Nial Sherwood Williams

Age: 35

Family: Decline

Occupation: 1776 Alaska – Freedom and Liberty Worldwide

Previous government experience or community involvement: Political/Community Organizer

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s

What is the latest book you’ve read? Or, what book do you recommend and why?: Emile: Treatise on Education, Rousseau

Why are you running?

To stand up against the ASD money machine and balance the budget.

What is the role of the school board as it relates to the school superintendent and the operation of the district?

To represent the voters’ interests

Do you support public money funding education in public schools? (Yes-No) Why?

No. The majority of the money paid for the children’s’ education is squandered on administration and bureaucracy. Money is then stolen by the unions. What the children are left with is failing schools and lower standards.

Do you have children in Anchorage public schools now? How did they handle pandemic virtual learning? If they attended in the past, how was that experience?

Decline

Can the ASD continue to afford so many different schools of choice? Could these many options be a distraction from the mission of excellence for all students?

91 buildings worth over $2 billion. Yet the buildings supposedly have a $780 million construction backlog. Stop wasting money. Sell half the buildings that are dilapidated. Use proceeds from sales to refurbish remainder of properties.

What ideas do you have to incentivize the best and brightest teachers to come to this district and do great work? What ideas do you have to encourage teacher longevity?

Link pay directly to results in math, science and technology by the students. Standardized test results determine pay.

National studies indicate closed schools and/or prolonged online learning has not been successful for all. What ideas do you have to recover this learning loss?

Reopen all schools immediately. Never close them again.

How will you reach out to the different community constituencies to hear concerns about their students’ education?

I will hold monthly constituent forums that can be attended by anyone who wishes to speak. Email and phone will be responded to with a regular timeline, one day or less.

Given the rich diversity of our school district and community, what is the best approach to equitably meet the needs of all students, regardless of socio-economic differences?

Keep the bar high. Teach people to achieve success. Demand excellence and you will see the children rise to the occasion.

What ideas do you have to ensure that English Language Learners and students with disabilities have equal learning opportunities in the Anchorage School District?

This question is loaded. Equal opportunities will lead to failure in many instances. But individualized success and support plans can help ELL and special needs students thrive.
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