Tawana Cook Purnell

Tawana Cook Purnell

Democratic Party

Candidate, Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 1

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Education

High school

Peabody High School

Bachelor's

Spelman College, 1975

Graduate

Columbia University, Teachers College, 2001

Personal

Birthplace

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Religion

Spiritual

Profession

Retired

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

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Personal LinkedIn

Tawana Cook Purnell (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Pittsburgh School District school board to represent District 1 in Pennsylvania. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025. She advanced from the Democratic primary on May 20, 2025.

Cook Purnell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Tawana Cook Purnell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Peabody High School. She attended Bowdoin College and earned a bachelor's degree from Spelman College in 1975 and a graduate degree from Columbia University, Teachers College in 2001. She has been affiliated with the National Council of Negro Women, Bowdoin College Black Alumni, Life Male Steam Academy, and Bishop Walker School for Boys.

Elections

2025

See also: Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pennsylvania, elections (2025)

General election

General election for Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 1

Tawana Cook Purnell is running in the general election for Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 1 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Tawana Cook Purnell (D)

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 1

Tawana Cook Purnell defeated Carlos Thomas in the Democratic primary for Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 1 on May 20, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tawana Cook Purnell	61.3	3,981
		Carlos Thomas	38.3	2,490
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	27

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,498
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Cook Purnell received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

• Allegheny County Democratic Committee
• Allegheny County, Penn., Democratic Party
• The 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Allegheny County (PA) Democratic Committee
• Beacon Coalition
• Pittsburgh 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Tawana Cook Purnell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cook Purnell's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

A retired educator, I have spent my career as a teacher, school administrator (division director, principal, and head of school), and board member in public, charter, and independent schools. I am also the parent of three adult children and grandmother of two.

My undergraduate degree in philosophy was earned at Spelman College and I have a graduate degree from Columbia University's Teachers College in school leadership.

I was born in the Hill District of Pittsburgh and attended public schools, graduating from the scholars program at Peabody High School in 1971.

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?

• My "deep and wide" experience in the world of education will inform strategic, efficient, and wise decision making,
• Schools must be safe for all students: physically, culturally, and personally.
• All students are capable of excellence; it is the schools responsibility to uncover it in a caring, skilled, and collaborative environment..

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Equitable school funding.

Eliminating the school to prison pipeline.

Early childhood education.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

David Streight's The Heart of Character

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, intellect, and lack of ego

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have been told that I have the voice of reason, that I build strong school cultures, and that I connect well with individuals.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

School board members are part of a think tank, a group that puts the school system and education for ALL before personal agendas. Directors must be willing and able to research issues, communicate effectively with constituency groups, and support the superintendent as the superintendent implements an agenda.

What is your favorite book? Why?

To Kill a Mockingbird - Atticus reminds the children to "walk in another's shoes." That natural tendency has served me well.

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

To support the superintendent and to provide counsel and comfort, as needed, to the community.

Who are your constituents?

Students, faculty and staff, school leadership, and community collaborators.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

Professional development

Resources
Communication

Acccessibility

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

Attend community gatherings;

Participate in community to conversations;
Establish routine communications with stakeholders;

Be available

What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?

Teachers create an environment where all children want to learn, feel confident, and feel appreciated.
Teacher conversations, performance reviews, and test scores.

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

Stay on top of technology training.

Stay abreast of research in curriculum.

Be aware of social and relevant cultural issues.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

Maintain a relationship with legislators and build alliances with lawmakers and other influencers.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

All children must feel safe in a school. There are technologies available that do not mandate armed police in buildings.

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

Make sure social workers and counselors are available. Train teachers. Build a culture of safety and respect for children and the adults that care for them.

What existing district policies would you like to change, or what new policies would you like to implement?

Equitable funding for schools.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Allegheny County Democratic Party

14th Ward independent Democratic Club
Beacon Coalition

Black Women for Better Education

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

Safe, fun, attentive, productive, excellence on display.
A shared school culture.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?

Open lines of communication by establishing town halls, letters, and being in touch with school admin to see how you can best serve the schools' needs

What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?

Recruit outside the box.

Make the hiring package attractive to candidates.

Hire thoughtfully, especially at the building leadership level.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I agree that both are essential and mandatory.

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.

See also

2025 Elections

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Candidate

Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 1

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