Here we go again. Teach for America, working through its little-known but well-funded political arm, called Leadership for Educational Equity, is dumping a load of money into a school board race in a small district outside of Indianapolis. It wants to place a charter school teacher on the school board of Washington Township, a district of 11,000 students.
The TFA candidate, Deitric Hall, is a newcomer to Indiana. He moved there from California three years ago. LEE has given him $32,000 to run for school board.
LEE has been active in funding candidates for key state and local positions in other states, on school boards and in legislatures.
Their candidates will of course support TFA, charter schools, and privatization.
Chalkbeat Indiana writes:
It’s a small-scale version of a phenomenon that has played out in urban districts around the country as outside campaign contributions have increasingly influenced pivotal school board races. In Indianapolis Public Schools, outside contributions helped radically reshape the board in 2012 and 2014, when out-of-state funders backed a victory for charter-school supporters.
But unlike in IPS, Washington Township isn’t facing a pivotal election — and Hall’s opponent had raised barely any money until this month. That has raised eyebrows in the area, where locals wonder why LEE, even given Hall’s connection to TFA, would spend so heavily on the race.
A native of California, Hall moved to Indianapolis three years ago for a teaching position through TFA, a national nonprofit that recruits new teachers for school districts with high-needs students.
He landed a position at KIPP Indy Unite Elementary, where he now works with students with special needs. Hall, who doesn’t have children, says his background as an educator will offer valuable insight to the board, and despite being new to the community, he is dedicated to improving the schools.
LEE’s spokesman is Erik Guckian, who previously served as top education advisor the Tea Party Governor Pat McCrory of North Carolina. Under McGrory’s leadership, and presumably with Guckian’s advice, the state shut down its successful career teacher preparation program (North Carolina Teaching Fellows) and shifted its $6 million to TFA.
Three of the five school board seats are up for election in Washington Township. Hall is facing off against one opponent, John Fencl, for an at-large seat representing the entire district.
Fencl has deep roots in the community: He is a parent of two middle schoolers in Washington Township where he also grew up and went to school. Fencl, an accountant, has volunteered as a math tutor and coach in the district. He said his work mentoring middle school boys has given him particular insight into the schools.
“I’m focused on the district, involved in the district,” he said. “I understand what Washington Township schools are about.”
When Fencl filed a fundraising report with the county earlier this month, he had raised just $750, which he said was because he wasn’t sure how competitive the race would be. But when he saw how much money Hall had raised, he shifted into high gear. In just a couple of weeks, Fencl boosted his fundraising to close to $7,500, he said. About $5,000 of that came from a single donor, Washington Township attorney Charles Rubright.
Since it became clear how much money Hall raised, other community members, including parents and even high school students, have become active in the race. They say they are motivated by concern over the role out-of-state funding is playing in Hall’s campaign.
Kristina Frey is a Washington Township parent who leads the Parent Council Network, a longstanding political group that endorsed Fencl. When she learned that Hall had joined the race, she set up a meeting to hear about his plan for the district and she came away uncertain why he was even running, she said.
“My suspicion is that folks in the education reform movement are looking at how they can potentially expand outside of IPS boundaries,” Frey said. “I would not be surprised to see them come back again with more money and try to gain a majority as they did in IPS.”
Will Washington Township vote in a TFA representative with big money behind him or will they elect a parent who is active in the community? We will see in a few days.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
They are infiltrating every where. Morath just hired three of them as deputy commissioners in Texas.
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and they are capable of doing SO much damage in a very short amount of time
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Thank you, Diane, for shedding light on Washington Township! We appreciate all the help we can get. We are feverishly trying to expose this for what it is: a blatant attack on our community, our democracy AND public education in a district that has no need for “reform.”
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Shelley,
Why would your town elect a novice teacher from California to the school board instead of a resident with kids in the school. A TFA teacher has as much commitment to your town as to his temporary school.
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It’s baffling. But as we’ve seen, if people aren’t paying attention to these down-ballot races, money wins. Slick mailers can win races.
Originally our parent group interviewed 5 at-large candidates who all filed to run. “Someone” must have seen an opening because the TFA-LEE candidate filed the day before the deadline. Once we saw this we became suspicious (we didn’t yet know the source or amount of his finances). Our 4 other candidates came together to support John Fencl and removed their names from the ballot. So Mr. TFA-LEE now needs 50.1% instead of 16.7% which was what he would have needed if all 5 stayed on ballot.
With two misleading mailers already sent and paid callers inaccurately saying he’s endorsed by teachers and parents, we are on high alert and doing everything we can to stop him…on a grass roots budget.
