The liberal/progressive Great Schools in Wake Coalition is being praised for helping oust the Republican majority on the Wake County school board.
In this week's issue of the liberal Independent Weekly, GSIW received one of the publication's 2012 Citizen Awards. The article cites Great Schools' various efforts over the past two years such as its white papers, community forums and having members speak at school board meetings.
"When the 2011 elections in Wake County resulted in a stunning defeat for the Republicans, with all five school board seats on the ballot won by pro-diversity candidates, GSIW was the major factor in the outcome," according to the article by Bob Geary.
GSIW's role as a model for other progressive groups is also cited by Rob Schofield, research director of the liberal N.C. Policy Watch, which is affiliated with Great Schools.
"When people around North Carolina ask me what they can do about the right's takeover of state government," Schofield says, "I tell them to learn about Great Schools in Wake and then do the exact same things. If it weren't for two years of tireless work by the volunteers at Great Schools in Wake, the right-wing takeover of the Wake County schools would still be in full swing."
In the article, GSIW praises the new board majority while also pledging to be as demanding a watchdog with them as it was with the old board. (Calling them non-political and non-partisan, Geary declines to call them a Democratic board majority.)
"We pulled ourselves back from the cliff of re-segregated schools," said Yevonne Brannon, chairwoman of Great Schools, in the article. "The community said 'no, that's not who we are.' So we have a chance, and I think we have the right people in place at the right time to move us forward."
The article also goes over the history of the group that went from being a core group that's "a little heavy on magnet-school moms" to "a powerhouse network of individuals and groups with ties throughout Wake County."
Comments
Keep plugging your lefty-buddies TK
Thu, 01/19/2012 - 22:30 — AgentPierceKeep plugging every little radical left "alternative newspaper" you can Keung. They are "free" you know TK. Maybe the N&O should go that direction.... might reverse that downward death spiral of the recent decade.
The Indy also has interesting ad partners TK. You are such a avid supporter of their paper. Do you also support their advertisers too?
Has The Carolinian given out any awards to their left-wing cronies lately? If they do I'm sure you will tell us, right?
crazy man posts crazy things
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 16:47 — festusObsessed much, AP?
That, even for you, is
Thu, 01/19/2012 - 23:19 — KeungHui (author)That, even for you, is tacky. But then again, what can you expect from a hypocrite who accuses me of being biased when I blog about liberal sources but ignores when I blog about conservative ones.
Open Invitation....
Thu, 01/19/2012 - 23:33 — AgentPierceI will debate you anywhere anytime TK on the subject of N&O partisan bias and your active participation in that bias.
What was "tacky" about it? Do you have a problem with The Indy's ad partners? Discuss that with your buddy Bob Geary.
Any time .... any where Keung. Bring Rob, Steve, Geary, Cash, Gerrick, Barber, Perry.... all your buddies. Lets sell tickets.
...
Thu, 01/19/2012 - 22:25 — SideburnsWas this given out right after the "Best Adult Classified Ad" award?
Ha!
Thu, 01/19/2012 - 23:21 — Bob_SconceNow that's funny.
I'm So...
Thu, 01/19/2012 - 18:20 — JanisTangosurprised. Who would have thought that a liberal 'tabloid' would give an award to a liberal group!
WOW...
Thu, 01/19/2012 - 18:14 — KevPerduethis is about as prestigous as the Long Leaf Pine Award! I'm sure Bev wanted to hand that one out to this group, but she does have an election she needs to focus on losing this year!