tommy

for
School board

Tommy Wells
for DC School board

Wards 5 and 6
(District 3)

A champion for our children
An advocate for our schools

Paid for by Wells for School Board, David Sheldon, Treasurer
Our campaign report is on file with the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance.

a champion for children

Tommy's professional life has been motivated by his desire — and ability — to build consensus for constructive change in the lives of , our most vulnerable children. As the executive director of the DC Consortium for Child Welfare, Tommy has:

• Led a successful effort to create child welfare/family support collaboratives in eight DC neighborhoods.
• Created a foster care program for children affected by HIV/AIDS, for which he won a national award from the Child Welfare League of America.
• Dramatically reduced the number of days that abandoned infants and children reside unnecessarily in local hospitals by facilitating a unique agreement among the hospitals, the court, social service agencies, city attorneys, and a private foundation.

Before joining the Consortium, Tommy was a social worker in the DC Government's Child Protective Services Division, working in the city's neighborhoods to ensure the safety and well being of children. During that time, he also served as chief shop steward for his public employees' union (AFSCME).

Tommy attended Catholic University at night, earning n law degree to become a more effective advocate for children.

a vision for our schools

0ur city must provide quality education for every child in the DC public schools. Tommy believes we must acknowledge parents as the schools' most important customers and respected partners in their children's education. And he will work to make schools full partners in the vibrant life of our neighborhoods.

Tommy's capacity to work with diverse groups throughout the District has enhanced the quality of life in our community. He will bring this talent to his work on the School Board team to achieve the following goals:

• Schools where children are known; nurtured, and safe - and their parents feel welcome.
• A quality elementary school within walking distance for children in every neighborhood.
• Small, manageable, safe classes.
• Healthy, child-friendly meals.
• Music, art, and athletic instruction, with a full range of extra-curricular activities.
• Middle and junior high school programs that reduce truancy and encourage students to graduate.
• Revamped, quality special education programs with reliable transportation.
• A secure learning environment, so every parent feels comfortable in the knowledge that every classroom is safe for every child, every day.
• Adequate, predictable funding for our schools, and support and training for our teachers.

a leader for the community

As a member of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B since 1994 (and chair 1996-1998), Tommy mediated neighborhood participation in the redevelopment of the Townhomes of Ellen Wilson and united community support. He also has worked to reduce public drinking and raise the standards for local beer and wine stores.

As chairman of the ANC committee on education and libraries, Tommy worked with] parents to develop an improvement checklist for local high schools and provided a forum for integrating neighborhood schools and libraries into community life. Tommy is a board member of the Anacostia Coordinating Council and the Business Advisory Council of the Health and Human Services Academy at Eastern Senior High School. He co-chairs the South Washington/West of the River Family Strengthening Collaborative. He also serves on the board of the Friends of Tyler School, a neighborhood tutoring program, and mentors a young student.

Tommy and his wife Barbara attend Christ Church on Capitol Hill, where Tommy taught Sunday School for teenagers for eight years.

Tommy Wells for DC School Board
236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 506
Washington, DC 20002
202-546-0119
wells4dced@aol.com