The Gist
Home

School board

Ward 1 Member of the State Board of Education

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
1
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The State Board of Education sets the District's academic standards and graduation requirements and approves state education policy; it doesn't run schools. Nonpartisan.

Photo of Ben Williams
Ben WilliamsOfficial portrait — DC State Board of Education

Ben Williams

No party listedIncumbent

Teacher, Capital City Public Charter School

The gist

  • Supports expanding Safe Passage to more Ward 1 schools.
  • Supports protecting students, parents and staff from ICE interventions.
  • Supports dual language, English-learner and adult education programs.
  • Supports teacher retention through wellness programs and flexible scheduling.
  • Supports stronger special education services and teacher support.
  • Supports expanding student mental health programs.
More about Ben
View sources (1)
  1. Supports expanding Safe Passage to more Ward 1 schools.

    Ben Williams for Ward 1: Ben's Priorities

    Campaign website · The Committee to Re-Elect Ben Williams · benforward1.com

    “Increase the number of schools in the Safe Passage program”
  2. Supports protecting students, parents and staff from ICE interventions.

    Ben Williams for Ward 1: Ben's Priorities

    Campaign website · The Committee to Re-Elect Ben Williams · benforward1.com

    “We must protect students, parents, and staff from ICE interventions in our community.”
  3. Supports dual language, English-learner and adult education programs.

    Ben Williams for Ward 1: Ben's Priorities

    Campaign website · The Committee to Re-Elect Ben Williams · benforward1.com

    “Increase our support for our dual language, Emergent Bilingual (EB), and adult education programs”
  4. Supports teacher retention through wellness programs and flexible scheduling.

    Ben Williams for Ward 1: Ben's Priorities

    Campaign website · The Committee to Re-Elect Ben Williams · benforward1.com

    “Expand educator wellness programming and flexible scheduling policies”
  5. Supports stronger special education services and teacher support.

    Ben Williams for Ward 1: Ben's Priorities

    Campaign website · The Committee to Re-Elect Ben Williams · benforward1.com

    “Strengthen special education services and support special education teachers to ensure all students are served equitably”
  6. Supports expanding student mental health programs.

    Ben Williams for Ward 1: Ben's Priorities

    Campaign website · The Committee to Re-Elect Ben Williams · benforward1.com

    “Expand mental health programs so every student has access to appropriate mental health care”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown.