Candidate Profile: George Darden For Marietta City Schools Board

MARIETTA, GA — Thirteen candidates are running for seven seats in the Marietta City Schools Board of Education election Nov. 2, three of which are running for the Ward 4 seat.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

George Darden is running for Marietta City Schools Board of Education, Ward 4 against Angie Smith and Jaillene Hunter.

Age (as of Election Day)

47

Party Affiliation

Nonpartisan

Family

Wife: Kacie

Twin sons: Quintin and Candler (age 7)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No. My dad was an elected official in the past, but has not held office for over 20 years.

Education

Bachelor's of Science in International Affairs from Georgia Tech, 1996; Master of Arts in Secondary Education, University of Michigan, 1999; Ph.D. Social Foundations of Education, University of Georgia, 2011

Occupation

College professor since 2012; high school teacher from 1998-2012.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

GeorgeDardenWard4.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

After 25 years in education, this is a way that I can give back to the community in which I grew up.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

In the short term, we must face the academic, social, and emotional effects of COVID-19 on our students and teachers. To address these, we will need to lean on our partnerships with local colleges and health professionals that will provide our teachers with the support that they require. We have several of these structures in place already, and we need to repair any damage that our time away may have done to those relationships.

What are your short- and long-term goals if you are elected?

Short-term: establish a monthly meeting with Ward 4 stakeholders to discuss issues of concern to the school board and thereby increase transparency and responsiveness.

Long-term: make the Marietta City Schools a place where all students and teachers feel supported and valued.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I'm a sixth-generation Georgia teacher with 25 years of experience in education. I have devoted my adult life to serving the public schools, and I see the school board as another way of doing the important work of improving the lives of young people.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

The superintendent and school board have listened to advice from public health professionals and have used data to guide their decisions. This is critical. Marietta City Schools is small enough that we can turn on a dime based on changing circumstances, and it is important that we take advantage of our small size to make wise choices. We should not make decisions based on what we wish the situation was or what politicians say.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

We must ensure that we have functional and appealing buildings where our children and teachers can work. This not only enables teachers and students to do higher-quality work, but it sends messages to them about how we value them. We must continue to recruit and work to retain qualified and inspiring teachers. There are things we can do — support, salaries, authority — that will make teachers want to stay in our system. We must shore up the MCS Foundation promote its long-term viability, and help it to establish contacts with recent alumni. We must support a variety of co-curricular activities — arts, sports, clubs — that give students the chance to be successful and connect to our community in a variety of ways. Finally, we must continue to build and expand partnerships in our community, linking students to the world outside of their schools.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Students bring me challenges each day that require thoughtful solutions, and they have been for the last 25 years. I have also served on leadership teams in high schools and my college that were tasked with establishing structural changes, preparing for institutional reviews, hiring new staff, and charting the direction of the institutions.

What do you like best about living in your city (or county)?

Marietta is a diverse and dynamic place. There are traditions of which we can be very proud, but we are not scared of change and progress.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

From Dr. Emily Lembeck, former superintendent of Marietta City Schools, once told me that I should make decisions about my career as an educator based on where I thought I could do the most good. I have used this as a guiding principle for more than two decades.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

You can visit my web site at GeorgeDardenWard4.com, drop me a line at GeorgeDardenWard4@gmail.com, or join my Facebook group at facebook.com/GeorgeDardenWard4. I aim to be accessible and responsive, and I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns.