Don't vote for me. Here are some reasons why:
- I don't want the job. While I would do a great job as union president, I am too excited about teaching next school year to give that up for an office job (something I actively avoided when choosing careers). In particular, I get to teach AP U.S. History for the first time (and am taking a class this summer in preparation), I will have my second season as a coach for our newly formed DDF team (and I almost know what I'm doing), I'll be recruiting more for the 2025 Japan trip, and I will have Connor in my AP World class.
- My politics tick everyone off. I'm too liberal for most conservatives and too conservative for most liberals. As a specific example, I believe that trans students should be treated with dignity and guarded from harassment. Teachers should use the names, nicknames, and pronouns which the student requests out of courtesy and respect. However, I do not believe that students who were male and have transitioned into females should be allowed to compete in girls' sports teams due to the significant biological advantages that their birth gender provides. Nor do I believe (and I apologize for the crudity) that people with penises should be in any school room (such as bathrooms or locker rooms) where people with vaginas are in a state of undress, and vice versa. I do believe that schools need to make arrangements for trans students to not have to use the restrooms or locker rooms for the gender with which they no longer identify.
- I often don't agree with the majority of the union members. As a specific example, I am still furious about the tiered health care system that the majority of our union members voted to adopt. I don't believe that they have an understanding of the unfairness of the system nor the long term harm that it has brought and is going to bring. It was for this reason that I stepped down as building representative last year; I simply did not feel that I could represent a union when it made such regrettable decisions.
- I believe that our school board and administrators are genuinely trying to do what they think is best for our school system. I do not agree with all of their ideas, but I do not think that they approach their positions from a standpoint of malice towards public education (well, maybe one or two, but not the vast majority). This might mean that I am too trusting--or even downright naive. Especially as this is a negotiation year, people usually want more aggressive personalities to deal with what they often consider "the enemy."
- I wouldn't dress the part. I would be in Hawaiian shirts and casual pants or shorts unless the situation specifically demanded that I dress up (such as in a court situation or when addressing the state legislature). I feel that the tie and suitcoat are thankfully quickly disappearing fashions that I do not want to support.