Gwen Sykes: Difference between revisions
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Sykes was soundly defeated by [[Maxine Herring Parker]] in her re-election bid in the [[2005 Birmingham City Council election]], finishing fourth with only 11% of the vote. She returned to politics with an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Birmingham Board of Education in [[2009 Birmingham City Council election|2009]]. | Sykes was soundly defeated by [[Maxine Herring Parker]] in her re-election bid in the [[2005 Birmingham City Council election]], finishing fourth with only 11% of the vote. She returned to politics with an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Birmingham Board of Education in [[2009 Birmingham City Council election|2009]]. | ||
{{ | {{Start box}} | ||
{{ | {{Succession box | | ||
before=[[Aldrich Gunn]] | | before=[[Aldrich Gunn]] | | ||
title=[[Birmingham City Council District 4]] | | title=[[Birmingham City Council District 4]] | | ||
years=[[2001]] | years=[[2001]]–[[2005]] | | ||
after=[[Maxine Herring Parker]] | after=[[Maxine Herring Parker]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{ | {{End box}} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Geiss, Chuck (October 23, 2003) "[http://www.bwcitypaper.com/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=2003-10-23&-token.story=58500.111215&-nothing Naked Birmingham]". ''Black & White'' | * Geiss, Chuck (October 23, 2003) "[http://www.bwcitypaper.com/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=2003-10-23&-token.story=58500.111215&-nothing Naked Birmingham]". ''Black & White'' | ||
* "Birmingham Board of Education District 4: Gwen P. Sykes" (August 21, 2009) ''Birmingham News'' | * "Birmingham Board of Education District 4: Gwen P. Sykes" (August 21, 2009) ''Birmingham News'' | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sykes, Gwen}} | |||
[[Category:1947 births]] | |||
[[Category:Living people]] | |||
[[Category:Jefferson State alumni]] | |||
[[Category:Birmingham-Southern alumni]] | |||
[[Category:UAB alumni]] | |||
[[Category:Birmingham faculty]] | |||
[[Category:Birmingham City Council]] | |||
Revision as of 14:03, 4 June 2010
Gwendolyn Pouncy Sykes (born c. 1947) is a former teacher and administrator for Birmingham City Schools and a Birmingham City Council member.
Sykes has an associates degree from Jefferson State Junior College, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Birmingham-Southern College and a master's in early childhood education and AA certification in education administration from UAB. She has also completed some work toward a doctoral degree at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida
Sykes taught at North Roebuck Elementary School. As President of the Birmingham Education Association she led an illegal teachers' strike in 1999 to protest a pay raise given to then-superintendent Johnny E. Brown. She later was promoted to administrator of the system's Family Involvement Program, working from the Birmingham Board of Education building downtown.
In the 2001 Birmingham City Council election Sykes defeated incumbent Aldrich Gunn to represent Birmingham City Council District 4. She was named chair of the Council's education and community services committee and was a candidate for council president.
In 2002 the position of parent counselor was eliminated and Sykes was transferred to the position of assistant principal at Green Acres Middle School by Superintendent Wayman Shivers. She protested the assignment and failed to report to the school for duty. In 2004 she was fired by the Board of Education months shy of her eligibility for retirement benefits. The Alabama Tenure Commission and Alabama Supreme Court upheld her termination.
In 2003 alleged criminal activity by Sykes' daughter and grandsons, tenants in a house owned by Sykes in Crestwood North provoked numerous complaints from neighbors. Birmingham Police shied from participating in the dispute, which was eventually aired in Council chambers.
Sykes was soundly defeated by Maxine Herring Parker in her re-election bid in the 2005 Birmingham City Council election, finishing fourth with only 11% of the vote. She returned to politics with an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Birmingham Board of Education in 2009.
| Preceded by: Aldrich Gunn |
Birmingham City Council District 4 2001–2005 |
Succeeded by: Maxine Herring Parker |
References
- Geiss, Chuck (October 23, 2003) "Naked Birmingham". Black & White
- "Birmingham Board of Education District 4: Gwen P. Sykes" (August 21, 2009) Birmingham News