In case you missed it, Dr. Barrett Petty recently shared why he is running for the school board.
“I have a passion for public education and for making it better for all students.”
Dr. Petty is an experienced educator with degrees from Harding University, John Brown University, and University of Central Arkansas.
His 12 years in the classroom put him in touch with the needs of teachers and students alike. His agenda? Academic achievement and literacy.
Petty believes that “School board races should not be partisan. However, there are examples of it being partisan and maybe they should be called out.”
So let’s call it out:
Why did his opponent, Jason Sandefer, decide to run?
“I had a friend call me. [He was] very passionate about wanting to keep the district conservative. If you take the Christians out, what do you have left? It is just darkness.”
Sandefer quit the school board five days later.
And yet, he’s got fear of missing out watching his school board friends banning more books. But that’s okay, Sandefer believes that if he “doesn’t agree with someone’s beliefs,” he can “still have compassion.”
Where is compassion when you deny someone’s identity? Where is compassion when you fail to promise the most basic protections to students who are most at risk for low achievement, self harm, and illiteracy?
Barrett will listen to the needs of our students, teachers, and community, setting aside his own preconceptions “to hear from all families, even when it’s uncomfortable.”
When all students are free to learn and bring their whole self to school, everybody wins.
Vote for Barrett Petty on Tuesday, May 13, and put fair-minded leadership back into the driver’s seat.