As a friend of Network for Public Education, you understand the importance of supporting candidates for public office who will work to protect, preserve, promote, and strengthen public schools. In California, an important election will be settled on June 3rd. In the Los Angeles School Board race, Sherlett Hendy Newbill has earned NPE's endorsement. Hendy Newbill is a teacher, a coach and a parent who grew up in District 1 as the daughter of immigrants who struggled to put food on the table for their five children. She attended elementary, middle and high school in District 1.
After graduating from Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Hendy Newbill received a scholarship to attend Xavier University in New Orleans. She later returned to Los Angeles to raise a family in the neighborhood in which she was raised and to teach in the school she attended.
NPE endorsed Hendy Newbill because of her commitment to high quality neighborhood schools. She said, "I have worked with teachers, parents and community members for 16 years to improve schools, stop budget cuts, stop school closures and reconstitutions."
As an educator and a mother, Hendy Newbill stands out among the field of candidates. She said, "Our public school system is under attack. I am the only candidate who is not a politician and not tied in with the corporate reform movement."
In keeping with her commitment to community, Hendy Newbill will fight to protect and build up public schools. When elected, she will work to create a Family Center network, which will provide wraparound services for the community.
When asked about school closures, Hendy Newbill said, "When the school I teach at was threatened with being closed or reconstituted, I organized with teachers, parents, alumni and the community to stop this at my school and to put a moratorium on school closures in LA because closing schools is horrible for students and communities. Don't shut down schools. Give them what they need."
On the topic of testing, she said, "Students are more than a test score. Testing should be one of many components used to evaluate students. As a teacher in the trenches of our schools, I know first hand that when teachers focus only on raising test scores, they narrow the curriculum, focus too much on test prep and the students suffer. We need a school board member that gets this."
The Network for Public Education only endorses candidates who have made a strong commitment to public education. We don't have the kind of money that allows us to compete financially with the billionaires. But with a strong network of parents, students, teachers, and public education advocates, we inspire our allies to take part in the democratic process and support the best candidates.
It is projected that there will be a low turnout in this election and NPE encourages those who value public education to get out and vote for Sherlett Hendy Newbill on June 3rd. You may not live in Los Angeles, but we ask that you share this message with friends in L.A..
WE ARE MANY. THERE IS STRENGTH IN OUR NUMBERS. TOGETHER WE WILL SAVE OUR SCHOOLS.
