Responses of Keenan Keller to GLAA 2004 Questionnaire
for D.C. Board of Education Candidates
| Yes/No (+/- 2) |
Substance (+/- 4) |
Record (+/- 3) |
Championship (+/- 1) |
Total (+/- 10) |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | +8 |
1. Do you recognize the right of our public school students to organize clubs to promote lesbian and gay civil rights, to combat homophobic violence and prejudice, and to provide socializing opportunities for lesbian and gay youth?
Yes: I recognize these rights of public school students. My support of these rights is well established through my work as Democratic Counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, where I have been actively involved in national policymaking around GLBT issues. As a civil rights specialist, I have drafted legislation and strategy around the issues of hates crimes and FMA, while speaking at meetings around the country in support of expanded federal protection for the GLBT community.
2. Do you recognize the right of students to bring dates of the same sex to school proms and other official public school social functions?
Yes: As noted above, I have been a consistent and open advocate against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
3. Will you oppose efforts to restrict or censor books or other materials in our public school libraries that discuss homosexuality in a positive and supportive manner?
Yes: I oppose censorship and strongly support 1st Amendment rights, including the right of public school students to have access to a wide variety of literary materials. Moreover, I believe that it is important for students to have access to educational materials that allow them to explore and develop a strong self identity. Access to self-affirming materials in schools has long been the goal of other minority groups, and the GLBT community is entitled to the same status.
4. Do you support the efforts of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) to provide gay positive books to DCPS school libraries?
Yes: As a member of the Diverse Community Committee at NCRC, a local, private preschool, I have drafted and supported policies to provide such materials for the school library. We also have age-appropriate gay positive books in our home for our children (aged 3 and 7).
5. Do you favor training programs for professional development of teachers, counselors, and other school system staff, such as those offered by the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), to help these professionals to nurture positive identity formation for lesbian and gay students?
Yes: With the changing nature of families, it is important for the DCPS staff to have regular access to professional development that will assist them in serving the needs of all students, including the GLBT community. As a member of NCRC’s Diverse Community Committee, I have drafted and supported school policies to support and require professional development that will allow staff to understand the spectrum of issues facing students and families, specifically including the GLBT community.
6. From time to time, D.C. public school teachers have invited openly gay men and women to speak in their classes and to answer students' questions about homosexuality. Do you support the right of our teachers to continue inviting such speakers?
Yes: I believe that such appearances are important and provide the opportunity for all students to meet potential role-models and mentors.
7. Do you support the condom availability program established in 1992, and operated by the Department of Health, in our public schools?
Yes: Health policy should be grounded in the reality facing our community, and school health policy should address the reality faced by students. As condoms have been shown to provide protection from the transmission of STDs, it would be irresponsible to limit their availability.
8. Will you work to implement a comprehensive sex education program in the D.C. Public Schools that teaches that homosexuality is part of the normal range of human sexuality, consistent with existing DCPS policy?
Yes: Like health policy, educational policy should be grounded in the reality facing our school communities. These realities support existing DCPS policy of a comprehensive sex education program. Such a program is particularly critical given the ravages of AIDS and other STDs, because only an open and unbiased discussion will help students develop the knowledge to make responsible choices.
9. Will you oppose the use of either federal or District taxpayer funds to promote so-called "abstinence-only-until-marriage" sex education that undermines safer-sex programs by discouraging the use of condoms and that tells gay and lesbian students that they must be celibate forever because they may not legally marry?
Yes: Such programs are political agendas masked as rational health policy. By ignoring science and the reality of human nature, such "abstinence-only-until-marriage" programs fail to prepare student for making responsible life choices, and several studies have shown that these programs do not work. In my professional capacity, I have advocated against such proposals on a federal level.
10. The D.C. Human Rights Act prohibits the District from conferring any "benefit" or "advantage" to any group not fully in compliance with the D.C. Human Rights Act. Currently DCPS provides recruiting opportunities, school programs, and direct sponsorship of scout troops despite the finding of the D.C. Human Rights Commission that the Boy Scouts' discriminatory policy against gay people is illegal. Will you work to end the special benefits that the Boy Scouts receive and require that they be treated as any other outside group?
