Austin Dannhaus

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Austin Dannhaus

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Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

University of Texas

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Instagram

Austin Dannhaus ran for election to the Oakland Unified Board of Education to represent District 1 in California. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Dannhaus completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Austin Dannhaus earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas.

Elections

2020

See also: Oakland Unified School District, California, elections (2020)

General election

General election for Oakland Unified Board of Education District 1

Select round: Round 2 Round 1

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Sam Davis in round 2 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
	Submit photo	Sam Davis	62.5	20,994	4,654	Won (2)
	Submit photo	Austin Dannhaus	37.5	12,581	996	2
		Stacy Thomas	0.0	0	-6,331	2

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
	Submit photo	Sam Davis	47.7	16,340	0	Won (2)
	Submit photo	Austin Dannhaus	33.8	11,585	0	2
		Stacy Thomas	18.5	6,331	0	2

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 34,256
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Reginald Mosley (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

To view Dannhaus' endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Austin Dannhaus completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dannhaus' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm running for school board because I believe we need leaders who understand that responsibility, who know that the most important factor in a child's education is the quality of their teacher, and who put students first with each and every decision they make.

My time as a 3rd grade classroom teacher was the beginning of a life and career devoted to improving public education - from early childhood through college. As the first person in my family to graduate from college, I know how quality, affordable public education can change a person's life. I believe that opportunity should be a reality for every student.

I spent years working on education policy; advocating at the national, state, and local local levels for equitable, high-quality public education. I have evaluated budgets for large school districts, managed large-scale contract processes, and worked with community stakeholders to ensure the success of new initiatives.

As a business owner, I know how to manage organizations, budgets, and operations towards success. I founded Friday, a company focused on improving education, economic opportunity, and community development. We have worked alongside clients to launch innovative early childhood literacy programs, dismantle inequities in higher education, improve student success, and connect unemployed young adults to careers.

I know that many of our education systems have not served everyone equally and volunteer my time working to address those inequities.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Prioritizing Student Success: Putting the academic and social-emotional progress of every student - and not local politics - at the center of our decision-making process. Ending Racial Inequality: Dismantling systemic racism and its affect on learning outcomes for Black and Latinx students with a specific focus on literacy. Investing in Teachers: Ensuring that the most important factor in a student's education, their teacher, is well-paid, well-trained, and well-supported.
• Ending Racial Inequality: Dismantling systemic racism and its affect on learning outcomes for Black and Latinx students with a specific focus on literacy.
• Investing in Teachers: Ensuring that the most important factor in a student's education, their teacher, is well-paid, well-trained, and well-supported.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1) Focus on Student Success: My primary consideration will always be the academic and social-emotional development of every student in OUSD. I will examine every policy and spending proposal through this lens and will be unwavering in my willingness to do what's right for students.

2) Investing in Teachers: Teachers are the most important factor in a student's success. OUSD must support our educators by ensuring they have the resources and professional development they need to be successful. As a board member, I will champion policies that empower teachers and oppose those that negatively impact their ability to be successful in the classroom.
3) Fighting for Justice and Equality: I believe a child's destiny should not be determined by their zip code. For too long, we have had two OUSDs: one that serves the needs of wealthier families and one that is failing our low-income communities and communities of color. As a board member, I will fight to dismantle systemic racism in the district and address its long-standing effects on student achievement.

4) Leading Financial Reform: The district faces a financial crisis. Years of mismanagement, inadequate funding, and structural challenges have led to inconsistent delivery of quality education for our students. As a business owner and former and former education policy leader, I understand the complexities of financial management and have led efforts to reform budgets and spending.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was raised by working class parents who placed the highest value on providing for my education. My father worked (and still works) as a union electrician and my mother held a number of jobs, including cleaning houses and working for our local credit union. My dad started a weekend lawn mowing and landscaping business to help with our family's savings and to provide for me to be the first in our family to graduate from college. In my teens, I worked for my dad mowing lawns on the weekends as my first job. I learned the value of hard work and got to spend time working alongside my him, sharing Gatorades and Snickers bars. He always told me he hoped that I'd get a great education and aspire to more, that I might never need to mow lawns on the weekends. I thankful every day for my parents' sacrifices and their belief in me. I have chosen to dedicate my life to providing opportunities for students to succeed and to reach their greatest aspirations.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

To be the voice of our students. The school board director is a unique elected position because its most important constituents - students - do not have a vote in the election and rarely have a voice in public political discourse. We need school board directors who will be unwavering in their commitment to put the best interest of students at the center of every single discussion and decision. To hold the line even when that may be uncomfortable or frustrating for other stakeholders such as administrators, teacher or parents. Our students deserve to drive our decision making and I am committed to being their consistent advocate.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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