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AT LARGE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE
DC STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MEET
MYSIKI
I'm a proud native Washingtonian, graduate of DC public schools, and resident of Ward 7. I attended River Terrace Elementary School (now River Terrace Education Campus), Shaw Junior High School, and Friendship Collegiate Academy.
It was my time growing up here that left me with a deep passion for empowering DC’s most vulnerable communities. As a child, my mother and I battled two bouts of homelessness. Despite the hardships we faced she never allowed me to forget the values of hard work, humility, and honesty.
It's her lessons that got me through my years at the historic Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. Despite graduating high school in the top of my class, I went into college unprepared for the academic and social challenges presented. The education I had received for 13 years hadn't prepared me for life after the HS diploma.
I went from failing my first essay to becoming chapter president of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society. I promised myself from then on that I'd work not just to attain an education for myself, but for children that looked like me and shared my life experience.
That's why I became a teacher.
It's what I saw as a teacher that brought me to advocacy. What I saw in my earliest years teaching as a volunteer with Americorps in South Carolina worried me. Under-resourced schools, over-tested students, unheard parents, and under-appreciated teachers.
It's something I saw in Elizabethtown, New Jersey and right here in the District of Columbia. Black and brown students were losing out on a lifetime of opportunity because decision-makers were putting politics and private interests above their education.
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I decided to leave the classroom, promising my students that I would work to end the systemic inequities keeping them from their fullest, brightest potentials.
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In that time, I've worked at the DC Council connecting Ward 7 residents to vital government resources and services and as Advocacy Manager for the Fair Budget Coalition to ensure that the DC budget achieves racial and economic equity. I also serve as board member for Many Languages One Voice (MLOV), supporting efforts to empower our vibrant immigrant community.
For over a decade, I've mentored youth, and worked to raise awareness of the issues facing LGBTQ+ youth of color.
Experienced Educator | Community Advocate | Progressive LEader
WHY I'M RUNNING
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MY COMMITMENT
Open Our Public Education System to All DC Residents
I support a system of public education that affords every resident from birth to adulthood the opportunity to access learning opportunities. I will be a strong advocate for universal early childhood education, college-readiness, and vocational education.
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Build an Environment to Keep and Grow Good Teachers
Our teachers need to feel supported in their roles to focus solely on the development of our children. I will be working for a growth-based evaluation system and contracts that give teachers real job and income security.
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Uplift Family and Student Demands to Hold our School Leaders Accountable
We must bring democracy back to our public education system. ​I will work to make DCPS and public charter schools more transparent and accountable to District families, students, and teachers.
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Dismantle the Systems that Keep Our Black and Brown Students from Success
Racist policies and practices are responsible for the achievement gap. We must put an end to racist high-stakes standardized testing and the chronic underfunding of schools East of the Anacostia River.
Endorsements
Mysiki is proud to have the support of leaders and organizations from across the District who believe in his fight for fully funded futures for every student.
He knows that big structural change doesn't happen overnight and it can't be done alone, but with the backing of these champions he will get it done.
Current and Former Elected officials
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Councilmember Elissa Silverman, At-large
Rep. Markus Batchelor, SBOE Vice President and Ward 8 Representative
Rep. Emily Gasoi, Ward 1 SBOE Representative
Cmr. Randy downs, ANC 2B05
CMr. James harnett, anc 2a08
Former Rep. Joe Weedon, Ward 6 SBOE Representative
CMR. Japer Bowles, ANC 1c07
CMR. Trupti Patel, ANC 2A03
Former CmR. RoBB Dooling, ANC 6c06
Cmr. Karlene Armstead, ANC 8e06
​Community Leaders
Ed Lazere, Former Executive Director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute
Dr. Carlene Reid, Candidate for Ward 8 Sboe Representative
Keith Hasan-Towery, Chair of the Marshall Heights Civic Association
Organizations
The Washington Teachers' Union (WTU)
Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America
Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU)
Metro Washington Council aFL-cio
Our revolution DC
First-hand experience as both student & teacher In DC Schools
Mr. Valentine's Community
11th grader Gabriela gearing up to protest the school-to-prison pipeline in Mr. Valentine's class
Mysiki & Timara at her graduation from Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Mysiki helping to clean up the Anacostia River in Kingman Park NE
The Only Fair Elections Certified Candidate running at-large
JOIN US​
Mysiki believes that with parents, teachers and students, DC can create an education system free of inequities and punitive punishments for students.
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Join our movement to ensure all DC students regardless of race, background, orientation or zip-code has access to a high quality public education.
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DONATE TODAY
Mysiki's working to restore democracy and usher in a fully funded public education system for DC families. Our campaign has committed to saying NO to corporate contributions and YES to small-dollar contributes from DC residents.
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Support our fight to create an equitable education system for all DC students. Each contribution is matched 5:1 through DC's Fair Elections Program.
This November you can vote for a candidate who will fight to ensure all our residents have access to high-quality universal public education.​
On November 3, Vote Mysiki Valentine to be your next
At-Large Representative to the DC
State Board of Education.
Vote for Fully Funded Futures!