Having just discussed some law enforcement officers running for City Council, I also want to highlight a couple of teachers running for City Council. These are candidates that WFP seems to be considering supporting. [UPDATE: I left off our own Rock Hackshaw! Added at the end.]

Daniel Dromm: Running for City Council in Queens' Council District 25 aginst Helen Sears

Daniel Dromm is an educator, community organizer, union leader, and political activist. His experience and dedication to the community has led to Dromm being overwhelming elected Democratic District Leader in the 39th Assembly District, Part A (Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Corona and Woodside in Queens) in 2002 and re-elected in 2004 and 2006.

Daniel Dromm is an award-winning New York City public school teacher. Since 1984, he has instructed and inspired thousands of students at PS 199Q in Queens. In 2006, Dromm was chosen as Outstanding Teacher of the Year by his school's principal...Dromm took a lead role in implementing several successful projects such as the "Philosophy for Children" project and the Integrated Language Arts project. He was hand-picked by the New York City Opera to give a workshop at Lincoln Center on bringing opera into the classroom. In 1997, along with colleague Barbara Baruch, Dromm won the 'UFT Kid's Day on Broadway' grant for his school. He has received awards from both the District and from the PTA for his dedication to students...

In 1992, Dromm courageously came out as an openly gay teacher. The story became front-page news in daily newspapers throughout the city. The ensuing battle tested Dromm's resolve as a fighter who is unafraid to take on the powers that be. Dromm defeated several unsuccessful attempts to remove him from his job and became a role model for equality in the workplace. This episode in Dromm's life illustrated to him how important tenure is as a protection for teachers.

You can see who has endorsed Dromm (including Mark Green and the UFT) here.

Rodrick F. Daley: Running for City Council in Brooklyn's Council District 45 against Kendall Stewart

Rodrick F. Daley...is currently a Spanish teacher working with the New York City Department of Education. Daley began his teaching career in the mid 1990s at South Shore High School in Brooklyn, New York. In 2001 he joined the faculty of Meyer Levin Intermediate School 285 where he was once a student.

Born in Jamaica, West Indies, Daley immigrated to Brooklyn, New York in 1982 with his family. He attended P.S. 233 and then I.S. 285 - Meyer Levin. After graduation from I.S.285 he did a one year stint at Lafayette High School where he received a full academic scholarship and left to attend Amherst Regional High School in Amherst, MA. While at Amherst Regional, Daley seized opportunities to display his dexterity by participating in athletics.

He became a 5 Varsity letterman in Football, was on the Wrestling Team as well as represented in Track and Field. Through application of hard work and self-discipline Daley received full financial assistance to attend Haverford College in Pennsylvania. He obtained a Bachelors degree in Spanish. Rodrick Daley currently holds a Masters in Education (College of Mount Saint Vincent), Certificate for Industrial Labor Relation - New York State United Teachers at Cornell University.

Daley’s love for his community is a permanent and inseparable element. With this heightened desire to give back to his community, he has stepped into the race of running as candidate for New York City Council, 45th District. He believes that the community will only become stronger when individuals/groups of individuals partner and play vital roles enhancing growth and development. His life is catalyzed by the maxim “Action, not excuses, is the only way.”

Affiliations
West Indian American Progressive Action -Second Vice-President
Meyer Levin Education Tour Committee - Chair
A Better Chance Alumni Network - Member
Volunteer Admissions Counselor - Haverford College.
Education and Youth Committees - Community Board 17
United Federation of Teachers – Representative

Achievements
Rodrick F. Daley has received many awards for his long years of service. These awards include: Meyer Levin Most Distinguish Alumni, Most Valuable Athletic (Wrestling), United Federation of Teachers for his union work, Caddo Federation of Teachers (Shreveport, LA) for organizing, Progressive Democrat Political Association for field work, Cornell University for labor relations as well countless other certificates.

Daley's platform:

1. Education: Invest in our children future via education by
allocating funds to address specific areas. Money to create
comprehensive programs that can result in well-rounded
children. The programs must invest in the development of
youth weaknesses and result in youth achievements.
As an elected city representative for the 45th District, I plan to
work closely with city agencies like DYCD, UYC etc. and local
CBOs such as CEJ to foster good program implementation in
schools and out of school. It is also important to me to
develop relationships with other elected leaders in city council
for allocation of funds. I want to further enhance my
relationships as a partner in education by hosting monthly
meetings with school principals and educators.

2. Local Economic Development: I plan to appropriate money to
micro businesses for training and to work diligently to secure
jobs and job shadowing opportunities for youth in the district
by fostering partnerships with major businesses doing brisk
business within our community. This is also an area in which I
will hold regular meetings to discuss how resources from the
business community will impact the community.

3. Develop existing local organization: I want to encourage civic
responsibility. By helping CBOs within the 45th District to
become incorporated, obtaining 501 © (3) Status, registering
with NYS Charities Bureau, I will help them to gain access to
funding, making them sustainable and productive.
These are my main focuses and I plan to appoint a Community
Affairs Liaison to initiate and maintain connection with myself
and the constituent. The job will nurture an environment that
fosters the kind of civic responsibility needed to build a better
45th District.

Fellow Daily Gotham writer Rock Hackshaw has to be added to this list: Rock Hackshaw is running for the 40th City Council District against Mathieu Eugene. Hackshaw also has extensive education experience (he's not JUST a blogger) and is someone I have a great deal of respect for. May have some differences on some issues, so will have to see who else is running before I take a stand, but Rock is definitely someone I am happy to see running. And will someone PLEASE tell Eugene to either put up or shut up with his claims to be a "doctor." I can actually claim to be a "doctor" (Ph.D., not M.D.). I have worked with some very prominent medical doctors at two major medical schools. I have TAUGHT Med Students. So he better not be as coy about his degree around me as he has been elsewhere. I for one want to know all about his degree and perhaps we can talk about his specialty. If he really has one.

When considering who to support for legislative positions, I am finding myself drawn to people with real life, community experience over lawyers who dominate our government. Not that lawyers don't have a role, possibly a strong role, in government. But we need other viewpoints as well. Law enforcement, scientists, diplomats and educators are among the people I have found myself drawn to for legislative offices these days.