2023 Georgia Local Elections

2023 Georgia Local Elections Runoff

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North Carolina

Learn4Life, Ken Zeff, Ed.D

Ken has a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in business administration from the University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in education leadership from Georgia State University. He has three children, who attend Atlanta Public Schools.

Ken is the founder and executive director of Learn4Life, a regional educational partnership. He used to be superintendent and chief strategy and innovation officer for Fulton County Schools. He also used to be the chief operations officer for charter school system Green Dot Public Schools in Los Angeles. He was also a White House Fellow, a senior policy consultant for the U.S. Secretary of Education, and a manager at Deloitte Consulting.

Ken Zeff's campaign for board of education member is his first entry into politics.

Atlanta Civic Circle, What does Ken Zeff want?

Opposes a Georgia Senate bill that would have given families $6,5000 per student who attend public schools ranked in the bottom fifth of schools so that they can attend private schools or home school.

Said, "if parents want to send their kids to independent or religious schools, that's their right. And it's not for me to say. I just don't feel that it should be taxpayer-supported."

Wants funding to be controlled by individual schools instead of the central office in order to "unlock an entrepreneurial spirit in schools."

Believes that high-performing charter schools should be allowed to exist and low-performing charter schools should be corrected or shut down.

- Opposes a Georgia Senate bill that would have given families $6,5000 per student who attend public schools ranked in the bottom fifth of schools so that they can attend private schools or home school.
- Said, "if parents want to send their kids to independent or religious schools, that's their right. And it's not for me to say. I just don't feel that it should be taxpayer-supported."
- Wants funding to be controlled by individual schools instead of the central office in order to "unlock an entrepreneurial spirit in schools."
- Believes that high-performing charter schools should be allowed to exist and low-performing charter schools should be corrected or shut down.

Taxes & Budget

Atlanta Civic Circle, Ken Zeff

Wants to raise literacy rates in Atlanta Public Schools.

- Wants to raise literacy rates in Atlanta Public Schools.

School Curriculum

Wants to "treat teachers like professionals and remove burdensome regulations that lead to frustration and mistrust" and "freedom from the education bureaucracy."

Supports "school choice for parents through charter school expansion while holding those schools accountable for growth."

Said, "You zip code should not predict the level of resources you have in your school."

Wants to fully staff and train the special education department.

- Wants to "treat teachers like professionals and remove burdensome regulations that lead to frustration and mistrust" and "freedom from the education bureaucracy."
- Supports "school choice for parents through charter school expansion while holding those schools accountable for growth."
- Said, "You zip code should not predict the level of resources you have in your school."
- Wants to fully staff and train the special education department.

School Facilities & Resources

As of August 28, 2023, Ken Zeff did not have a website or any information online.

School Safety & Discipline

Ken Zeff

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Atlanta Public Schools, Michelle Olympiadis

Michelle is originally from Greece. She has lived in Atlanta for almost 30 years. She has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Georgia. Her three children have attended Atlanta Public Schools. She attends the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Atlanta.

Michelle is on the board of directors for the Georgia School Boards Association and Invest Atlanta. She used to be the acting executive director for Investor Protection Trust. She also used to be a business development consultant for Inman Solar, a Greek school coordinator at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, the director of special events for the Boys and Girls Club of America, and in business development for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta.

Michelle Olympiadis is currently a board of education member representing district 3. She was first elected in 2017 and has been in office for six years.

Wants to support the audit department in the upcoming forensic budget audit by providing transparent budget information.

- Wants to support the audit department in the upcoming forensic budget audit by providing transparent budget information.
- Supports more affordable housing.

As of October 13, 2023, Michelle Olympiadis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Atlanta Civic Circle, Michelle Olympiadis

Wants to expand the availability of preschool so that preschool begins at birth.

Supports more professional development for teachers.

Wants more technology for students in K-12 and for teachers to better assess student performance.

Plans to raise salaries for teachers and staff.

Believes that there is a need for special education teachers and paraprofessionals to support students with disabilities.

- Wants to expand the availability of preschool so that preschool begins at birth.
- Supports more professional development for teachers.
- Wants more technology for students in K-12 and for teachers to better assess student performance.
- Plans to raise salaries for teachers and staff.
- Believes that there is a need for special education teachers and paraprofessionals to support students with disabilities.

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Michelle Olympiadis

- The Board of Education runs the public school system, and it is entirely independent from the rest of the city government. 
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and appoint the superintendent to run the schools day to day. 
- Some Board of Education members are elected by the entire city, while others represent specific districts. 
- Board of Education members are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.


Atlanta Board of Education Member

Candidates (2)

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Taxes & Budget

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

School Safety & Discipline