I don’t know if I’ll win a seat on the Board of Education. I do know I’ll have the most fun election watch party, thanks to G.Wiz & Trackstar. I’m standing on the shoulders of giants.
Taco Menace will be there, so come with an appetite and a card/cash.
The PAC school board candidate forum was held on Thursday, March 27, at Vashon High School. Each candidate was asked to make a five-minute platform presentation supported by two optional slides and submit a written bio (up to 350 words).
Vision
Saint Louis Public Schools is the district of choice for families in the St. Louis region that provides a world-class education and is nationally recognized as a leader in student achievement and teacher quality.
Mission
We will provide a quality education for all students and enable them to realize their full intellectual potential.
Core Beliefs
This is the anti-platform platform presentation. In my opinion, it’s not helpful for each board member to have their own individual platform or for candidates to make grandstanding promises to get elected when, on their own, they won’t have the authority needed to deliver on them. The school board and superintendent are an eight-person team that operates by consensus. Fortunately, a shared vision, mission, and core beliefs for the district already exist. I cut and pasted the text for this slide from the SLPS website. This is what we’re all working toward.
“The course heretofore pursued by the Board I believe the proper one, and the only one it can pursue with safety; that is of counselling with their teachers in every proposed change, and following their advice. Heretofore there has been general unanimity among the teachers in respect to changes, and the initiatory steps have always been taken only after long and patient investigation had forced the conviction of its importance and necessity. The Board has heretofore been guided by the judgment of the teachers in this matter, and as it has never found its confidence misplaced nor abused, I hope the same principles will govern its course for the future.”
First Annual Report of the General Superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools, John H. Tice, 1854, pp. 16-17
The district was founded in 1838. I’ve been trying to get SLPS enrollment numbers for 1840-2020 to overlay them on a graph of the city’s population during the same period. It’s a quest that’s been harder than I expected.
It highlights the importance of maintaining complete and accurate records, like meeting minutes, in case someone is trying to piece things together 100 or 200 years later. It’s also a reminder that seemingly objective numbers require judgment calls, like distinguishing among registration, enrollment, and average daily attendance.
Looking for the data for 1840 and 1850 led me dig into the first annual report, which was released in 1854. Reading it was a reminder that being on the school board means being part of long history, and that’s a real honor.
Also, history repeats itself, or at least rhymes. In that first annual report from the superintendent, I came across this great quote that makes me think of Nahed Chapman New American Academy.
The short version is “Trust teachers.” They’re the people closest to the work. They should have been consulted before any decision was made. It’s a hard enough time to be a new American without adding additional uncertainty and instability to the lives of these families.
I’m not running because I want to be in charge. I’m running because I want to serve. That raises the question “Who do I want to serve?”
I’ve been an SLPS parent since 2012. My own kids are going to be fine no matter where they go to school. I’m not running for them. I’m running for kids like the ones at Nahed Chapman for whom the St. Louis Public Schools are their best shot at a better life.
Another thing I got out of reading the first annual report is a sense of optimism. The district has faced difficult issues throughout its history going back to 1838 and we’re still here. Now it’s our turn to keep it going.
I’m the only candidate who has kids enrolled in the district. I’ve been an SLPS parent since 2012. Before becoming a parent, I volunteered at Mann Elementary in south city and Bryan Hill Elementary in north city.
I’m a first-generation college graduate with an education degree from Mizzou, in addition to degrees in math and philosophy.
I’d be a certified high school math and Spanish teacher, if I’d done my student teaching my senior year. Instead, I started a web development company because I fell in love with the idea that information wants to be free. I have more than 25 years of IT experience. I’m good at analyzing data and making systems more efficient.
The hardest and most meaningful thing I’ve done is being the director of North St. Louis YouthBuild, a construction training and GED program in the Hyde Park neighborhood. I worked with neighborhood residents, students, board members, union representatives, social workers, parole officers, politicians, government officials, donors, and volunteers to build the program from the ground up. We converted a two-story Sunday school to a two-family home. When we started, the roof was in the basement. We did a lot of raising up. In the classroom, some of the 18-to-24-year-old students entered the program with 4th-grade reading levels.
In other leadership roles, I’ve been the president of Metropolis St. Louis, The Commonspace, and my neighborhood association, and vice-president of BWorks. I have a solid track record of collaborating with people in north city, south city, and the central corridor to help make St. Louis a better place.
If I’m elected, I’ll work with the six other board members and superintendent to foster community trust and engagement through proactive communication and transparent, ethical governance; plan for long-term financial sustainability by making wise and equitable use of taxpayer money; and support our teachers and parents in the shared quest to help all students achieve their full potential.
Our public schools are the cornerstone of democracy. I’m running to be an example of engaged citizenship for my kids and others. Voters can learn more about me at brianhmarston.com.
The American Federation of Teachers school board candidate forum was held at Vashon High School on Wednesday, February 26. Eight candidates and about 100 other people attended. There were plenty of more serious questions and answers during the evening, but I managed to work in an Arrested Development lyric: “Does shout bring about change? I doubt it. All shout does is Make. You. Lose. Your. Voice.”
My 15-second closing statement
“I support public schools. This room is what community looks like. You’re at the right forum. I have a trunk full of yard signs in the parking lot, if you’d like one.”
