Valarie Wilson Announces Her Candidacy for Georgia State School Superintendent
Decatur, GA (PRWEB) March 11, 2014 -- Valarie Wilson, past president of the Georgia School Boards Association and the City Schools of Decatur School Board, today announced her candidacy for Georgia State School Superintendent.
“Fifteen years ago, I faced a difficult decision: keep my son in a public school with a poor reputation or enroll him in a private school,” said Wilson. “The truth is, I believe in the power of public education. So I made a commitment to do what I could to improve Georgia’s public education system, rather than leave it to someone else to fix. I joined my local school board and was later elected to the Georgia School Boards Association, where I served as president.
“Today more than ever, Georgia is at a turning point between investing in public education and totally dismantling it. I believe it’s the moral imperative of every Georgian who values education to step up and do what is right by our children and our teachers. That’s why I’m running for Georgia State School Superintendent. I am offering my experience and knowledge to help create a world-class education system in this state.”
Valarie has spent more than 20 years in public service. She stands for adequate funding for education and support for teachers, and against the privatization of the school system through vouchers and for-profit charter schools.
“The children of Georgia could not have a stronger advocate than Valarie Wilson,” said Fayette County School Board member Leonard Presberg. “Serving as the President of the Georgia School Boards Association, she’s seen the impact that the decisions in Atlanta have in our classrooms, and she knows the desperate situation many of our school systems are in as they struggle to provide a relevant education to our students. Every day I stand up for kids and public education, in part because Valarie’s selfless dedication to Georgia’s students and teachers has inspired me. As a Board of Education member, I am confident that Valarie Wilson’s leadership as State School Superintendent is going to have a positive impact on our students and our future.”
“Valarie’s professionalism and passion for students shined through during her presidency at the Georgia School Boards Association,” said Shirley Brooks, a school board member for Ben Hill County Schools in south central Georgia. “She ensured that her commitment to quality and to early childhood education was reflected in the Vision for Public Education that is now transforming school boards across the state.”
“Valarie's strong leadership and deeply collaborative approach were instrumental in establishing our first Early Childhood Learning Center and helping make our district's finances one of the most stable in the state and in the nation,” said Marc Wisniewski, a former colleague of Wilson’s on the City Schools of Decatur Board. “She’s a tireless advocate for children who cannot speak for themselves.”
Valarie is executive director of the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to fostering support for the largest urban revitalization project in America. The role requires building bridges between groups with differing interests—a role she’ll continue to play as Superintendent of Schools.
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Stephanie Libby, HL Strategy, +1 (678) 296-5498, [email protected]
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