Yes: As a former Boy Scout, I was disappointed that the national organization took such a divisive position. It was my personal experience that individual scouting organizations were inclusive of sexual orientation, as my Scout Troop had openly gay leaders in the 1970s. I plan to work with local organizations and the national BSA to end these discriminatory policies. Until changes are made, local law should dictate their treatment by DCPS.
11. Recent federal court rulings and D.C. law recognize that harassment against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students is illegal with the school system liable if harassment continues. Do you support the DCPS policy designed to stop harassment and sexual harassment?
Yes: Every student should be provided with a safe learning environment. I believe that DCPS needs to have a strong and consistently implemented policy against harassment in order to protect all students as well as to protect the school system from civil liability.
12. Will you oppose both federally and locally funded voucher programs that place students in religious schools and outside the protections of the D.C. Human Rights Act?
Yes: While the creation of voucher programs is outside the jurisdiction of the Board of Education, I oppose programs that pit schools against one another and reduce the resources available for public education. To address the massive needs of DCPS will require re-investment in the system. Vouchers are a symptom of lack of confidence and a drain on resources, in addition to using public money to place students in schools that are not subject to the protection of the D.C. Human Rights Act.
Record
Your record is part of your rating. Please list any actions that you have taken that may help illustrate your record on behalf of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders.
Active Record on GLBT Issues –
As Democratic Counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, I have been actively involved in national policymaking around GLBT issues. As a civil rights specialist, I have drafted legislation and strategy around the issues of hates crimes and FMA, while speaking at meetings around the country in support of expanded federal protection for the GLBT community. Most recently, I managed time and drafted statements for Rep. John Conyers on the Hate Crimes motion to instruct on the Hose floor. I work closely with HRC and other groups to ensure that the GLBT community is well represented at the congressional staff level. For example, I have worked to ensure that the transgender community is covered by the protections of the proposed hate crimes bill.
In the area of local politics, I co-chaired the Constitution and By-Laws Committee of the D.C. Democratic State Committee, which drafted amendments that created a seat on the DCDSC for GLBT Democratic political groups.
At the school specific level, I drafted the diversity mission statement of the National Child Research Center, an independent preschool. The statement specifically recognized GLBT families as valued members of the school community and mandated resource and staff development requirements.
Statement of Candidacy:
I am seeking election to the Board of Education because our children and community deserve a Board with highly-qualified members who are strongly committed to excellence in public education. The Board faces many challenges, but the most fundamental is restoring community confidence in the school system’s ability to prepare our students for the future.
The recent progress made by other city agencies has bypassed our public school system. In the face of crumbling schools and stagnant test scores, critical segments of the community have lost confidence and are looking elsewhere for answers. The current Board has operated in a crisis mode, fostering this instability and frustrating the best efforts of our local teachers and principals.
Through prudent strategic planning, the Board must inspire confidence in parents, neighbors, local institutions and other stakeholders. The public school system must earn community support in order to implement innovative solutions. I will bring broad experience in business, government, and non-profit organizations to the issues facing DCPS’ multi-million dollar enterprise.
My specific plans to rebuild a school system that offers every child a quality education are:
1. District-Wide Curriculum:
I support a district-wide curriculum for DCPS, because it would help to ensure that every child receives a quality education and is judged by the same standards. As a member of the Board of Education, I will advocate to: 1) ensure that the superintendent develops a strong, flexible curriculum and training program; 2) provide a consistent funding stream to the schools for implementation; and 3) ensure that the curriculum and training are effectively implemented by developing and applying standards that measure how much students are improving (from where they begin), not just whether they meet an arbitrary goal.
2. Appropriate Facilities:
The unsafe and dilapidated conditions found in many of our schools make it difficult or impossible for our children to learn. To fully address the school repair and rebuilding needs will require the investment of $800 million. The Board must work with the superintendent, DCPS staff, and the city and federal governments to develop long range plans for funding and implementing the restoration of our schools. In addition, we must work together to incorporate short range plans for ensuring that building-level projects (such as window replacement) are implemented right away to ensure the immediate safety and cleanliness of our children’s learning spaces.
