What is your name?

Tene Davis

Tell us more about yourself.

Tene Davis serves as the National Benevolent Association’s young adult leadership development director. She was previously the associate director of Georgia State University’s Early College Program, where she earned her Ph.D in educational policy studies. Prior to GSU, she worked in the Atlanta Public Schools system as an elementary school teacher. Davis holds a master's degree in education from Howard University. She currently serves on Rockdale County’s Public Facilities Authority, is chairperson of the Lorraine Elementary Local School Council, and the former past President of the Lorraine PTO. (Her second grader attends school there.)

What office are you running for?

Board of Education

What is your party affiliation?

Non-Partisan

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

- B.A., Afro-American Studies, Howard University, 1997-2001 - M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, Howard University, 2001-2002 - Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies, Georgia State University, 2007-2012

Provide the link to your campaign website.

https://www.votetenedavis.com/

What is your job/occupation?

Program director

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

Conyers

Is this your first time running for office?

Yes

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

I am an educator. I served as an elementary school teacher in the Atlanta Public Schools system. I earned my Ph.D. in educational policy studies and used the knowledge I gained in this program to write educational and programmatic policy for the Early College Program at Georgia State University — the first program of its kind within the state of Georgia. I served as president of the PTO at a local RCPS school. I currently serve as the chairperson of an RCPS's local elementary school's Local School Council. This is the second Local School Council I have sat on, with the first one being Carver Early College High School in APS.

What is the most critical issue currently facing your district and how would you address it?

Academic Achievement. State data shows RCPS is not meeting state content mastery level standards at all three levels. Most RCPS students are not making the required progress to be prepared for the next academic grade or for post-secondary life. It is imperative to hear from all stakeholders concerning the academic struggles. Is there a need for supplemental instruction, more Social Emotional Learning, more parental involvement? It is also vital to provide appropriate Professional Development (PD) for teachers. This PD should present culturally relevant pedagogy, not take place during the same year of implementation nor during the school day.

What are your thoughts on the role of public schools in educating students about potentially controversial topics?

What’s something the district isn’t doing now that you think it should do?

Rockdale County Public Schools can improve greatly with its efforts at community engagement. In a survey conducted by an independent parent group within Rockdale County Public Schools, when asked if parents were involved in the decision-making process at the district level, 62% entered a 1 on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being least involved. Additionally when asked if parents felt like their voices and opinions were respected and considered at the district level, 56% of the parents entered a 1 or 2 on a scale of 1 to 5 with one being the least respected. The results of this survey indicate a clear need to effectively engage parents.

What would you suggest so your school board can work better together?

What do you think about a parental requirement to “opt in” if they want their child to receive sex education?

I believe effective communication with parents is vital. Currently there exists primarily an "opt out" option for many districts regarding sex education. Effective parental communication will allow parents to make the best decisions for their children where there be an "opt out" or "opt in" option.