KMOV (First Alert 4) (I have a tiny bit of on-air time in the video.)
Last night, six other Board of Education candidates and I spoke at the 9th Ward Democratic Club meeting at Urban Chestnut (4465 Manchester). The ward includes the Central West End, Forest Park South East, and Kings Oak neighborhoods. Committeewoman Debra Loveless, Committeeman Parker Loveless, St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees candidate Holly Talir, and 9th Ward Alderman Michael Browning were also there. Alderman Browning endorsed me on February 5. I’m the only school board candidate he’s endorsed.
Tuesday, April 8
7 – 10 pm
St. Louis Skatium
120 E Catalan St / 63111
“Begin with the end in mind,” said Stephen Covey. Thinking about this watch party is helping me get through the campaign.
G.Wiz and Trackstar the DJ will be on the turntables. G.Wiz, the Godpops of St. Louis Hip-hop, directed The Rink, a documentary about local African-American rollerskating culture. The mayor’s office proclaimed October 21 to be G.Wiz Day in St. Louis. You might know Trackstar from his One Dollar Mix series, Rap Fan merchandise, or this little group called Run the Jewels.
Cash bar. Free admission and roller skate rental. I’ll be on my Soulboardiy + Carver CX and Santa Cruz + Waterborne Surf Adapter boards. Kids welcome.
I got up at 0-dark-thirty on Tuesday to head to the people’s house in Jefferson City for the Parents Day of Action with the Parent Action Council, St. Louis Public Schools, AFT Local 420, and Normandy Schools Collaborative. I met with State Representatives Bridget Walsh Moore, Michael Burton, and Elizabeth Fuchs who are all very supportive of public schools. The conversations on the bus were my favorite part. A lot of good people care a whole awful lot about SLPS.
On Wednesday, the Green Party of St. Louis hosted a rescheduled school board candidate forum at Legacy Bar & Grill in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers (Local 420), St. Louis Democratic Socialists, Universal African Peoples Organization, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Communities’ One Project, Ecumenical Leadership Council of Missouri, and Organization for Black Struggle. The event was covered by KSDK. My 10-year-old campaign manager made it into the newscast.
My name is Brian H. Marston.
I’m the only candidate who currently has kids enrolled in SLPS. I’ve been an SLPS parent since 2012.
I’m the only candidate who filed a January Quarterly Report with the Missouri Ethics Commission.That’s an indication of my commitment to ethics, transparency, and accurate accounting.
I’m a first-generation college graduate with an education degree. I also have degrees in math and philosophy.
I’d be a certified high school math and Spanish teacher, if I’d done my student teaching my senior year. Instead, I started a web development company because I fell in love with the idea that information wants to be free.
I have more than 25 years of IT experience. I’m good with spreadsheets and making systems and processes more efficient.
The hardest and most meaningful thing I’ve done is being the director of North St. Louis YouthBuild, a construction training and GED program in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
I worked with neighborhood residents, students, board members, union representatives, social workers, parole officers, politicians, government officials, donors, and volunteers to build the program from the ground up.
We converted a two-story Sunday school to a two-family building. When we started, the roof was in the basement, which was an apt metaphor for a lot of things. Some of the 18-to-24-year-old students entered the program with 4th-grade reading levels.
YouthBuild was housed on the corner of 19th and Newhouse at Friedens Church, which suffered a horrible fire two days ago, on Monday, Dr. Martin Luther King Day. I’m still trying to process that.
In other volunteer roles, I’ve been the president of The Commonspace, Metropolis St. Louis, and my neighborhood association, and vice-president of BWorks.
I have a solid track record of working with people in north city, south city, and the central corridor to help make St. Louis a better place.
Thank you to Legacy Bar & Grill for hosting this event, and to all the sponsoring groups for organizing the forum.
Most of all, thank you to all of you for caring enough to be here tonight. Our public schools are worth caring about. They’re the cornerstone of democracy. Both are under attack. Monday wasn’t just MLK Day and the day Friedens Church burned to the ground: it was also Inauguration Day. We’ve got some difficult days ahead.
The district and the board have received a lot of attention lately, most of it negative. I’m hoping we can work together to take that attention and turn it into positive outcomes.
My campaign site is at brianhmarston.com. I’ve got yard signs in my car, if you’d like one.
My son (and SLPS student) Milo Marston performed today with The Sheldon’s All-Star Chorus at UMSL’s MLK Day celebration. I didn’t really know what it means to be proud of someone until I had kids.
The keynote speaker was Fredrika Newton, Huey P. Newton’s widow. Her talk about being committed, body and soul, to the well-being of a community hit me hard. Afterwards, I made myself useful by taking group photos for people and got a chance to thank Fredrika. She wished me luck on my school board run.
I’m looking forward to participating in the conversation at the candidate forum on Wednesday, January 8, at 7 pm at Legacy Bar & Grill (5249 Delmar Blvd / 63108). It’s co-sponsored by the Green Party of St. Louis, American Federation of Teachers Local 420, Community One Project, Organization for Black Struggle, Universal African Peoples Organization, and Coalition with STL Kids.
Update: The forum has been cancelled due to weather conditions.
Today, I attended the winter concert at an SLPS elementary school (a joyful celebration) and a St. Louis Public Radio community listening session about the district (an intense discussion).