Sebastian Johnson
Sebastian Johnson was a candidate for at-large representative on the Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland. Johnson lost in the primary election on April 26, 2016.[1]
Biography
Johnson earned his bachelor's degree in economics and government from Georgetown University. He later received his master's degree in public policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Johnson previously worked as an education policy fellow for former Gov. Martin O'Malley and a transportation policy aide to Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal. He is a state policy fellow at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.[2]
Elections
| Sebastian Johnson, Candidate for Board of Education |
2016
Three of the seven seats on the Montgomery County Board of Education were up for general election on November 8, 2016. A primary election was held on April 26, 2016, for the at-large seat. Incumbent Philip Kauffman lost to challenger Jeanette Dixon in the general election. Both candidates defeated Mike Ibanez, Sebastian Johnson, and Gwendolyn Kimbrough in the primary. The District 2 general election featured incumbent Rebecca Smondrowski and challenger Brandon Orman Rippeon, while Shebra Evans and Anjali Reed Phukan were running for the open District 4 seat. Smondrowski and Evans won their respective races.[1]
Results
| Montgomery County Public Schools, At-large Primary Election, 4-Year Term, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jeanette Dixon |
31.48% | 51,316 |
| Philip Kauffman Incumbent |
27.95% | 45,570 |
| Sebastian Johnson | 17.75% | 28,937 |
| Gwendolyn Kimbrough | 11.84% | 19,302 |
| Mike Ibanez | 10.98% | 17,902 |
| Total Votes | 163,027 | |
| Source: Maryland State Board of Elections, "Unofficial 2016 Presidential Primary Election results for Montgomery County," accessed April 26, 2016 | ||
Endorsements
Johnson received the following endorsements prior to the 2016 primary:[3]
- Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro
- Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal
- State Delegate Will Smith
- Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart
- State Delegate David Moon
- The Latino Democratic Club of Montgomery County
- One Montgomery
Campaign themes
2016
Johnson's campaign website listed the following themes for the 2016 campaign:
| “ |
I'm running for School Board because I believe that every child should have the high quality education that I received in Montgomery County. My plan for MCPS is informed by my experience as a student board member, my time as a classroom teacher, and my background in policy and government at the state and local level. More importantly, it reflects the lessons I learned as a student in MCPS schools. If elected, I promise to fight for early gains for elementary students, holistic supports for students and families, and finally closing the opportunity gap. Fighting for Equity The opportunity gap is not just a failure to live up to our community’s values. It also threatens our economy, and it could have ramifications for our workforce for decades to come. As long as a child’s success in school is closely tied to race or socioeconomic status, we will fail in our mission to advance justice through our public schools. If elected, ensuring a high quality education for every student in our system will be my highest priority. It will inform my work across all of the issues we face. The opportunity gap between Black and Hispanic students and their White and Asian peers has been a troubling feature of our school system for many decades. As a student, I saw the opportunity gap firsthand as one of a few students of color who graduated from the Communication Arts Program at Montgomery Blair High School. Recent data, from HSA proficiency rates to college enrollment after high school, draw an alarming picture. Studies show that Black and Latino youth feel profoundly disconnected from their classrooms. A 2014 report from the Office of Legislative Oversight found that “the economic, racial, and ethnic stratification of students among MCPS high schools has increased” since 2010. Here are some of the ways I think we can start to close the opportunity gap:
Strengthening Early Childhood Education As a former elementary school teacher, I know how crucial students’ first school years are for their futures. Smart investments in early childhood and elementary education are key to closing the opportunity gap and meeting the challenges our county faces. Elementary school teachers in our county have seen more and more students enter their classroom each year. Enrollment growth since 2007 has been concentrated in the elementary grades, but elementary literacy rates have declined at the same time. We need to take action to support these young learners, because a child’s literacy in 3rd grade is a reliable indicator of future academic success. If elected, here are a few of the policies I will support to help our county’s early learners succeed in elementary school, in middle school and beyond:
Embracing Bilingual Education Each new student in our system represents a new opportunity. MCPS should build on the current success of its immersion programs to bring high-quality bilingual education to more students. Bilingual classrooms celebrate the natural diversity of our students and help newcomers build academic proficiency. Bilingual education also helps students who speak only English at home. Studies show that there are significant cognitive and economic advantages for speakers of multiple languages, and the 21st century economy increasingly demands bilingual workers. If elected, here are some of the policies I’ll support to give more students the benefits of bilingual education:
Building Schools for the Whole Community Our schools are the centers of our community and, ultimately, reflections of our community. As a child I was lucky to grow up surrounded by caring adults and opportunities outside the classroom. Such relationships and opportunities can be lifelines for students grappling with poverty, troubled home life and other barriers to learning. MCPS should continue to invest in community school models that take a holistic approach to students and provide wrap-around services to children and their families. If elected, here are some of the policies I will advocate for to increase the number of community schools and improve opportunities for students before and after the school day:
|
” |
| —Sebastian Johnson (2016), [5] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Sebastian Johnson' 'Montgomery County Public Schools'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Maryland State Board of Elections, "Montgomery County 2016 Presidential Primary Election Local Candidates List," February 10, 2016
- ↑ Sebastian Johnson for Board of Education, "About," accessed March 31, 2016
- ↑ Sebastian Johnson for Board of Education, "Endorsements," accessed March 31, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Sebastian Johnson for Board of Education, "Issues," accessed March 31, 2016