3. Support for New Teachers:
Hiring and keeping top quality teachers is another critical component to improving student performance. The current rate of teacher attrition in DCPS is directly connected to the lack of ongoing support for our teachers. The new Teacher Induction program for first year teachers is a good first step. As a Board Member, I will support full financing for this program and insist on regular oversight hearings to ensure that the program meets the expectations of the staff and community. In addition, I will work with other Board members and DCPS staff on plans to expand this type of training and support to all teachers in our schools.
4. Rationalize Local School Budgeting:
Under the current DCPS system, local schools must juggle resources – and even cut teachers – two months into the school year. The Board should realign its fiscal year to produce firm local school budgets as the year begins. The Board must require DCPS staff to implement effective early student registration programs and provide accurate estimates of upcoming student populations. When budgets are established, reserves must be included so that unexpected enrollment decreases do not require cutting teachers in the middle of a school year. To provide a buffer, full funding for librarians, nurses, counselors, and art, science, and gym teachers should be built into basic school budgets.
5. Improved Special Education:
Our schools must provide high-quality education for all students, including those with special needs. The Board must take the lead in finding common ground to produce an appropriate resolution of the ongoing litigation, so that our money can be spent on improving education. For example, with regard to the exorbitant amounts DCPS spends to transport special education students, transportation vouchers would allow parents to cover expenses, while enabling budgetary control. Such savings could be combined with other funding to develop quality programs within DCPS, and ultimately reduce the need for students to be sent to other schools at DCPS expense.
6. Local School Flexibility
DCPS faces the daunting challenge of ensuring quality resources and educational standards, while responding to the desire for greater school choice. Local School Restructuring Teams generally fulfill the need for local input, but not all have been effective. The resistance to centralization is understandable and stems primarily from the repeated failures of the central office to be responsive to local needs. As a Board Member, I will advocate for standardized resources and curriculum, but with implementation flexibility that takes into account local school differences. This approach will support improved student performance overall, while preserving local flexibility that is responsive to the demand for choice.
7. Vocational Education
An important goal of every school system is college and workforce readiness for its students. While DCPS has made strides in college preparation through the creation of an International Baccalaureate program, vocational education remains a missing priority. The school system must pay attention to students who will not be attending college and provide curriculum and programs to prepare them for our increasingly high-technology work force. DCPS must follow the lead of successful nearby communities, which have met this challenge by creating state-of-the-art school facilities and programs that balance the academic and vocational/ technical needs of students who are not college-bound.
Your vote and participation are the keys to building a better DCPS. As a nearly billion dollar enterprise, Board members must have the experience to tame crisis-level budget, procurement and human resource issues. We simply cannot afford the status quo or someone who needs on-the-job training. We must make a commitment to excellence in education. Our children and community deserve no less. Please join with me in building quality public schools.
Keenan Keller
Biographical Information
Keenan Keller has always made educational issues a priority, with a focus on both school operations and governance. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the National Child Research Center and the Local School Restructuring Team (LSRT) of Bancroft Elementary School in Mount Pleasant. He has been appointed by the Superintendent to serve on the DCPS Volunteerism Taskforce and Bilingual Education Joint Advisory Committee.
Keenan has been active in the community for years, serving on numerous community boards in the Washington, D.C. area. In 1997, he was elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for Mount Pleasant and, in 2000, he was elected to the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee, where he has chaired the Constitution and By-laws Committee and served on the Executive Committee. He currently serves on the boards of the D.C. Urban Forest Council and the Healthy D.C. Foundation (as treasurer). Since 2001, he has served as one of Mayor Williams’ appointees to the D.C. Police Standards and Training Board.
Professional – Keenan is Senior Democratic Counsel for the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representatives and Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. He drafts and analyzes legislation on a wide range of issues, including civil rights, criminal and constitutional law questions. He is a graduate of Brown University and the Yale Law School. Following law school, he served as law clerk to Judge Myron Thompson of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.
Family – Keenan is the father of two daughters, Claire (a DCPS second grader) and Lillian (age three). His wife, Donna, is an attorney with the United States Department of Justice. The family attends St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church.