Gwinnett School Board Seat Pits Longtime Board Member Against a Parent Advocate

In my opinion, having attended the event photoed, the original article and title framed by Arlinda Smith Broady doesn't give the credit to the longtime incumbents very credited opponent, Dr. Tarace Johnson, stated as Tarace Johnson in the article.

In speaking with Gwinnett parents after the article was published yesterday, I decided to check it out the review for myself. In hopes that the article would be objective, it definitely felt as if it favored the incumbent. This my concern with educational new. Many times, it often favors the system as opposed to the children, parents and teachers that the systems serves but should be serving well. 

The article opens by highlighting . . . "Not only has 84-year-old Louise Radloff served on the Gwinnett County Board of Education for 47 years, she has two public buildings named after her: Louise Radloff Middle School, which opened in 2004, and the Louise Radloff Administrative Health Complex, which opened in 2006. " 

These accolades are great and should be given to Mrs. Radloff. However, her time with the Gwinnett County Board of Education has come to a needed end. I recently participated in the Zoom call, photo featured in the original AJC post. I am not certain if Ms. Broady was on the call, but if so, we definitely observed different things. 

In fact, Mrs. Radloff gave lackluster answers to the questions I posed in the Zoom chat during the call. Many of the questions I ask were based on the districts dire need for change in regards to the engagement of Black and brown families in Gwinnett schools; in particularly the area that she serves. It was very evident that Dr. Johnson has been involved in the community, is connected to parents, businesses and even educators in Gwinnett who have acknowledge the need for change.

Broady also points out in the article that, "in the past decade or two, there’s been a demographic shift to more Hispanic and lower-income students in that district. Radloff said she has seen a greater need for services that normally wouldn’t fall to school districts."

Having been a school board leader for a charter school in Gwinnett, I know the road that leadership has taken very well. In fact, "knowing the need for services” in Gwinnett and many public school districts in Georgia doesn't get them implemented!" Hence why the three e's; equity, engagement and early learning are still areas of "greater need" that still haven't been fulfilled. 

The article also lacks a true focus on the voice of Dr. Johnson. This sister is an educator and she gets it! During the Zoom call with candidates, while answering questions and being engaged, she actually took time to answer my questions to incumbent leaders who were almost gasping for air and straws in regards to equity. 

To add, there also needs to be a considerable amount of work done in revamping and revising the district's attendance, behavior and discipline policies that are forcing more children of color out of school that successfully across graduation stages. Dr. Johnson’s expertise will definitely help the district to turnaround these areas for the benefit of all children and communities.

Although COVID-19 is changing the way we social interact and our normal schedules, it is also highlighting some very long, deeply inequitable ways of our society. If this area is changing and communities of Black and brown families aren't being served as well as they should be, then that's a sign change is needed. 

We can no longer sit back and allow inequities in education to happen to Black and brown children based on outdated ideals and practices that don’t ensure better educational outcomes.