Gwen Sykes: Difference between revisions
(New page: '''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 deg...) |
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[[Image:Gwen Sykes.jpg|right|thumb|Gwen Sykes]] | |||
'''Gwendolyn Pouncy Sykes''' (born c. [[1947]]) is a former teacher and administrator for [[Birmingham City Schools]] and a [[Birmingham City Council]] member. | '''Gwendolyn Pouncy Sykes''' (born c. [[1947]]) is a former teacher and administrator for [[Birmingham City Schools]] and a [[Birmingham City Council]] member. | ||
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Sykes taught at [[North Roebuck Elementary School]]. As President of the [[Birmingham Education Association]] she led an illegal [[1999 Birmingham teachers' strike|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. | Sykes taught at [[North Roebuck Elementary School]]. As President of the [[Birmingham Education Association]] she led an illegal [[1999 Birmingham teachers' strike|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 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. She hosted a luncheon in [[2003]] for [[Birmingham City Schools]] students, improperly authorizing the $9,000 tab from her Council funds. | ||
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 [[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. | ||
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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 Department|Birmingham Police]] shied from participating in the dispute, which was eventually aired in Council chambers. | 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 Department|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 | 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]] and ran again for the [[Birmingham City Council District 4|District 4]] seat on the board in the [[2013 Birmingham municipal election]]. As a candidate she called for closer scrutiny of administrative performance and of the process that led to state takeover of the school system. | ||
{{ | {{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 Board of Education District 4: Gwen P. Sykes" (August 21, 2009) {{BN}} | ||
* Diel, Stan (August 23, 2013) "Crime, blight, schools are biggest concerns in Birmingham's District 4 as elections approach Tuesday." {{BN}} | |||
{{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]] | |||
Latest revision as of 15:33, 24 August 2013
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. She hosted a luncheon in 2003 for Birmingham City Schools students, improperly authorizing the $9,000 tab from her Council funds.
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 and ran again for the District 4 seat on the board in the 2013 Birmingham municipal election. As a candidate she called for closer scrutiny of administrative performance and of the process that led to state takeover of the school system.
| 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) The Birmingham News
- Diel, Stan (August 23, 2013) "Crime, blight, schools are biggest concerns in Birmingham's District 4 as elections approach Tuesday." The Birmingham News