2023 Georgia Local Elections

2023 Georgia Local Elections Runoff

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North Carolina

Erika has a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in computer information systems from Alabama State University and a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in government from DeVry University.

LinkedIn

Erika is the vice president of business development for ChanceLight Education and the managing partner at Sports Unlimited Enterprise, LLC, which provides event planning and charity services to professional athletes. She is also the founder of Atlanta Women in Sports, which provides a platform and networking opportunities to women working in the sports industry. She also founded and it the producer and state director for La Reina Pageants, which produces Atlanta Fashion Week, Atlanta Caribbean Fashion Week, Miss Georgia Latina, and Miss Teen Georgia Latina. She used to work in information technology (IT) for Coca Cola, CBeyond, and Kodak. She is also a licensed esthetics educator. She taught histology and physiology of skin at the AVEDA Institute.

Erika Y. Mitchell is currently a board of education member representing District 5. She was first elected in 2017 and has been in office for two terms.

Saporta Report, Board of Education candidate Q and A: Erika Mitchell

Previously wanted to make sure that money was reported and being accounted for by the school system.

Previously planned to request a full audit of the school system's finances and said, "mismanagement of funds is ultimately hurting our students most in need."

- Wants to higher high quality teachers.
- Previously wanted to make sure that money was reported and being accounted for by the school system.
- Previously planned to request a full audit of the school system's finances and said, "mismanagement of funds is ultimately hurting our students most in need."

Taxes & Budget

Wants to reduce the high school drop out rate.

- Wants to reduce the high school drop out rate.
- Plans to work to improve literacy.

School Curriculum

Wants each students to have access to a school-provided digital device.

As a board member, she supported renovating the district Planetarium and turning vacant school buildings into community centers.

Supports the food pantry program in each school.

- Wants each students to have access to a school-provided digital device.
- As a board member, she supported renovating the district Planetarium and turning vacant school buildings into community centers.
- Supports the food pantry program in each school.

School Facilities & Resources

As a board member, she wrote the first school district domestic minor sex trafficking, trauma-informed practices, and restorative justice practice policies.

As a board member, she co-wrote the first equity policy for Atlanta Public Schools.

- As a board member, she wrote the first school district domestic minor sex trafficking, trauma-informed practices, and restorative justice practice policies.
- As a board member, she co-wrote the first equity policy for Atlanta Public Schools.

School Safety & Discipline

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Erika Y. Mitchell

Ballotpedia, Raynard Johnson

Raynard is originally from Atlanta. He attended Atlanta Public Schools, including M.A. Jones Elementary, Beecher Hills Elementary, and Southwest Atlanta High School. He has a bachelor's degree in computer science from Boston College.

Raynard is an independent consultant who works as a digital media project manager. He used to be a project manager for UPS Supply Chain Solutions, an internet technology (IT) consultant as an independent contractor, a project manager at Digital Insight, a senior project manager at InComm, and a project manager at Ernst & Young.

Atlanta Progressive News, Raynard Johnson Running for APS School Board Seat

Raynard Johnson previously ran for the board of education in 2013, 2017, and 2021 but did not win. He also previously ran for Atlanta city council in 2009 but dropped out of the race before the election.

Atlanta Civic Circle, Raynard Jackson

Wants the school system to "be operated as efficiently as possible."

Plans to use education special purpose tax (eSPLOST) funds to provide job opportunities for vocational education students.

Wants more funding for early childhood learning.

Supports a homestead exemption that allows homeowners 65 years or older to not pay the portion of their property taxes that go towards local schools.

Said, "Commercial property owners are not paying their fair share of APS property taxes because the APS School Board and the Atlanta City Council have abated millions of dollars for 30 years taxes on commercials developments, i.e., 'The Gulch'."

- Wants the school system to "be operated as efficiently as possible."
- Plans to use education special purpose tax (eSPLOST) funds to provide job opportunities for vocational education students.
- Wants more funding for early childhood learning.
- Supports a homestead exemption that allows homeowners 65 years or older to not pay the portion of their property taxes that go towards local schools.
- Said, "Commercial property owners are not paying their fair share of APS property taxes because the APS School Board and the Atlanta City Council have abated millions of dollars for 30 years taxes on commercials developments, i.e., 'The Gulch'."

Wants to address "the culture of intimidation that still permeates APS (HR) from the time of the cheating scandal" in order to better retain teachers.

Supports using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), a corporate performance metric, in order to serve students with disabilities.

- Wants to address "the culture of intimidation that still permeates APS (HR) from the time of the cheating scandal" in order to better retain teachers.
- Supports using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), a corporate performance metric, in order to serve students with disabilities.

Boston College Carroll School of Management, Never Too Late!

Plans to provides teachers with "the tools they need to do their job."

Plans to "break down and remove traumatic barriers that impede learning."

Wants to provide free after-school tutoring programs for K-12 students to recover learning loss from the pandemic.

Supports providing all Atlanta Public School students with a valid student ID free access to MARTA.

Previously wanted to make Wi-Fi a public utility and bring internet access to all Atlanta school children.

- Plans to provides teachers with "the tools they need to do their job."
- Plans to "break down and remove traumatic barriers that impede learning."
- Wants to provide free after-school tutoring programs for K-12 students to recover learning loss from the pandemic.
- Supports providing all Atlanta Public School students with a valid student ID free access to MARTA.
- Previously wanted to make Wi-Fi a public utility and bring internet access to all Atlanta school children.

As of September 12, 2023, Raynard Johnson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Raynard Johnson

- 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