Ryan Tauriainen
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Ryan Tauriainen ran in a special election to the District of Columbia State Board of Education to represent Ward 4. He lost in the special general election on November 6, 2018.
Tauriainen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Tauriainen earned a B.A. in classics from Middlebury College in 2008. He then earned an M.Ed. in education from Chaminade University of Honolulu in 2010. His professional career includes work as a teacher from 2008-2011, assistant principal from 2011-2012, principal from 2012-2016, and as district leader since 2016.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
Special general election for District of Columbia State Board of Education Ward 4
Frazier O'Leary Jr. defeated Rhonda Henderson, Elani Lawrence, and Ryan Tauriainen in the special general election for District of Columbia State Board of Education Ward 4 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Frazier O'Leary Jr. (Nonpartisan) | 45.5 | 2,456 |
| Rhonda Henderson (Nonpartisan) | 37.7 | 2,035 | ||
| Elani Lawrence (Nonpartisan) | 10.8 | 583 | ||
 | Ryan Tauriainen (Nonpartisan)  | 5.6 | 303 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 17 | ||
| Total votes: 5,394 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ryan Tauriainen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Tauriainen's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
1) Expanding and improving early childhood education 2) Protection and support of families of students with special needs 3) Increasing confidence in our high school graduations and diplomas
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am passionate about education policy, in particular policy that promotes equity in education, early childhood education, and protecting students with disabilities.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Above all, I believe that leaders must be principled and show integrity. That means, having steadfast beliefs that you are committed to. I do not trust politicians that are chameleons or change position as the winds turn. I believe you should be true to your positions even if it means not winning election. I want to know who I am voting for.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I think the most important quality I posses is "servant leadership," meaning I do not wish to bark order from the top but to lead by example. As a principal, I liked to be in the trenches and directly work with students and teachers every day. My style not only led to one of the highest performing schools in DC, by several measures, but I was also DC's Principal of the Year in 2016.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Members of the State Board of Education are tasked with approving and advising on policy for DC Schools. One of the most important aspects of that involve approving standards and assessments. Knowing this, I think it is critical that the board include members who work with those standards and assessments every day.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
As a teenager, I worked at my town's local sporting goods store. I kept that job every summer and Christmas break, up until I graduated from college.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
"Wait For It" from the musical Hamilton.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Growing up in a small, conservative town was difficult for me as someone who was struggling with his sexuality. I am an out gay man, and it is sometimes a struggle to continue to be public because of homophobia. I have been victim to homophobic attacks in the past, and even as I run this campaign the fact that I have a "husband" has come up at inappropriate times. But being proud of who I am has also led to formidable strength that I would not be privy to otherwise.
What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?
I believe that it is most helpful for members of the State Board of Education to actually be educators. Specifically, to have been teachers and principals and district leaders. I think it is particular important for some of these members to continue to work in school buildings -- not be lawyers, or realtors, or finance specialists. We need people who work with students every day to help build policy.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?
No, but I do believe that it's important for holders of this office to currently work in schools.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
In looking at the current make-up of the SBOE and what responsibilities it has, I feel that my skill set is needed on the board. I have dedicated my life to improving education outcomes for children. I have worked in DC education for many years as a teacher, principal, and district leader. When I was a principal, I was saddened that not a single member of our state board had led a DC school. Many have never even taught in a DC school. In the wake of the 2016 election, I was inspired to take action into my own hands to make sure educators were represented on the board. Currently, I am the only school leader who is running for SBOE; and in fact, I was DC's Principal of the Year in 2016. I think this type of experience is essential to provide oversight and give policy advice in education. I still work in school buildings every day with students, teachers, and families. These policies directly effect my work, every day, and I want to be a voice for the thousands of educators in this city. I run because I love the students of this city. I love where I live in Ward 4, and I want to represent my region. But I do not ask the people of Ward 4 to elect me just to better education in our corner of the city. I want to better education for all students in DC, no matter if they are in my ward or east of the river. I am a person that the voters can trust to do all he can for the kids of DC, because it is what I have done my whole career. Our kids deserve a champion, and I want to be that champion. [2] |
” |
| —Ryan Tauriainen[1] | ||
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Ryan Tauriainen participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on October 1, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Ryan Tauriainen's responses follow below.[3]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) Expanding and improving early childhood education 2) Protection and support of families of students with special needs |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | I am passionate about education policy, in particular policy that promotes equity in education, early childhood education, and protecting students with disabilities.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[2]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Ryan Tauriainen answered the following:
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
| “ | Above all, I believe that leaders must be principled and show integrity. That means, having steadfast beliefs that you are committed to. I do not trust politicians that are chameleons or change position as the winds turn. I believe you should be true to your positions even if it means not winning election. I want to know who I am voting for.[2] | ” |
| “ | I think the most important quality I posses is "servant leadership," meaning I do not wish to bark order from the top but to lead by example. As a principal, I liked to be in the trenches and directly work with students and teachers every day. My style not only led to one of the highest performing schools in DC, by several measures, but I was also DC's Principal of the Year in 2016.[2] | ” |
| “ | Members of the State Board of Education are tasked with approving and advising on policy for DC Schools. One of the most important aspects of that involve approving standards and assessments. Knowing this, I think it is critical that the board include members who work with those standards and assessments every day.[2] | ” |
| “ | As a teenager, I worked at my town's local sporting goods store. I kept that job every summer and Christmas break, up until I graduated from college.[2] | ” |
| “ | "Wait For It" from the musical Hamilton.[2] | ” |
| “ | Growing up in a small, conservative town was difficult for me as someone who was struggling with his sexuality. I am an out gay man, and it is sometimes a struggle to continue to be public because of homophobia. I have been victim to homophobic attacks in the past, and even as I run this campaign the fact that I have a "husband" has come up at inappropriate times. But being proud of who I am has also led to formidable strength that I would not be privy to otherwise.[2] | ” |
| “ | No, but I do believe that it's important for holders of this office to currently work in schools.[2] | ” |
| “ | I believe that it is most helpful for members of the State Board of Education to actually be educators. Specifically, to have been teachers and principals and district leaders. I think it is particular important for some of these members to continue to work in school buildings -- not be lawyers, or realtors, or finance specialists. We need people who work with students every day to help build policy.[2] | ” |
See also
- District of Columbia State Board of Education
- District of Columbia State Board of Education election, 2018
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on October 1, 2018
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Ryan Tauriainen's responses," October 1, 2018
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