Dovie King Launches Bid For Wayland School Committee

WAYLAND, MA — A local attorney and former leader of the Wayland Human Rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee will seek one of two seats on the Wayland School Committee up for election in April.

Dovie King launched her campaign over the weekend ahead of Tuesday's nomination deadline. King ran in a three-way race for Wayland Select Board in 2022, losing her bid to incumbent Thomas Fay and Board of Public Works member Clifford Lewis.

In the 2023 Wayland election, school committee chair Chris Ryan and member Jeanne Downs are up for reelection.

King's entry in the race comes after Ryan and Vice Chair Ellen Greico were accused by Superintendent Omar Easy of fostering discrimination against him, and after a public racist attack against Easy. Greico and Ryan have declined to comment directly on Easy's accusations, but have said they are committed to fostering a "welcoming, inclusive, anti-racist environment."

King, who works as a law career advisor at Tufts University, has a son in 9th grade at Wayland High School.

Here's King's full candidate statement:

A bit about me. I'm a parent, educator and lawyer. Currently, I'm employed at Tufts University and formerly at Harvard Law School. In my day-to-day job, I help students achieve their academic and professional dreams.

My family includes my son, who's a 9th grade student and football player at Wayland High School. I'm a single working parent and homeowner. Together with our small rescue dog, we live in a historic farmhouse just steps away from one of the first schoolhouses built in Wayland in 1855. Amidst this rich history, my family is proudly setting roots in our little corner of town. I'm privileged to call Wayland home and will work hard to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to a high-quality education.

One thing you should know about me is that public service runs in my veins. At present, I serve on the board of directors of the Wayland High School Scholarship Program. Additionally, as former chair of the Human Rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, I led a large group of 15 committee members, including 4 high school students. In that role, I regularly held public meetings, set agendas, developed policies and effectively partnered across town agencies.

I'm a proactive leader and collaborator who values community-building rather than polarization. As the founder of the organization, One Wayland, for example, I've mobilized community members around an anti-racist agenda in support of students. I invite you to review my track record here: Wayland Free Public Library, Waycam, Wayland Student Press Network, Elect Dovie Youtube.

Wayland schools are at an important crossroads. The School Committee needs a new leader that's (1) experienced in tackling the complex challenges presently facing the district; (2) dedicated to maintaining the high integrity and excellence of schools; and (3) skilled in listening and working fairly with parents, teachers, school staff and the superintendent to reach common ground. I will be that leader. I will also add a much-needed diverse perspective that's currently missing from the School Committee.

Finally, I have the skill set to move the ball forward in a positive direction considering my professional background. I was a bilingual Spanish-English substitute teacher at an elementary school, special education aide at a middle school and health outreach worker at a high school. As an attorney, I represented parents of special needs children on a pro bono basis. I further represented teachers, school bus drivers, crossing guards, special education aides and administrative office staff in contract negotiations, grievances and discipline cases. Finally, as a professor, I worked closely with undergraduates of diverse backgrounds, including first-generation students, veterans, immigrants and students of color.

For all of these reasons, I ask for your vote for School Committee on election day, April 25, 2023. Please feel free to visit my campaign website to learn more about my candidacy and connect directly with me. Thanks!