To the Editor of Bklyner –

I am so glad to see that education is getting coverage in the District 39 City Council race. As the only candidate who has worked directly with schools, families and communities for the past two decades, I have the experience to lead our district in education. We have work to do in our community to ensure equitable educational access for all students and families and we need to have short and long-term solutions. In the short term, we need to ensure that families can send their children to school 5 days a week with an in-person teacher, that schools are accelerating learning, and we have a plan to attend to the social and emotional needs of all children. Long-term, we need to advocate for Fair Student Funding, make sure all families can send their child to a school where their child will thrive, and equip students with the skills needed to succeed in career and college.

Two years ago I was elected to the Community Education Council in District 13 (CEC 13) – I know what it takes to meaningfully engage communities in re-zoning efforts – like the one on the table in District 15 – and vote in support of resolutions that champion equity. This spring, I voted with CEC13 to pass a resolution against Gifted & Talented programs as well as middle school screenings to remove barriers to integration. On the CEC, I represented special education parents and students with Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or IEPs, I have brought together families from across the district to talk about the impact of remote learning on our children and how we can improve schooling in general for children with IEPs. I have also worked across stakeholders to support our district’s integration plan and have started a parent working group to discuss tangible ways to approach resource distribution across an unequally resourced district. I have the expertise, community experience, and vision to navigate the DOE bureaucracy and get to equitable solutions for our children. I appreciate Bklyner taking the time to share candidates’ education platforms so our voters know who has the experience to turn this vision of education into a reality.

Thank you,

Jessica Simmons

Candidate for City Council District 39