3 ed reformers to support

If you want to get involved in some critical political fights, below is an email from DFER's ED, Joe Williams, on three GREAT candidates who really need our support RIGHT NOW (I've supported all three): Andy Dillon, who's running for governor of Michigan and is in a tough primary battle thanks to the unions running attack ads; Bill Ferguson, a former TFA corps member who's running for State Senate in MD; and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet from CO, about whom I've written extensively (see: http://edreform.blogspot.com/2010/06/barth-appeal-for-sen-bennet.html):

 

It's hot as hell out there, especially for the growing list of politicians nationwide who have been willing to take the heat that comes when you try to fundamentally change the politics of public education in America. Three of these folks need our help today, and whether you are a teacher in a school, an interested bystander, or the kind of generous person who can afford to drop a few bucks for an important cause you can make a difference. Right now, in a matter of minutes, you can help change the overall political climate for education reform.

We are announcing today our "Education Reformer of the Month" for both July and August. The clock is ticking in both primary races and we can't afford to delay. A third Democratic primary race also deserves your attention as well.

Drumroll please…

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Friends,

It's hot as hell out there, especially for the growing list of politicians nationwide who have been willing to take the heat that comes when you try to fundamentally change the politics of public education in America. Three of these folks need our help today, and whether you are a teacher in a school, an interested bystander, or the kind of generous person who can afford to drop a few bucks for an important cause you can make a difference. Right now, in a matter of minutes, you can help change the overall political climate for education reform.

We are announcing today our "Education Reformer of the Month" for both July and August. The clock is ticking in both primary races and we can't afford to delay. A third Democratic primary race also deserves your attention as well.

Drumroll please…

1. Michigan Speaker of the House Andy Dillon has been named DFER's Ed Reformer of the Month for July. Andy helped lead Michigan's impressive Race To The Top legislative campaign last December, when the Legislature acted to beef up efforts to redesign failing schools, loosen teacher certification efforts to allow for groups like Teach For America to operate, expand the number of highly successful charter schools (a smart cap), and introduce the use of student performance data in annual teacher and principal evaluations.

Support for these kinds of reforms, championed by the Obama administration, has put Dillon out of favor with the state's powerful teachers union. The deep-pocketed Michigan Education Association is putting significant resources behind his primary opponent, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. We need education reformers nationwide to keep the momentum going in the Wolverine State.

This one is shaping up to be a tough battle. The primary is Aug. 3, and a poll released in the Detroit News this week showed Dillon leading Bernero by only 9.2 percentage points. The key in this race is the 39.5% of Michigan Dems who claim to be "undecided."

This is one of those races where significant support from education reformers nationwide can make a significant difference in what could be a very close race. If you'd like to contribute to Dillon's campaign, you can do so online at www.andydillon.com. Shoot me an email to let me know you did so we can track it. If you'd prefer to send a check that we can pass along with other DFER contributions, you can send it to me at: 928 Broadway, Suite 505, New York, NY 10010.

Time is of the essence! We need your help in this race.

2. Bill Ferguson, a former TFA corps member and Baltimore Public Schools teacher, is our "Education Reformer of the Month" for August. Bill is running for State Senate in Maryland. Most recently, he worked for Baltimore's reform-minded Superintendent Andres Alonzo.

Bill began his working life teaching U.S. history and U.S. government to ninth and tenth graders in a breakout academy of the old Southwestern High School, historically one of Baltimore's most challenged high schools. Recognizing the injustices that City Schools students faced everyday - too few classroom materials, dilapidated facilities, inferior student transportation options - Bill fought to establish a culture of achievement in his classroom every day. By the end of his second year of teaching, Bill had motivated his U.S. government students to earn the highest scores in the school's history on the U.S. government Maryland High School Assessment (HSA). While teaching, Bill also earned his Masters of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) from the Johns Hopkins School of Education in 2007.

 It's rare that candidates for office highlight their support for education reform on their web sites (usually they say they support smaller classes, but that's it - even the good ones!) Bill's site highlights prominently his background as an education reformer and a dedicated public servant.

 He's essentially taking on the political establishment (not to mention the public education establishment) so every dime matters here folks. DFER considers this race an investment in a great candidate who will be on the scene for a long time to come. So whether you can give $25 or $4000, don't be shy.

You can contribute through DFER's Act Blue site at http://www.actblue.com/page/dferaugust10.

3. Some of you have been very helpful in the past in supporting Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, whose Aug. 10^th primary battle started getting nasty this week with the onset of negative ads from his opponent, Andrew Romanoff.  We're in the final stretches of this one and there likely will be a lot of noise before it is done. Please consider helping Michael's campaign to get through the tough part of this one. We can't afford to lose a champion like Bennet.

You've heard a lot about Michael from us over the last 15-16 months. To learn more about why we are so strongly backing his campaign and to contribute, visit  http://www.actblue.com/page/dferjune09

Thanks again for everything you are doing to fundamentally change the politics of education, especially for your strong support of these three leaders. Whether it is a small contribution or whether you can max out, let's send a statement nationwide that there is strong political support for public education reform.

Every dollar matters. Won't you join us in letting your voice be heard?

Joe