Category Archives: DeKalb County School District

Keep Calm and Vote Jester



This week I announced my candidacy for the District 1 seat on the DeKalb Board of Education. You can learn more about me and the issues at my website, StanJester.com.
I am a parent, active school volunteer, education blogger and IT professional. I am dedicated to reforms in DeKalb that put the classroom first and protect the taxpayer from wasteful spending.
I will bring an important technical perspective to the board. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from The University of Texas at Austin and bring over 20 years of experience in technology and data analysis. My professional experience includes developing business intelligence data systems that drive executive decisions as well as complex, multinational software development.
My most important job is being a parent. Nancy and I have three children attending public school in DeKalb. I know firsthand the condition of our schools and the challenges of parents and teachers. I am invested in the success of DeKalb’s schools and will bring an important and effective voice to the DeKalb Board of Education.
This May, “Keep Calm and Vote Jester”.

DeKalb Schools in the AJC


This weekend an entire page in the AJC, Opinion – A23, was dedicated to various editorials regarding DeKalb Schools.
Maureen Downey pointed out DeKalb’s reputation is still a problem with parents, and despite the convictions of a recent school administration, leadership is still a “protectorate of the status quo”.
While I agree with Ms. Downey’s observation, I also observe that a majority of DeKalb’s citizens often vote to support that status quo. State Representative Tom Taylor noted out of 23 members of the DeKalb Delegation, only 6 stood with the Governor in the removal of the DeKalb School Board. The Druid Hills Cluster vote, cityhood movements, and HR 486 (referendum to form new school districts) are evidence that a number of local communities are left with no other alternatives given the effects of the tyranny of the majority. Continue reading