Listen to an interview with Damaris Allen below:
TAMPA -- We complete our series of school board stories with a focus on the Hillsborough District 2 race.
Unfortunately, we're doing so with only one of the candidates, as incumbent Stacy Hahn did not respond to our multiple requests for an interview. Her website says "STACY HAHN IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 2 TO MAKE THE DREAM OF A QUALITY EDUCATION SYSTEM A REALITY FOR OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ALIKE. HER EXPERIENCE AS AN EDUCATOR AND LIFELONG ADVOCATE, STACY IS PASSIONATE ABOUT PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR A LIFETIME OF SUCCESS, AND SUPPORTING THOSE TEACHERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE EACH AND EVERY DAY IN THE CLASSROOM."
Her opponent, Damaris Allen, has been advocating since her children entered public school a decade ago. We asked her some questions:
How she decided to run: I've been advocating for public education for a decade, starting when my kids entered school. I know that I can be a positive voice. For several years, school board members turn to me to on policy and what's going on with legislation in Tallahassee. I work closely with legislators. On the federal level I collaborated with Congresswoman Kathy Castor to keep the state from holding back federal funds for the district. All of my advocacy work has (culminated) in this school board run because I know I can make a difference.
(Allen was one of the parents who sued in federal court to demand a masking policy. She says she did it to keep kids in school. "We had kindergarteners who were in and out of school sick." Allen says she filed suit to honor "all parents' rights" not "a certain group of parents rights." )
Biggest issue: The teacher shortage, as well as other staff positions. We've seen a mass exodus because it's been a difficult two years. Teachers have done everything they could, both teaching online and in person one year. We came back and celebrated going back to school, and now we have a narrative where teachers are vilified. We're 49th in teacher pay in the nation.
Teacher shortage: We need to honor (teaching) as a profession. We have some candidates saying that teachers aren't professional, that anyone can be a teacher, and that's not reality. We need to listen to them. I was talking to teachers and one of them said, "You know it would be helpful if we didn't have two non-paid holidays in one paycheck." That is a simple solution that we can handle through calendaring. We (also) need to lobby for more funding. We need to bring back a little teacher autonomy.
Property Tax Referendum: I do think it would help us retain teachers, but this really shouldn't be something we're forced to do. This is because our legislature has not adequately funded us.
Parental Rights: The loudest voice is not necessarily representative of the collective voice. A lot of our schools have incredibly engaged PTAs or PTOs. It is often a challenge to get parents engaged. There is a difference between allowing parents to be involved and allowing parents to control what every child learns. That's where we need to lean on the experts.
Photo: Canva
Listen to an interview with Damaris Allen below: