This interview is part of a weekly series of conversations with candidates running for local government offices leading up to the November 4 municipal election. This interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
SCHNELLE: Why did you decide to run for the Pittsburgh School Board?
GEORGE: I have a unique background that I think will support the school board well.I've been a classroom teacher at various levels. I've taught 8th-grade to 12th-grade classes, as well as community college and undergraduate courses, and graduate courses at the university. I have also run clubs, after-school programs, and volunteer organizations for younger children. I also have some experience with that. I've been a local business owner, so I know a little about the side of balancing budgets versus what your clientele would like. Mostly,I'ma mom of students in the district, and I love USD 250. I've taught forUSD 250, and I only left my high school position for the university position due to family needs. I missed it, and I still miss my students. I thought this would be a way for me to give back to my community and serve the schools.
SCHNELLE: Do you have any specific campaign goals?
GEORGE: Not necessarily. There are a few things that I would like to focus on, but the school board runs with volunteers for specific committees. So it all depends on which committee needed a leader at that time from whatever positions are left open, which I'd be willing to serve in whatever capacity. But I do. My expertise and my research are on the family-school relationship, so that's what I would hope to foster and promote: those connections between families and their interaction with the schools.
SCHNELLE: Are there any other things that you would hope to start on if elected?
GEORGE: I would hope to one day build some parent and guardian advisory groups so that we could represent all the voices in our community.
I think that sometimes, because when I was a classroom teacher, I would have students whose parents were not as involved, didn't understand how to advocate for their child, or didn't understand the educational process or the schooling process. And so,I'dlike to create focus groups and advisory councils with parents and guardians from different demographics than the ones we typically see, which are our middle- and upper-class white families. This is wonderful, but we need our community to hear all the voices.
SCHNELLE: What do you want voters to know about you?
GEORGE: I care a lot about people. I love our community. I hope to serve. I see this position as a nonpartisan servant position. And I've been serving the community for a while.SoI would hope to serve in this capacity as well, since it aligns with my expertise and my interests. But I'd also be thrilled to meet with community members to talk about whatever issues are most important to them.
SCHNELLE: Is there anything else that you'd like to add?
GEORGE:: There is a meeting coming up on October 22nd, where community members are invited to talk to the school board members. All the candidates for the school board and the city commissioner candidates were invited, and I believe that all the school board member candidates have said that they would be there. I would like to encourage the community to come and ask the hard questions, engage with everyone, and be an informed voter.
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