Ayesha Wilson
2019 Candidate for Cambridge School Committee
Home address:
15 Concord Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
or
P.O. Box 382447
Cambridge, MA 02238
Contact information:
email: Ayesha@voteayesha.com
phone: 857-209-4887
website: https://www.voteayesha.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/voteayesha19
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VoteAyesha19/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voteayesha/
Send contributions to:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/voteayesha
Ayesha Wilson is a new candidate this year.
June 19, 2019 Statement:
It is with great humility and respect that I announce my candidacy for Cambridge School Committee. In the beautiful words of the late Whitney Houston, “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well, and let them lead the way…” The School Committee is the most powerful organization to providing creative, innovative, equitable and intentional learning for the children of tomorrow. I believe I am fully capable of being a part of this leadership role for the City of Cambridge.
I am a first-born first-generation Caribbean-American female. I was raised by a single-mother in the Jefferson Park public housing development in North Cambridge. The City of Cambridge provided me with a unique source of education from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Some people cannot say that one district is responsible for their educational foundation, however and gratefully, I can. In the late 1980’s, my education in Cambridge consisted of wonderful black and brown teachers. Teachers who talked often to my classmates and I about being successful, and the dedicated roadmap to achieving academic success. Now, as an adult, I reflect on this experience as a powerful one, which set the tone for what I believe all students need to be academically engaged and successful.
The issues I would like to initiate or advance are:
- School Climate and Discipline:
As a school committee member, I would like to introduce and pilot Restorative Justice practices to ensure that we implement a community-like approach within the discipline of CPS. - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:
Having had teachers of color from K-3 in CPS, I understand the value and importance that teachers of color bring to the learning environment. I would like to prioritize Dr. Salim’s pathway to classroom teaching for our paraprofessionals. - Social-emotional and cultural competency training for educators:
We need to supply teachers with adequate tools and resources to best meet the needs of ALL students. I propose annual specialized social-emotional, trauma-informed, and culturally competent professional development trainings. This will best benefit the culture in CPS immensely. - Universal Pre-K:
As a school committee member, I want to see us actively working with community based providers to implement a quality level of learning frameworks, so that universal pre-k can be available for all 3-4 year olds by 2022-2023 school year.
Cambridge is a city where many innovative, progressive, and high-quality systems are being created and implemented. This community has experienced micro and macro aggressions, inequities, and blatant racism and discrimination. These forms of oppression in our education system are unacceptable and do not foster a school climate that promotes safety and wellness for all. Equity is critical in thinking about how we as a community are supporting our students to becoming prospering adults. We must implement an opportunity for learning that is not a cookie cutter approach for the non-traditional learner.
My current role within the City of Cambridge, and my connections to current students (soon to be voters), alumni, and their families, as well as colleagues and like-minded individuals throughout the city will support my vision, and ultimately vote #1 for me. Currently, I am a Teacher-Counselor for the Work Force program of the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA), which I am an alumna, and my site is based in the Cambridge Rindge and Latin high school, which I am also an alumna. So I feel as though my world has come full circle; giving back and working for the programs that supported me as a youth in Cambridge. I have great confidence in my abilities to identify and implement high equity needs to support the success of ALL youth in Cambridge.
In the upcoming 2019 elections for Cambridge School Committee, I am confident that I can win. I am looking to supporting the students who are vulnerable, who don’t have strong relationships with their teachers, and work with the administrators on building the skills necessary to support and teach all students. I believe that the talent across the CPS staff is wonderful for our district, yet, we can all benefit from social-emotional and cultural sensitivity skills training in order to see each child as the “whole” student and meet them where they are. Together we can empower our schools and inspire our community. Together We Are Better!
Sincerely, Ayesha Wilson
CCTV candidate video (2019)