GAL's School Board Recap: Seat F Dora Wilson
School Board Seat F is a four-way race this year after Deena Mitchell chose not to seek re-election for the seat.
Introduction:
How can you just not like Dora Wilson? Anyone who holds a Ribs for Wilson fundraiser is A-OK in my book.
Wilson is a mother of three whose children are enrolled in the Anchorage School District.
Like school board candidate Carl Jacobs, Wilson has been a therapeutic foster parent for nearly twenty years. Wilson specifically works with children who have mental health and behavioral issues. Children can only be placed in therapeutic foster care when they are dealing with mental or behavioral health challenges. It's a higher level of care for children with diagnoses that would potentially preclude them from being successful in a traditional foster care setting.
Wilson co-founded the non-profit AK Hopes & Dreams in 2015 — an organization created to "energize and inspire a new generation of young Alaskans to dream big and make the most of the vast opportunities our State has to offer."
Wilson graduated from Eastern Washington University with a bachelor's degree and received her master's in Business Organizational Management from the University of LaVerne. Wilson paid for her education through scholarships, on-campus jobs, off-campus jobs, and loans. Wilson said her educational accomplishments were "in honor of my parents' hard work and sacrifice."
Wilson has been endorsed by the Anchorage Education Association, Alaska AFL-CIO, Anchorage Central Labor Council, March on Alaska, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, and the Employee Political Information Committee (EPIC).
The Gritty
Wilson believes that the School Board should be "focusing on Pre-K" to make things equitable for all district students. Wilson said the district needs to catch children younger and that focusing on Pre-K will bring students into K+ with a stronger educational foundation. Wilson also believes that career and life readiness are equally important and feels children need to be exposed to career possibilities at an early age, which she believes will excite and engage children.
Ms. Wilson said that as a potential board member, she sees it as "extremely important" for the school board to reach out to community organizations and leaders who work with families and students who face educational challenges. Wilson believes these community organizations have first-hand knowledge and experience that would help the school board better understand those challenges, which helps equip the board to serve those students and families better.
During the flashcard portion of the forum, candidates were asked to write the first thing that came to mind in response to a word or phrase presented by forum moderators. Ms. Wilson wrote "Diversity" in response to "anti-racism."
Wilson gave a strong Siskel & Ebert thumbs up when candidates were asked whether they believed "ASD should provide developmentally appropriate, medically accurate LGBTQ+ inclusive comprehensive sex education in all schools."
In her closing statement, Ms. Wilson said she wants children to achieve "great success" while acknowledging that success looks different for every child. Wilson believes she can bring a fresh perspective to the Anchorage School Board as a Latina and a parent whose children were born "into two different cultures." Many of the children Wilson has fostered over the years have been Alaska Native, and she said she understands the "lenses" of those children are different.
Wilson closed by saying that she brings a "tremendous amount of perspective" to the school board and encourages parents to reach out to her via her website and would be more than happy to provide more information about herself and her campaign. She hopes to earn your vote in April.
