To everything, a season

Dear Friends and Supporters;

I'm writing to inform you that after a great deal of soul searching I have decided not to seek another term as a member of the Minneapolis Board of Education.

I ran for this office in 2006 because I was deeply frustrated by the countless news stories about chaos in Minneapolis Public Schools. Having worked with families in poverty I was aware of how systems meant to help are often unsuccessful. Instead of complaining about the failing schools I decided to launch an unlikely campaign for a school board seat.

The short story is that I won. Back then I made campaign promises. I took them seriously and returned to them often.

I promised to fight for safe, orderly, and academically rigorous schools that lead to college or a high-wage, high-growth occupation. This single sentence vision statement allowed me to focus in the areas I felt most responsible for providing each child with a quality educational experience.

Parents across economic and cultural lines have voiced their concerns about behavior in our schools, and they have expressed a belief that there are low expectations for students of color. Students have also told us they are tired of disruptions to their education. My response to these concerns has been to spotlight evidence-based school-wide behavior programming as a way of insuring our students have access to optimal learning environments. I have also forcefully advocated for an equitable distribution of college preparatory courses and Career & Technical Education that prepares students for the mainstream economy.

I promised to pursue a reform oriented strategic plan aimed at raising achievement for our city's neediest children. To that end I have focused on the creation of an Office of New Schools as a way to develop schools with great promise to perform better for students we struggle to educate. I also have committed myself to the issue of educational equity with a focus on access and opportunity.

I promised that I would advocate for authentic parent and community engagement, especially for marginalized families. In September of 2008 the MPS signed a Covenant with the African American community that aims to transform our district's relationship with black parents and community members. As chair of our Board's Equity and Achievement committee I put a focus on relationship building with community partners that serve Native American, Latino, and African immigrant communities. I have supported Connecting Parents to Educational Opportunity, the MPS' version of a nationally respected model that helps parents to support the educational goals of their kids. And, in collaboration with Minneapolis peace advocates I authored and introduced a resolution that protects MPS students from overreaching military recruiting practices.

I also promised to start an honest conversation about race in Minneapolis. In 2008 our board engaged in a facilitated discussion regarding race which led to a series of community conversations. While I believe it was a good start I'm not satisfied that our efforts have changed the game, but it was a start. We still need brave people to enable a balanced discussion that addresses the historic pain and marginalization that continues to injure people of color while at the same time not making enemies of the majority population. We need a way forward to address race and class in education, politics, and society, but the route will be a complex one with few examples of success.

I admit my transition from private citizen to public official could have been smoother. I'm pleased with the work I’ve done, but I regret the fact that I've sold a few more newspapers than I needed to. Frankly, I could have been more edited. Passion for a noble cause need not be impolitic. I spend my days thinking of ways to build bridges, find common ground, and provide help to those that need it. I’m saddened by any other impression my approach has fostered.

The great thing about private life is the luxury of failing in private. The great thing about public life is the mandate of growing publicly.

I came to the board as an evangelical social conservative that sought to introduce radical corporate reforms to a district that seemed at its liberal end. Today I have a richer appreciation for the art that is teaching; a deeper understanding of the nuances in public education that defy rigid ideology; and an enormous respect for the nearly religious dedication that MPS workers show every day. Though I still exist right of center when it comes to school reform, I exist there with an earned humility and the notable experience of being flat out wrong a number of times.

My own family has grown by two babies during my term on the board. My wife Kristi has been longsuffering about the hours away from home board work requires. She has had the unenviable job of keeping me grounded and sane through tense times, and I can tell you that she has done so with a level of benevolence no man should expect. I’m blessed to have married up and I want to honor that bit of realism by dedicating more of my time to my family.

I will leave office in 2011 knowing that we attend better to children in poverty; we are working a reform plan that seeks to create a portfolio of excellent schools; we have a greater degree of budgetary transparency; and we have a district that is closer to the size it needs to be in order to serve the students we have. We are far from out of the woods in terms of educational equity, however, I'm deeply satisfied that MPS is no longer unfocused, unplanned, or without a discernible mission. We are better than what we were when I took office in 2007.

Finally, I want to sincerely thank you for being engaged in public education. In three short years I have learned fascinating lessons from a excellent mosaic of people that have expanded the depth of my ideas and tested the strength of my convictions. I have looked into the faces of your children and I have seen God's great promise and your love in them. In every corner of Minneapolis we have youth to be proud of and parents that give of themselves in a way that reminds me there is a lot of good in the world. My life is richer for having connected with you all.

Thanks a million!

Chris Stewart