Moving Forward

Friends, Neighbors, and Colleagues,
 
The election for the Columbia County School Board is on May 22, 2018.  That is seven months from now.  I need your help.
 
Over the course of the last few months, I have posted ideas from my platform, shared my beliefs, and given you my background in education.  I have come to know a lot of you, had some fascinating conversations, and come to understand this community more. 
 
Now, it is time to move forward.  I, Drew Kemp, want to represent District 3 on the Columbia County School Board.  I am an educator.  I am a thinker.  I am a doer.  But, most importantly, and believe in an education for all students.  In fact, this is my platform. 
 
I believe that every student, regardless of socio-economic status, ability, gender, sexuality, religion, spirituality, race, or ethnicity has the right to a public education that not only allows for critical and creative thinking, but also begins to impart the skills to be a happy and healthy member of a democratic society. 
 
The first thing that we need to do in order to accomplish this is to allow teachers to be the professionals they are.  To be a teacher in Georgia you must have at least a Bachelor’s degree (and many have higher degrees), have completed an approved teacher preparation program, and passed state tests in education and content.  A teacher must continue her/his education through professional development, additional college credits, and/or continuing education units.  Teachers are evaluated every year, multiple times. 
 
Yet, our system, the system, wants to create pre-fabricated lessons.  It wants scripts.  It wants homogeneity.  Our students are not clones, nor should they be taught that way. Let teachers be professionals.  Let counselors do their jobs.  Let administrators be curriculum and instruction leaders.  Let schools focus on critical and creative thinking and not test preparation. 
 
So, join me in my endeavor to make our schools even better than they already are.  As a member of your School Board, I want to create discussions about how we can improve on the excellence in our schools.  I want to go into schools and talk to teachers, counselors, and administrators and come up with creative solutions to improving our already excellent schools.
 
So, I am asking for your help in one of the following ways.
 

1. Like my Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/kemp4ccboe/
2. Share my Facebook page.
3. Donate to my campaign. http://www.gofundme.com/kemp4ccboe/
4. Visit my webpage. http://andrewtkemp.com/
5. Invite me to come speak.  [email protected]
6. Message me and ask me questions.

I am here to help improve our schools.  I was a teacher for nine years.  I ran a successful public school program as a full time coordinator for 2 years.  I have a Master’s and doctorate in education.  I have taught in teacher education programs and colleges of education for 10 years.  I have the background, experience, and inside knowledge of schools to help Columbia County Schools prosper even more than they do now.
 
My name is Drew Kemp and I am running for the Columbia County School Board.
 
-Drew