With less than two weeks before Election Day, some Ward 7 politicos are coalescing around Toni Criner’s campaign for the Ward 7 State Board of Education (SBOE) seat.
During the earlier part of October, Wendell Felder, Democratic nominee for the Ward 7 D.C. Council seat, endorsed Criner.
More recently, Criner secured endorsements from Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Shirley Thompson-Wright (7F07) and Commission 7F Chair Tyrell Holcomb, the latter of whom also serves as a Ward 7 D.C. Democratic Party committeeperson.
Charles Boston, another Ward 7 SBOE candidate, recently dropped out of the race to throw his support behind the special education aficionado.
Criner’s deep community engagement was the spark behind this momentum.
“I have a dedicated team helping me push out in various ways,” Criner said. “We’re continuing to build, whether through a call of action or people randomly saying they want to support my campaign. There are people who support my vision, who didn’t know about the state board. They’re happy to have a representative who will fight for us.”
Criner said that, if elected, she and Felder aim to improve Ward 7 student outcomes via a comprehensive education plan that’s developed in collaboration with families, educators, advisory neighborhood commissioners, civic associations and the Ward 7 Education Council. Elements of that plan, Criner said, would more than likely prioritize students’ safe passage, increasing student and parent literacy and equipping young people with socioemotional and academic skills.
The community appears ready to actualize a new collective vision for Ward 7 education, Criner told The Informer.
“People like what I have to say and see that I know the system, from public to public charter schools,” Criner said. “They know I have a clear understanding. I’m excited, learning as I go, and staying humble. I’m welcoming any support that Ward 7 residents are offering and making sure I’m taking notes to incorporate their input.”
The Battle Lines Are Drawn
Criner’s name appears along with that of Boston and Eboni-Rose Thompson, the current Ward 7 SBOE representative who’s running for reelection.
Ward 7 organizer Sherice Muhammad has also launched a write-in campaign.
Criner, SBOE’s former interim ombudsman for special education, launched her campaign earlier this year critical of Ward 7 SBOE Representative Thompson’s advocacy strategy. She touted the need for aggressive advocacy on behalf of all students, especially those in foster care and those enrolled in District education programs while in custody.
If elected, Criner’s other priorities include pursuing adequate transportation for students with disabilities, addressing truancy, increasing quality middle school options in Ward 7 and further strengthening the state board’s relationship with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education.
Boston, who missed D.C. Board of Elections’ Sept. 12 deadline to drop out, still appears on mail-in ballots and voters will still be able to vote for him on Election Day.
Even so, he says it’s Criner who’s best suited for the Ward 7 state board seat.
“I just think a new approach is needed,” said Boston, a D.C. parent who works in construction, transportation, and in arbory. “I know the difference between the [other] two candidates. Toni asked me a lot of questions. Eboni-Rose hasn’t. She and [At-large SBOE Representative] Jacque [Patterson] know I’m an arborist. They know about my ballot initiative. They haven’t reached out [since the 2020 election] and I don’t know why.”
While Patterson, who’s not endorsing any Ward 7 state board candidate, acknowledged not establishing contact with Boston since entering SBOE in 2020, he cited it as a matter of him getting caught up with the intricacies of his role.
Both parties, Patterson said, dropped the ball in their pledge to collaborate on Boston’s workforce development initiatives.
“He needed to reach out but I should have been more aggressive,” Patterson said. “It just fell dormant.”
Patterson, who’s in the middle of his own reelection bid, said Boston has a background of great use in discussions about education policy.
“Charles brings something to the table that speaks to why we’re losing kids,” Patterson told The Informer. “He can talk about different paths to graduation. He’s needed to help native Washingtonins get jobs.”
In 2020, Boston secured 7.12% of the vote when he ran against Thompson, Don Trell Smith and then-SBOE Ward 7 Representative Karen Williams in the Ward 7 SBOE race. A year later, he attempted to get ballot placement for an initiative centered on vocational training for District students as early as sixth grade.
These days, Boston, a former foster child, continues to connect aspiring arborists to learning opportunities. He’s also spent the last several weeks speaking with Criner, who he learned also navigated the foster care system.
“Toni understands,” Boston said. “She’s worked to prepare students for life after high school. I knew that she worked…helping families. Just knowing that she can relate to the least among us, that’s all that I needed.”
When it comes to Thompon, Boston said she and her SBOE colleagues could better expand east-of-the-Anacostia River representation on SBOE’s Student Advisory Committee. He made this point while lamenting the absence of the committee’s annual reports for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.
As Boston recounted, his questions about the reports’ whereabouts have gone unanswered by SBOE.
Boston cited the 2021-2022 Student Advisory Committee report, in which young people expressed concerns about low teacher retention and lax student accountability, as indication of the entire D.C. school ecosystem falling short in its obligations.
Part of that failure, Boston said, stemmed from Thompson and SBOE not using its advisory powers to force the D.C. Council’s hand in making substantial education policy changes. “You can’t change a law, but you can be in these council members’ ear and make an effort,” Boston said. “Our young people suffer because we don’t have resources.”
Thompson’s Supporters Defend the Incumbent’s Record
An SBOE spokesperson confirmed that no Student Advisory Committee reports had been published for the last two school years. In an email, Thompson said that the reports aren’t mandatory nor did students want to compile them during those years.
“It’s their decision,” she said.
