Meet Ron Lewis and Read Why He Supports James Harris
Vote for James Harris on November 8 in the Oakland school board District 7 race
I was born and raised right here in District 7. While I went to a nearby Catholic school, pretty much everybody in my neighborhood attended Oakland public schools. That made me notice early on that the quality and rigor of my friends’ education varied drastically depending on their teacher or school. This lack of consistency was really troubling.
I support James Harris for our school board because I know he’s troubled by this too. Through observing his work all these years, I’ve admired his tremendous commitment to our community and his example of servant leadership. He makes the time to meet with Oakland families, administrators and students to make sure he prioritizes their needs.
You don’t see that with all leaders today. At times, school board candidates can put their political ambition first, and students and families second. With James, it’s the opposite. He is motivated entirely by figuring out how we can create greater equity in our schools. And he’s constantly meeting with folks in our community to make it happen.
I admire the tremendous amount of work James puts into his position. Over the past four years, James has had the highest school board meeting attendance rate among the current board members by rarely missing a vote. He shows up every day, votes on every initiative and does his best to reflect the thoughts and needs of his constituents.
As a native to Oakland, James also has a personal understanding of the city he serves. That’s incredibly important for me. Anyone who grows up in Oakland knows that people here are very community-oriented and proud of their city. It makes a difference to have school board members who are not only a face at meetings and formal events, but also actively connected and engaged with the people who live here.
As a native to Oakland, James also has a personal understanding of the city he serves. That’s incredibly important for me. Anyone who grows up in Oakland knows that people here are very community-oriented and proud of their city. It makes a difference to have school board members who are not only a face at meetings and formal events, but also actively connected and engaged with the people who live here.
James also knows what it takes to manage educational organizations sustainably in the long-term. In many conversations around educational equity, we spend most our time thinking about academics and curriculum, and overlook the protocols and processes that allow schools and organizations to run at a high caliber. But James does not neglect the operational side of education. He uses his political position to make the decisions and partnerships we need so that work gets done better and faster. He’s also a huge advocate of holistic education. He’s worked hard to push social-emotional curriculum across the district, and mindfulness is something I know he also practices personally.
James’ amazing leadership will also give the board the continuity and consistency it needs. While many school board members move frequently, James has shown deep commitment to this work. Things changing course midway does not benefit our students. I’m excited to give James the opportunity to continue many of the initiatives that he has already began.
Please join me in voting for James Harris on November 8th, or earlier if you vote by mail.
In community,
Ron Lewis
Ron Lewis currently works as the Regional Manager of New Partnerships with eSpark Learning. He met James Harris through their collaborative work in Oakland’s education sector. He has considered him a good friend and mentor ever since.