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Lori James
Lori James ran for the at-large seat 9 on the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education in a general election on November 5, 2013. She lost to Jason F. Esteves in a runoff election on December 3, 2013.
Biography
James was born in Chicago, Illinois. She attended the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, majoring in Interrelated Special Education. James received a Master of Education degree from Georgia State University, in the area of Specific Learning Disabilities. She began coursework to obtain the Doctorate of Educational Leadership from Georgia State University and completed the degree at Fielding University in 2002. James began her teaching career in Carrollton, Georgia. At the time of her candidacy, she was a consultant for the Metropolitan West Georgia Learning Resources System and Public Broadcasting Atlanta. In 2012-13, she provided technical and professional assistance with the American Graduate Dropout Prevention grant. She was the weekly blogger for the American Graduate project. For over six years, James provided educational information for parents on a weekly radio commentary, Focus on Education, aired by National Public Radio. She also provided graduate level instruction for Indiana Wesleyan University.[1]
Elections
2013
- See also: Atlanta Public Schools elections (2013)
James ran for the at-large seat 9 against Jason F. Esteves, Ed Johnson, Sean Norman and Eddie Lee Brewster on November 5, 2013. She faced Jason F. Esteves in a runoff election on December 3, 2013.
Results
Runoff election
| Atlanta Public Schools, District 9 Runoff Election, 4-year term, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Jason Esteves |
71.4% | 10,564 | |
| Nonpartisan | Lori James | 28.6% | 4,233 | |
| Total Votes | 14,797 | |||
| Source: Fulton County Board of Election, "Election Results," accessed October 30, 2017 | ||||
General election
| Atlanta Public Schools, At-large seat 9 General Election, 4-year term, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Jason Esteves |
34.4% | 13,490 | |
| Nonpartisan | Lori James |
30.7% | 12,046 | |
| Nonpartisan | Sean Norman | 13% | 5,091 | |
| Nonpartisan | Ed Johnson | 11.7% | 4,608 | |
| Nonpartisan | Eddie Lee Brewster | 9.7% | 3,814 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in | 0.5% | 192 | |
| Total Votes | 39,241 | |||
| Source: Fulton County Board of Election, "Election Results," accessed October 30, 2017 | ||||
Funding
James reported $17,375.00 in contributions and $5,687.04 in expenditures to the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, which left her campaign with $11,687.96 on hand.[2]
Endorsements
James received an endorsement from the Atlanta Federation of Teachers.[3]
Campaign themes
James identified the following campaign themes for 2013:[4]
System accountability
|
Dr. James is committed to a system of accountability at all district levels. Accountability of achievement. Accountability of finance. Accountability of policy. As a previous central office administrator, I have seen first hand how the lack of accountability in programming, finance,and policy, affect schools and ultimately student success. I will encourage policies that eliminate these practices.
|
Quality education
|
Dr. James is committed to ensuring that all students, including students with disabilities, receive a high quality, effective and appropriate education that will allow them to realize their full academic potential. I have always believed that all children can learn and excel, including students with disabilties. We have too many children leaving high school unable to read, compute without a calculator, write a complete sentence or paragraph, or utilize proper English. As a school board member, I will review the polcies that encourage low student achievement, allow students to drop out or be pushed out of school, and foster an environment of underachievement and complacency of special education students. I will recommend policies that promote achievement and accountability of students, staff, and parents. I will encourage the continuation of practices that promote achievement and accountability. |
Quality employees
|
Dr. James is committed to hiring the best, most dedicated and capable superintendent for the students of Atlanta Public Schools. Our students deserve the best, and our community demands the best. As a school board member, I will work with the search committee to make sure that the BEST superintendent is selected for our children. I will read all documentation submitted by each candidate, ask pertinent and thought provoking questions. and listen intently. |
Open communication
|
Dr. James is committed to open communication between the school district and the parents. Parents must feel comfortable expressing their concerns to school and central level administrators, as well as speaking during school board meetings. As a school board member I will encourage open lines of communication, encourage board members to listen intently to parent and community comments, and recommend policy that allows parents an avenue to feel supported when expressing a concern. Dr. James is committed to opening an avenue of communications with school staff. There are many great things happening in our schools. As a school board member, I will encourage schools to continue and enhance the great work they do for children. I will also recommend the creation of policy that encourages staff to express concerns about local school or central level activities, as well as the elimination of policies that encourage staff to shy away from doing what's best for students, and to keep quiet after observing inappropriate activites of staff, students, parents, and community members. |
Note: The above quote is from the candidate's website, which may include some typographical or spelling errors.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Lori + James + Atlanta + Public + Schools"
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Elect Lori James: Atlanta Board of Education At-Large Seat 9, "Meet Dr. Lori James," accessed October 30, 2013
- ↑ Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, "James, Lori Rennee-Dixon," accessed October 30, 2013
- ↑ Financial Deconstruction, "Atlanta Federation of Teachers endorses slate of candidates for the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education," accessed October 30, 2013
- ↑ Elect Lori James: Atlanta School Board At-Large Seat 9, "Priorities," accessed October 30, 2013
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