Aisha Carr

This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Aisha Carr

Nonpartisan

Prior offices

Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors District 4

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Education

High school

Messmer High School

Bachelor's

Marian University

Other

Cardinal Stritch University

Personal

Profession

Teacher

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Aisha Carr was a member of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors in Wisconsin, representing District 4. She assumed office on April 26, 2021. She left office on May 1, 2024.

Carr ran for election to the Milwaukee Board of School Directors to represent District 4 in Wisconsin. She won in the general election on April 6, 2021.

Biography

Carr received a bachelor's degree in social work from Marian University. She also received a master's in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's in urban special education from Cardinal Stritch University.

Carr previously worked as a legislative aide to U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D) and as a community learning center manager for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. Carr also worked as a high school special education teacher in the Milwaukee Public Schools where she served as the culturally responsive teacher leader and taught an ethnic studies course at James Madison Academic Campus. As of March 2021, Carr worked at the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center as its opportunity youth re-engagement director.

Elections

2021

See also: Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin, elections (2021)

General election

General election for Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors District 4

Aisha Carr defeated Dana Kelley in the general election for Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors District 4 on April 6, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Aisha Carr (Nonpartisan)	57.2	2,001
		Dana Kelley (Nonpartisan)	42.3	1,479
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	19

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,499
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors District 4

Aisha Carr and Dana Kelley defeated Cheryl Hayes and Victor Nwagbaraocha in the primary for Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors District 4 on February 16, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Aisha Carr (Nonpartisan)	44.7	880
✔		Dana Kelley (Nonpartisan)	30.8	607
	Submit photo	Cheryl Hayes (Nonpartisan)	14.0	276
		Victor Nwagbaraocha (Nonpartisan)	10.0	197
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	9

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,969
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Annie Woodward (Nonpartisan)

Candidate profile

Aisha Carr

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Carr received a master's in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's in urban special education from Cardinal Stritch University. She also received a bachelor's degree in social work. Carr worked as a legislative aide to U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D) and as a high school special education teacher in the district before joining the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center as its opportunity youth re-engagement director.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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In a candidate questionnaire, Carr said some of the most important issues she would address include racial, social, academic, and economic disparities, the recruitment and retention of Black and Brown educators, increased accountability for traditional and charter schools, and encouraging restorative rather than punitive disciplinary policies.

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Carr said her professional background prepared her to serve on the school board. She referenced her work piloting the district's Black Lives Matter Resolution and Restorative Practice Program initiatives. Carr said that she "has devoted her entire professional career to the advancement of students of color, fighting for racial and educational equity."

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Regarding the coronavirus pandemic, Carr said schools should not reopen for in-person learning for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. She said some in-person education should be allowed for students with special needs. Carr proposed developing a district-wide Crisis Intervention Team to respond to the needs of students, families, and educators.

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Show sources

Sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Socialist slate among newcomers vying for four open seats on Milwaukee School Board," Feb. 5, 2021, Aisha Carr's campaign website, "Campaign Issues," accessed March 5, 2021; Aisha Carr's campaign website, "Meet Aisha Carr," accessed March 5, 2021, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, "Election 2021: Meet the school board candidates for District 4," Feb. 10, 2021

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors District 4 in 2021.

2017

See also: Milwaukee Public Schools elections (2017)

Four of the nine seats on the Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors were up for general election on April 4, 2017. In her bid for re-election to District 4, incumbent Annie Woodward defeated challenger Aisha Carr. In District 5, incumbent Larry Miller defeated challenger Kahri Phelps Okoro. District 6 incumbent Tatiana Joseph and District 7 incumbent Claire Zautke did not file to run for re-election, leaving both seats open for newcomers. Tony Baez and Jonatan Zuñiga ran for the District 6 seat, and Joey Balistreri and Paula Phillips ran for the District 7 seat. Baez and Phillips won election to the board.

Results

Milwaukee Public Schools, District 4 General Election, 4-year term, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Annie Woodward Incumbent	51.87%	1,624
Aisha Carr	47.59%	1,490
Write-in votes	0.54%	17
Total Votes		3,131
Source: Milwaukee City Election Commission, "April 4, 2017 - Spring Election: Final Official Results," accessed May 2, 2017

Funding

See also: Campaign finance in the Milwaukee Public Schools election

Carr reported $9,935.00 in contributions and $8,326.89 in expenditures to the City of Milwaukee Election Commission, which left her campaign with $1,608.11 on hand in the election.