One of our incumbent school board members, who is endorsed by the parents and running for re-election was on the radio and had a fantastic and sobering discussion for the entire community:
Thank you for highlighting this on your blog. We are so appreciative.
Now we just need as many volunteers as possible to help us on election day at the polls. We know that most voters are typically uninformed voters, so we need to make sure they know what’s happening and vote keep our school board local. We are asking them to “use their pencil and vote for Fencl.”
Onward!
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Is it possible that TFA and corporate reformers are looking for opportunities to groom black members for leadership positions in response to the NCAAs referendum, in order to support their “civil right of our time” narrative? This school board race could be a resume builder for Deitric Hall. I wonder if the reformers will start supporting othet cndidates of color in smaller races around the country.
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http://wholeads.us/candidates/
This might have something to do with it…
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Ironically, when this outsider candidate filed, there was already a woman of color who had the parent and teacher endorsement nod on the ticket. They didn’t even do their research. She got out of the race immediately to help move his numbers for winning from 16.7% to 51%. Had she stayed in, we would have had a majority black School Board. They are hiding behind their efforts to push diversity. Their true colors were revealed here. This was policy- motivated.
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Please let us know what happens, Shelley. The TFA guy is no match for Fenci’s deep roots. It really takes immense contempt for the people of Washington county to think they can buy the election and arrogance to think that Hall’s credentials are a match for what Fenci has to offer.
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TFA recruits have no moral compass and only care about the resume building, debt forgiveness, free “masters” degrees from relay that are worth the toilet paper they are printed on to anyone excepting TFA-alikes, and a future in owning/running a charter chain. I have even less respect for blacks and latinos in TFA because they should know better.
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“should know better” is a confusing concept in days of fast-track/microwave millennial thinking. I’ve heard plenty of middle-to-upper-class parents touting the wonders of the jump-right-into-management theory for their own “wunderkind” offspring
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It’s also particularly despicable that they’re using African-American place-holders and crude identity politics to further their aims.
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I think you may have a misconstrued view of TFA recruits. TFA skims the top college graduates and others in the workforce to steer them toward teaching because in a lot of places there are huge teacher shortages. Nearly the same amount of teachers quit after their commitment as teachers who earn a traditional degree in teaching. As a TFA alumnus, I am proud to say that I am still in the classroom serving students. Do I have leadership ambitions? Yes. Did I have these prior to TFA? Most definitely. I think it is important to remember that we want to serve STUDENTS. They are at the center of what we do and if we can use our leadership skills to do so then we will. I am not saying that I support this TFA alum in the Washington Township school board race, nor am I commenting on his platform. All I am saying is please don’t discredit TFA recruits or alums because of our gateway into the profession. We are in the trenches with all of our other traditional and transitional teacher leaders, fighting to liberate and empower our students through knowledge.
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I understand the elections- those are win or lose and public school supporters can just try hard and hope it goes well but ed reform is much more than school board members.
It’s a whole industry Thousands of people make their living pushing this stuff- consultants vendors paid speakers, etc.
Why do public schools pay people who hope to eradicate public schools? Charter schools don’t do it. They would never pay people who are ideologically opposed to their schools to advise them on how to run the schools. it’s 100% rah rah and cheerleaders.
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After years of attempting to achieve their agenda through legislation and failing repeatedly, the Corporate Education Take Over Industry changed the strategy to taking over elected school boards, mayors’ offices, governors’ mansions, state legislatures, Congress and even the White House.
When they failed repeatedly to gain the support of the voters, they decided to subvert the process and bypass the voters by fooling them into voting for their puppets who would force their agendas on the public through fraud or any other method to achieve an agenda of the few who have too much wealth and power.
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We in Indiana, sadly, tragically, are all too familiar with the myopic, money mongering, ad nauseum things that we Hoosiers must live with, or think we have to live with. Just another chapter in our tragic history.
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this is Fordham in Ohio. The ideological bias against public schools is obvious,yet they are the go-to policy people for lawmakers in Ohio.
Charter school promoters would never do that. They would never take advice from a lobbying group with a goal of eradicating charter schools.
Why are we paying these people to privatize our schools? It’s one thing if they win an election but for God’s sake don’t hire them and pay them with public funding.
It’s like hiring stock fund managers to run Social Security. They’re opposed to Social Security. Not smart to take advice from them on a public program they hope to abolish
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Charter school promoters, in fact, say public school supporters CANNOT fairly run their schools:
“Her experience is becoming more common as the Los Angeles Unified School District’s administrators and board of education become increasingly resistant to greenlighting new charter schools.
