Genuine progressives should cast their votes for Sonya Emerick, Lisa Skjefte, and Laurelle Myhra in the highly important election for seats on the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Board of Education on November 8. In making their electoral decisions, progressives must be sophisticated in understanding that votes for school board candidates require different reasoning than is the case for elections for state and national office.
In this electoral season, those of us on the left in the political spectrum will lean more heavily than ever toward candidates of the Democratic Party. With Republicans mesmerized by Donald Trump and with a Supreme Court dominated by far-right judges, averting control of the United States Congress and statewide seats by reactionaries and extremist supporters of Donald Trump is imperative.
Thus, the impulse on the part of those who do not comprehend the intricacies of politics at the local level of school board will be tempted to cast their votes for candidates endorsed by the DFL, even more so if they know the close relationship that the DFL has with unions such as the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT). The latter, which always is highly influential and lends heavy support for funding and advocacy in behalf of endorsed candidates, negotiates effectively for higher wages and better working conditions; however, although many rank and file members know that public education needs systemic overhaul, the MFT leadership opposes changes that would result in improved curriculum and teacher quality.
The three candidates endorsed by the DFL for the November 8 elections are mediocrities who have satisfied the MFT leadership as to their prospects for loyalty in casting important votes in favor of protecting the status quo. These candidates have arrogantly failed to attend many forums, such as that sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Advancing Equity Coalition on October 15 at the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center.
DFL-endorsed at-large candidate KerryJo Felder, who alienated many central office staff members and most of her fellow board members with her impetuosity and frequent factually errant assertions, was defeated for reelection in 2020. Felder, Collin Beachy (the other DFL-endorsed school board candidate), and District 5 candidate Lori Norvell failed to attend the October 15 event. By contrast, unendorsed at-large candidates Lisa Skjefte and Sonya Emerick and unendorsed District 5 candidate Laurelle Myhra demonstrated with their remarks why they are the truly progressive candidates on the November 8 Minneapolis school board ballot.
Emerick is an MPS parent of a child with special needs and a passionate advocate for academically substantive education for young people of all demographic groups. Skjefte, vice president of community engagement for the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center, has had multiple community involvements and manifests skill in uniting people of varying perspectives for mutually beneficial outcomes. Laurelle Myhra is a member of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe who holds a doctorate in Family Social Science and Marriage and Family Therapy and has training and personal experiences that give credence to her avowed mission to be an advocate for racial equity.
When asked to define an excellent education, these candidates gave superb answers that in the case of Skjefte and Myhra focused on imparting culturally responsive, rigorous curriculum to students of all ethnicities, with particular sensitivity to the needs of American Indians, African American, and Latino/Latina students whose educational aspirations have been met inadequately. Emerick sounded similar themes and added emphasis on the imperative to be sensitive to the academic and social and emotional needs of LGBTQ students; and in a moment of exhilarating, impassioned oratory, she conveyed her conviction that education should be “thrilling,” exciting to students and teachers alike, energizing young people with hope for their future upon the foundation of a substantive and engaging public education. These and other remarks by Emerick, Skjefte, and Myhra, may be found on the League of Women Voters website, with link given as https://t.co/zWxHQnY9Xz.
Sonya Emerick and Lisa Skjefte in the at-large contest and for Laurelle Myhra in the District 5 contest for seats on the MPS Board of Education are best positioned to give Interim Superintendent Rochelle Cox and staff the support they need to bring a national model of educational excellence to the long-waiting students of the Minneapolis Public Schools. The opportunity to elect two young, energetic Native American women and a passionate advocate for special needs and LGBTQ students should signal left of center voters that Emerick, Skjefte, and Myhra are the truly progressive candidates on the ballot for school board seats on November 8.
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