Jana Johnson-Davis announced she will seek the at-large seat on the Decatur School Board.

Elections are Nov. 5 and the at-large seat was recently vacated by Annie Caiola. The winner of this election will serve a two year term.

Johnson-Davis spent eight years as a teacher at Renfroe Middle School where she served on the Building Leadership Team and the Equity Team. She is also the 2014 recipient of Renfroe’s Woman of the Year Award. She is a founding member of the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights. The organization is headed up by her husband, attorney Mawuli Davis, and works to address racial inequality in City Schools of Decatur.

“I believe that my work as a teacher in the City Schools of Decatur and as a community organizer have prepared me for this opportunity,” Jana said in a press release. “I still have a feeling of responsibility for the students in CSD, and I believe that I have more to give them. Joining CSD’s School Board just feels like a natural progression.”

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Here is her full campaign announcement:

Decatur Resident Announces Candidacy for School Board

On Sunday, July 28th, Decatur resident Jana Johnson-Davis announced her candidacy for the City Schools of Decatur (CSD) Board of Education. Jana will campaign for the At-Large seat [formerly] held by Annie Caiola, who is leaving the board after serving with distinction since 2013.

Jana lives in Decatur with her husband, Mawuli, and two sons, who are both graduates of Decatur High School. She’s served the Decatur community and schools since moving to the neighborhood 6 years ago, volunteering thousands of hours in the community and classroom. As a teacher at Renfroe Middle School for eight years, Jana was a member of the Building Leadership Team and the Equity Team. In 2014, Jana was awarded Renfroe’s Woman of the Year Award.

A veteran educator with 14 years of teaching experience, Jana understands the needs of teachers, administrators, parents and most importantly, the students. Jana was club sponsor of Renfroe’s Young Ladies of Excellence. In that role, she mentored over 120 girls. In addition, she co-wrote and produced the school’s Black History Month plays from 2013-2019. Additionally, Jana proposed, developed, and taught the school system’s first social justice themed design cycle class.

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“I believe that my work as a teacher in the City Schools of Decatur and as a community organizer have prepared me for this opportunity,” Jana says. “I still have a feeling of responsibility for the students in CSD, and I believe that I have more to give them.

Joining CSD’s School Board just feels like a natural progression.” My goals for CSD include:

– Promote continued collaboration among community partners, local elected officials, and school personnel to ensure that positive student outcomes and responsible financial stewardship are at the forefront of decision-making.

– Encourage ongoing strategic planning that closes the achievement gap, while ensuring that the City Schools of Decatur continues to be recognized as one of the top-tier school systems in the State of Georgia and

– Ensure that all children are afforded opportunities to excel based on evidenced- based practices for optimal student outcomes.

– Identify practical solutions for critical challenges including equitable education, student enrollment growth, and the recruitment and retention of diverse school administrators, teachers and staff, which are consistent with our community’s values.”

Jana is a dedicated community organizer. She is a founding member of the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights, a Decatur based organization recently recognized by the Decatur Housing Authority for its work in the City Schools of Decatur.

“I believe that CSD can be a model for other districts regarding equity in education, and I am confident in my ability to help us get there.”

Jana has a BS in Business Administration from Florida A&M University and an MA in Urban Education from Goddard College and an Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College. She is currently the Internship Director for the Davis Bozeman Law Firm.

“While our district continues to face significant challenges, I have no doubt that new energy, leadership and a spirit of collaboration can ignite our community’s educational potential to forge a better, more prepared future. I humbly ask for your support in November.”

For more information, check out Jana’s website at: jana4schoolboard.com.

Here are the rules for anyone who wants to seek a seat on the City Commission or School Board this year:

The Decatur City Commission officially announces the Call for the City’s General Election to be held in the City of Decatur, Georgia, on November 5, 2019 for three Decatur Board of Education members for four year terms of office, and three City of Decatur Commissioners for four year terms, such terms to begin at the organizational meeting in January 2020.

One City Commissioner from Election District 1, Post B (Held by Scott Drake, who is not seeking reelection.)

One City Commissioner from Election District 2, Post B (Held by Brian Smith, who is not seeking reelection.)

One City Commissioner from Election District at Large (Held by Tony Powers, who is running for another term.)

One Decatur Board of Education member from Election District 1, Post B (Held by Garrett Goebel, who is not seeking reelection.)

One Decatur Board of Education member from Election District 2, Post B (Held by Tasha White, who will run for another term.)

One Decatur Board of Education member, At-Large (Held by Annie Caiola, who is resigning next month. Editor’s note: The election for this seat will be to finish Caiola’s term. The winner of this election will have to run for another four-year term after serving a short two-year term.) 

DeKalb County will conduct this election at the following proposed precincts.

Note: precincts are subject to change.

Election District        District :         Polling Place for Election

Clairemont East               1                 : First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Ave

Clairemont West              1                 : The Church at Decatur Heights, 735 Sycamore Drive

Glenwood Precinct          1&2            : Holy Trinity Parish, 515 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.

Oakhurst                          2                 : Oakhurst Baptist Church, 222 E. Lake Dr.

Ponce De Leon              1&2              : First Christain Church of Decatur, 601 W. Ponce de Leon Ave

Renfroe                             2                : Renfroe Middle School, 220 W. College Ave.

Winnona Park                   2                : Winnona Park Elementary School, 510 Avery St.

Each candidate will file notice of his or her candidacy and the appropriate affidavit in the office of the Election Superintendent at City Hall, 509 North McDonough Street, Decatur, Georgia.  The opening dates for qualifying will start Monday, August 19, 2019 beginning at 8:30 A.M., and continuing until Wednesday August 21, 2019 at 4:30 P.M. The qualifying fee for City Commission office is $360.00 and the qualifying fee for Board of Education members is $35.00.

Registration for voting in the November 5, 2019 election will cut off on Tuesday, October 7, 2019.

For the November 5, 2019 General Municipal Election, the Absentee Poll will open 22 days prior to the Election

(October 14, 2019).  All Advance Voting (Absentee in person) will be held at 4380 Memorial Drive, Monday through Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., October 15, 2019 through November 1, 2019.  Questions concerning absentee voting, early voting or voter registration should be directed to DeKalb County Elections Division at 404-298-4020.

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