch advocate for social justice and public education."

Said, "I am running for re-election because I firmly believe in the transformative work that is being accomplished and the amazing opportunities that lie ahead for our youth."

Said, "I feel that my accomplishments, team efforts, and dedication to improving our district have ignited a sense of hope and accountability in our district."

She has served as the Audit Committee Chair with the goal of improving transparency, utilizing Robert’s Rules of Order, and the Board Code of Ethics.

Said, "We must address school attendance zones as we have experienced population shifts."

- Said, "I am a lifelong learner, have been a world-traveler, and am a staunch advocate for social justice and public education."
- Said, "I am running for re-election because I firmly believe in the transformative work that is being accomplished and the amazing opportunities that lie ahead for our youth."
- Said, "I feel that my accomplishments, team efforts, and dedication to improving our district have ignited a sense of hope and accountability in our district."
- She has served as the Audit Committee Chair with the goal of improving transparency, utilizing Robert’s Rules of Order, and the Board Code of Ethics.
- Said, "We must address school attendance zones as we have experienced population shifts."

Access to Education

Plans to continually review curriculum choices for evidence-based results benefitting students.

Said "Our spending priorities should always be focused on Instruction – to improve the academic and social-emotional outcomes for students."

Signed the required state document signifying the district’s adherence to the “Protect Students First Act,” that outlaws the teaching of “divisive concepts” related to race.

Said, "I have no problem with our district allowing parents the right to information about their minor children. However, there are specific stipulations included in the [“Parents Bill of Rights”] Bill that...I have to trust the judgement of those in charge to make the appropriate decisions."

- Plans to continually review curriculum choices for evidence-based results benefitting students.
- Said "Our spending priorities should always be focused on Instruction – to improve the academic and social-emotional outcomes for students."
- Signed the required state document signifying the district’s adherence to the “Protect Students First Act,” that outlaws the teaching of “divisive concepts” related to race.
- Said, "I have no problem with our district allowing parents the right to information about their minor children. However, there are specific stipulations included in the [“Parents Bill of Rights”] Bill that...I have to trust the judgement of those in charge to make the appropriate decisions."

School Curriculum

Plans to provide transparency in reporting information to stakeholders.

Said, "Since being elected to the Board of Education, the largest budget I’m now responsible for...is our current $2+ billion dollar budget that supports and estimated 93,000 students and 14,500 employees."

Has hosted five Cluster-based Town Hall meetings to target the achievement levels and plans for improvement at all schools in each cluster.

Supports providing designated facilities for transgender students.

- Plans to provide transparency in reporting information to stakeholders.
- Said, "Since being elected to the Board of Education, the largest budget I’m now responsible for...is our current $2+ billion dollar budget that supports and estimated 93,000 students and 14,500 employees."
- Has hosted five Cluster-based Town Hall meetings to target the achievement levels and plans for improvement at all schools in each cluster.
- Supports providing designated facilities for transgender students.

School Facilities & Resources

Claims that her top priorities are "To continue to keep everyone safe in our schools [and] address and provide additional resources that target the social/emotional concerns of our students and staff."

Wants to prioritize funding for "Operations – to keep everyone 'safe, warm and dry' by upgrading and maintaining our facilities on a regular rotating schedule."

Said, "I will always work...for the benefit of ALL students throughout the district and not just for my own."

- Claims that her top priorities are "To continue to keep everyone safe in our schools [and] address and provide additional resources that target the social/emotional concerns of our students and staff."
- Wants to prioritize funding for "Operations – to keep everyone 'safe, warm and dry' by upgrading and maintaining our facilities on a regular rotating schedule."
- Said, "I will always work...for the benefit of ALL students throughout the district and not just for my own."

Student Wellbeing

Supports the superintendent’s plans to improve student achievement by requiring high qualifications of all teachers.

Said, "I don’t support adding super-district members again since current board members already serve as support members in areas that tend to overlap."

She has required district leaders who have requested approval of agenda items to include detailed, evidence-based information at board meetings.

Said, "The implementation and expansion of in-school ZEN rooms and S.(school) A.(and) F..(family) E.(engagement) centers have been very helpful in providing safe spaces for teachers and students to decompress during the day."

Supports Para-to Teachers and Teacher Residency programs.

Supports the 2024-25 calendar which includes two additional weeklong breaks to allow teachers and students to rejuvenate.

- Supports the superintendent’s plans to improve student achievement by requiring high qualifications of all teachers.
- Said, "I don’t support adding super-district members again since current board members already serve as support members in areas that tend to overlap."
- She has required district leaders who have requested approval of agenda items to include detailed, evidence-based information at board meetings.
- Said, "The implementation and expansion of in-school ZEN rooms and S.(school) A.(and) F..(family) E.(engagement) centers have been very helpful in providing safe spaces for teachers and students to decompress during the day."
- Supports Para-to Teachers and Teacher Residency programs.
- Supports the 2024-25 calendar which includes two additional weeklong breaks to allow teachers and students to rejuvenate.

Teachers

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Deirdre P Pierce

Opposes House Bill 1084, which prohibits teachers from speaking about "divisive concepts" relating to race.

Supports keeping parents aware of their children's curriculum and said "I want my parents to be involved and connected to the learning process."

- Opposes House Bill 1084, which prohibits teachers from speaking about "divisive concepts" relating to race.
- Supports keeping parents aware of their children's curriculum and said "I want my parents to be involved and connected to the learning process."

Wants to "provide wrap-around services for families to bring holistic educational care to all of our students and families within our district."

Wants to "restructure Special Educational Services to benefit under-resourced students..."

- Wants to "provide wrap-around services for families to bring holistic educational care to all of our students and families within our district."
- Wants to "restructure Special Educational Services to benefit under-resourced students..."

Wants to "implement restorative justice practices in schools that make sense..."

Supports transgender students using facilities that align with their gender.

- Wants to "implement restorative justice practices in schools that make sense..."
- Supports transgender students using facilities that align with their gender.

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "to effectively recruit, refine(train), and retain quality teachers... implement restorative justice practices in schools that make sense, and provide wrap-around services for families to bring holistic educational care to all of our students and families within our district."

Wants "to effectively recruit, refine(train), and retain quality teachers..."

- Wants "to effectively recruit, refine(train), and retain quality teachers..."

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Deidra Rossell Wright

- 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.