Charter supporters say the district is unfairly scrutinizing their independently run campuses because it sees them as a threat.”
So why doesn’t this apply to hiring charter school promoters to run public schools? Will that harm public schools?
Charter school promoters are just better and fairer people?
Charter school supporters CAN be hired to run public schools but public school supporters CANNOT be hired to run charter schools. Why is that?
Why does this “bias” charge only work one way?
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TFA is a filter that selects for those who will shamelessly promote the reformy agenda. In this case, I think that they are using small districts to groom, train, and build the reputation of TFA alums (watercarriers) they want to advance upwards through the system. This is a long game we are seeing. The downside is that these recruits might see first hand how bad their chosen policies are as the proceed and deliver management results unaligned with reformy agendas.
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Long post.
Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE) was founded in 2007 as a 501(c)4 spin-off of Teach for America. It offers coaching for Teach for America alumni or staff, and networking for TFA alumni who are interested in elected office and other leadership positions. Candidates for elected office receive support up to the legal limits for in-kind contributions, at no charge to the candidate. LEE offers political and policy fellowships for current and former TFA alums.
LEE Foundation provides grants to conduct LEE educational events, sponsor internships and fellowships. It also commissions white papers and toolkits to guide dialogue with the general public and others in the education and policy arenas.
On January 12, 2016, Marketwired reported that Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE), has a new program and “the first cohort of nine “Venture Fellows” who will push for expanded school choice, described as an effort by entrepreneurs to “end educational inequity.” Here are some briefs on the winners.
Milagros Barsallo, and Veronica Palmer, RISE Colorado. The RISE website is a case study in non-disclosure of any activities other than fundraising and organizing “families” to lobby for choice in schools.
Nicole Baker Fulgham, The Expectations Project, Nicole is also an Aspen Institute Education Fellow and Mind Trust Education Entrepreneur Fellow who regularly speaks at faith-based and education conferences. Christianity Today Magazine named her one of the 50 Women Leaders Influencing the Church and Culture (2012. The New Schools Venture Fund named her the Entrepreneur to Watch (2014).
The Expectations Project website is under construction but it says: “There are more than 300,000 places of worship across America compared with roughly 50,000 high-poverty public schools, struggling to meet student needs — a ratio of 6 to 1. “Imagine what might be possible if just a handful of people in each of these congregations took it on themselves to ensure the students in these schools had faithful advocates looking out for their best interests. We believe that the academic achievement gap in U.S. public education can be closed in our lifetimes, but only if people of faith open their hearts, roll up their sleeves, and get to work on behalf of students.”
The Expectations Project website has a whisper link to WeWork Wonder Bread Factory, a co-working space in Washington DC. That link took me directly to a report titled: ”DR. JEFFRY WOODS ON THE RECENT INDY TEP CLERGY ROUNDTABLE” (June 2016). Dr. Jeffry Woods is described as “the Indianapolis Regional Director for The Expectations Project” a faith based organization that addresses inequities in public schools. Participants in the roundtable included: Mr. Jay Geshay – The Vice President of the United Way, Dr. David Hampton – Senior Pastor of Light of the World Christian Church (who also serves as the Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis), Pastor Richard A. Reynolds – Senior Pastor of New Revelation, and Mr. Earl Martin Phalen – Founder of Summer Advantage and Phalen Leadership Academies in Indianapolis. Mind Trust is major promoter of Teach for America and charter schools. http://www.expectations.org/interviews/dr-jeffry-woods-on-the-recent-indy-tep-clergy-roundtable/
Claire Blumenson, School Justice Project. Based in Washington DC provides legal counsel to and serves as an advocate for students ages 17-22 with special education needs who are involved in the DC justice system.
Eric Leslie, Union Capital Boston. A mobile-based loyalty program for low-income families that provides social and financial service rewards (money, access to services) in exchange for their community involvement in schools, health centers, and civic programs.
Frank McMillan, Lead organizer of New Jersey Together, a multi-faith coalition in northern New Jersey and an affiliate of The Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). IAF is the nation’s oldest and largest multi-faith organizing network dealing with issues in urban centers, including education, http://metro-iaf.org/issuesvictories/74
Richard Pelayo, and Jessica Stewart GO Public Schools. Based in Oakland but recruiting other districts in California to support private governance of schools—policy, practice, and culture—claiming to “promote excellence and equity for our students and families.”
Amber Welsh, for Austin Kids First Action, a PAC that receives fund to position preferred charter-friendly candidates on the local school board.