If reelected, Thompson plans to build upon her SBOE wins, such as approval of financial literacy and social studies standards and expansion of community service opportunities. The Washington Teachers’ Union recently endorsed her campaign.
“Teachers are the experts about the quality of education,” Thompson said, noting the weight of a group endorsement, rather than that of individuals. “I’m continuing to engage and talk to Ward 7 residents. They are also excited about the work we can do together.”
The Ward 7 Representative and SBOE president has vocal support from State Board Representatives Allister Chang (Ward 2) and Frazier O’Leary (Ward 4).
Chang said that Thompson has professionalized the state board in her tenure as president.
“She always keeps things in line and suffers no fools,” Chang told The Informer. “She’s very open about where she stands on issues and is open about hearing counterarguments. She also won’t pretend if you don’t convince her.”
Jimmie Williams, Ward 7 D.C. Democratic Party committeeman, said he, along with Democratic Party committee women Dorothy Douglas and Patricia Stamper, will officially endorse Thompson in the coming days.
For Williams, Thompson has a track record and strong command of education policy that makes her deserving of the Ward 7 SBOE seat, more so than other candidates.
“I’ve seen her leadership,” Williams said. “I’m not willing to take a risk on someone I know very little about, who’s demonstrated little policy strengths.”
Williams highlighted Thompson’s regular appearances at community meetings and before various organizations. He also spoke highly of Thompson’s leadership on the state board, a body that only plays an advisory role in shaping local education policy.
As Wiliams recalled, the SBOE strongly advocated for funds in the D.C. budget for the Washington Literacy Center, which provides educational and training resources for adult learners preparing for well-paying jobs and workforce development opportunities.
“Whether it’s adult leaders or children, Eboni-Rose understands what the job does and what it doesn’t,” said Williams, president and CEO of the Washington Literacy Center. “Voters will look at things in education that fall under the mayor and deputy mayor for education that don’t fall under the state board. Even when I ask some of the candidates to explain [the powers of the state board], they don’t know.”
Though Williams acknowledged Criner has some familiarity with the state board, he said it doesn’t compare with Thompson’s experience. Criner, William said, needs more face time with community members, especially when it comes to education issues.
“She hasn’t been that active,” he told The Informer.
Longtime Ward 7 resident Lee Wilson expressed similar thoughts about Criner and Thompson.
“Since Eboni-Rose took office… she’s been to just about every Ward 7 school,” Wilson said. “Wendell Felder has the right to endorse Criner but I personally don’t know who she is. I couldn’t vote for someone I didn’t vote for and don’t have information on.”
Wilson also told The Informer that his support of Thompson stems, not only from her years of service, but her transparency and consistent communication with community members.
“She gives a regular report to the Ward 7 Democrats,” Wilson said. “As the past president of the Ward 7 Education Council, she regularly attends those meetings. She’s done a good job reaching out to the community and laying the groundwork for what the body does and it’s doing. More people would be able to hear her [but] they have to become involved and attend those meetings.”
Boston and Felder Question Thompsons Intentions
Another qualm that Boston had with Thompson centered on her decision to run for state board reelection after coming in third place in the Ward 7 D.C. Council Democratic primary.
“Eboni-Rose didn’t want the position anymore,” Boston said. “What’s that telling people in education? Either there’s nothing else she could do or want to do [on the state board], or it’s a stepping stone. I can’t speak to that. I can only speak for the results that we have with our young people.”
Felder, who’s in the thick of his own general election efforts, echoed Boston’s sentiments.
“If Eboni-Rose Thompson wanted to run for state board again, she shouldn’t have jumped in the council race,” Felder said. “I don’t know if her heart is in education or if the state board is a back-up plan.”
On Oct. 11, Felder officially endorsed Criner, citing her more-than-a-decade of education and advocacy experience.
While speaking with The Informer, Felder said he will work with Criner, or whoever else wins the Ward 7 SBOE race, to advance an education plan that brings principals, teachers, the Ward 7 education council and other stakeholders together.
Felder identified neighborhood schools, vocational education and language immersion programs, and workforce development as issues of note. He expressed respect for Criner’s engagement of Ward 7 residents in discussions about local education.
“Toni’s getting in front of neighbors and sharing her vision of what she wants to achieve in education,” Felder said. “She has the education policy experience that’s needed to move the needle forward. I see a host of opportunities to include both of us.”
On Monday, in response to a question about her state board reelection bid, Thompson told The Informer that she didn’t move any differently than Kelvin Brown and Ebony Payne, two former Ward 7 D.C. Council primary candidates who are running to keep their ANC seats for another two years.
Primary election results notwithstanding, Thompson said she stands ready to continue shaping education policy for Ward 7 residents.
“My goal is to always continue to be of service to the community, no matter the title,” Thompson said. “I think about how I can do the most good at any time. I never thought my work around education was done. There’s still a lot more that I can do.”
Wendell Felder isn’t even in office yet and he’s already twisting the record of an elected official who has been doing a good job on behalf of Ward 7 families and students. This comes off as him being bitter against a former challenger. It’s not like Wendell received a resounding mandate from voters to be the voice of Ward 7 – he only received 23% of the primary vote. In other words, only 23% of Ward 7 Democrats thinks he can do the job. No wonder Wendell and others in the establishment are so against rank-choice voting and opening primaries to Independents — because he would have lost. Maybe he should spend his final days of the campaign building bridges and not burning them.