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Aisha Carr did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Carr's campaign website stated the following:

“	School Health & Safety Plan (COVID-19) 1. Develop a district-wide pandemic Crisis Intervention Team to respond to and address the immediate needs and concerns of students, families and educators during COVID-19. 2. Provide in-person individualized instruction to students with special needs who require IEP services in accordance with IDEA State Regulations, with proper building sanitation and social distancing measures in place. 3. Follow the guidance of National Health and Scientific experts for school reopening clearance, with the necessary building ventilation, protective equipment, mandated masks and health reporting measures in place. 4. Utilize school buildings for the purpose of COVID-19 testing and community vaccinations to promote the health and wellness of marginalized communities with limited resources. Commitment to Equity and Inclusion 1. Provide funding for cross-cultural and expeditionary learning initiatives for all Students and Educators to bridge learning gaps between theory and practice. 2. Recruit, retain and provide equitable and competitive compensation to Black and Brown Educators while offering mandated mentoring & financial resources to encourage long-term careers in the field of Education. 3. Allocate funding to invest in the mandatory training and development of school safety personnel and designated community leaders to promote restorative practices and dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline thus eliminating the presence of law enforcement officers and metal detectors in educational settings. 4. Provide on-going, mandatory equity and inclusion trainings district-wide. Trainings should include strategic and measureable plans to address district-wide racial, behavioral, academic and funding disparities assessed and measured by a community designated Equity & Inclusion Task Force. 5. High-quality, culturally responsive curriculum delivered by highly-trained, passionate educators and administrative leaders. Equitable Funding & Universal Accountability 1. One size doesn't fit all and the District's overall budget doesn't meet the needs of every school and every student. Without equitable funding and universal accountability, an equitable educational experience is null and void. MPS funding needs to stay in the District. Any efforts to privatize Milwaukee Public Schools will be rejected. 2. Schools that are low performing should be placed on school improvement plans to measure progress and success. The funding should support the development of the school's culture, climate and educators. If the schools fail to demonstrate academic success, then the school(s) need to be placed on an improvement plan to demonstrating growth. This applies to MPS public and charter schools. 3. Develop district and school leaders’ capacity to understand the driving forces of district-wide inequities and how school-level financial data is related to other student data. Use this data, leadership and lens to deliver a more equitable and accountable budget for students within the district. 4. Per pupil funding should be based on a student's economic factors.	”
—Aisha Carr's campaign website (2021)

2017

Carr highlighted the why she ran for school board on her campaign website:

“	As a black educator, single mother, Milwaukee native and community advocate, providing black and brown students with a high quality educational experience is my top priority. Our schools in the city of Milwaukee, the 4th district to be specific, are failing our students. High quality education is a right, not a privilege, and this is an injustice to our kids and families. Students deserve leadership that is informed and understanding of their needs. I have a unique perspective to understand the needs our students. Life’s lessons and successes did not come easy for me. Starting as a foster child, and ending in a single-father household, I was taught the importance of education and hard-work. While I was fortunate to use education to overcome these hurdles and be successful, I am consistently reminded of the scars and traces of trauma left resulting from my own struggle in the struggle of my students. Too often, I see my students subjected to abuse, homelessness, and poverty. I have committed my career to providing my students with opportunities -- through culturally responsive teaching-- as a means for overcoming the struggle. Our children, families and communities deserve better. Better schools. Better teachers. Better facilities. Better opportunities to bridge learning gaps between theory and practice. Restorative alternatives to behavioral issues. Safe schools. Healthier meal programs. Culturally relevant curriculums. While acknowledging the District’s progressive shifts, good is never good enough when our kids, families and communities are involved. I look forward to bringing my unique perspective and working with our community leaders, students parents and teachers in this District. Collectively, we can work to make Milwaukee Public Schools great! On April 4th, I hope I can count on your vote.	”
—Aisha Carr (2017)

See also

2021 Elections

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Candidate

Milwaukee Public Schools Board of School Directors District 4

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