“The challenges we face in education are as complex and diverse as our communities,” said LEE Executive Director Michael Buman. “The idea isn’t to find a single solution, but rather to assist LEE members in forging alliances and identifying community-driven solutions.”
LEE fellows participate in an eleven-month boot camp suitable for executive directors, with intensive coaching, site visits, peer-to-peer networking, and other supports. The boot camp ends with an event where fellows seek capital by presenting their ventures to potential investors and partners. http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/education-entrepreneurs-selected-for-inaugural-venture-fund-fellowship-2087500.htm
Here are excerpts about the board members of LEE from the website https://educationalequity.org
Mike Buman is the executive director of Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE). He was a partner in the New York office of the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co.
Elisa Villanueva Beard became the sole chief executive officer of Teach For America in 2015, after serving as the co-CEO alongside Matthew Kramer for two years. Prior to her role as CEO, she led Teach For America’s field operations as the chief operating officer.
Steuart Walton is one of the heirs to the Walton family fortune from Walmart. He is CEO of Game Composites, Ltd. He has worked for Walmart’s international division in the mergers and acquisitions group and serves on the board of the Walton Family Foundation.
The following serve on both the Board of Directors of LEE and the LEE Foundation.
Emma Bloomberg. The oldest daughter of New York City’s billionaire ex-mayor Michael Bloomberg. Emma was most recently chief of staff at the Robin Hood Foundation, a nonprofit that funds programs in the five boroughs of New York City.
Arthur Rock. Principal of Arthur Rock & Co. a venture capital firm. He is also on the board of Teach For America and Children’s Scholarship Fund and an active funder of KIPP.
Michael Park. A partner in McKinsey & Company’s New York office and leads the firm’s Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice for the U.S. Northeast. He helps lead McKinsey’s pro-bono work with Teach For America.
LEE is the source of well-funded and sophisticated faux “grassroots” movements led by carefully trained entrepeneurs who intend to make public education into a private enterprise.
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Thank you again, Diane! I’m commenting here again to let you know the results:
John Fencl WON against the LEE PAC money!
28,714 people voted for the MSD Washington Township at-large school board race. Fencl received 69.8% of the vote and Hall received 30.2%!
An interesting statistic to think about now that vote tallies are out:
– John Fencl’s campaign spending amounted to 40 cents per vote received.
– Deitric Hall’s campaign spending amounted to $3.56 per vote received.
Hall spent NINE TIMES more per vote received, and lost in a landslide.
This is the power of COMMUNITY. It is also the power of parents and teachers who, when they are aware of what is going on, mobilize and band together.
A very significant point to note: we originally had 5 at-large candidates file to run. We think the “powers that be” saw an opening for Hall. Once Hall filed, we were suspicious, so we encouraged our other 4 candidates withdraw from the ballot. Had all five stayed on the ballot, there would have been 6 people running for this seat. That would have only required Hall to get 16.7% of the vote. I’m sure for LEE it initially looked like a slam dunk.
Post From Facebook:
“Thank you so much to John Fencl for stepping up to run for school board! He worked tirelessly, walked many miles through our diverse neighborhoods, shook many hands and attended neighborhood meetings, bonfires and pancake breakfasts to defeat an opponent that was funded by a “reform” group in Washington DC.
Thanks to John’s family for helping and for enduring all the unexpected craziness!
Thank you also to the teachers and students for their dedication to this race!
Thanks to our school board members who also helped get the word out!
Thanks to the original At-Large candidates who selflessly withdrew from the ballot at the last minute for the sake of the district!
Finally, a shout out to some school board campaign “strategists.” Each person in this dedicated group brought unique and outstanding talents to the table. I am blown away by what this team of parents did in 2-3 weeks to help elect John Fencl and neutralize an outside threat to our school board.
It was the most grassroots thing I have ever seen. We investigated and researched the threat, sounded the alarm bells in our community, wrote letters, talked to our friends and neighbors, set up a website and FB page, pushed info out on social media, designed flyers & graphics, engaged local and national online media, did a TV interview, wrote a letter to the IndyStar, raised campaign funds, strategized on how to effectively use those funds (signs, designed a contrast mailer, arranged a last-minute photo shoot), recruited volunteers, canvassed neighborhoods, organized lit drops, formulated a plan for the polling locations, coordinated volunteers at the polls and I’m sure I’ve forgotten several things.
We are volunteers. No divas, no infighting…just pure dedication to our district.
We need to be engaging our entire diverse community NOW, empowering all parents NOW and talking NOW about how to prepare for this again in 2 years! Onward!”
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Congratulations! Such good news.
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