Dara Ware Allen

== Background ==
* Appointed member to the school board for Pittsburgh Public Schools by Luke Ravenstahl.
* In the primary in the spring of 2011, she was NOT endorsed by the Post-Gazette.
* P-G Endorsement link for Dara Ware Allen in April 2011
== Media ==
=== YouthWorks director appointed to Pittsburgh school board ===
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl this morning appointed Dara Ware Allen, a Highland Park resident and executive director of the nonprofit group YouthWorks Inc., to the city school board.
Dr. Ware Allen, 36, succeeds Heather Arnet, who resigned June 30, as the board's District 2 representative. The district covers the North Side and East End. She will serve the balance of Ms. Arnet's term, which runs through Dec. 5, 2011.
YouthWorks, Downtown, provides job-readiness, job-search, job-shadowing and other services to at-risk youths, giving Dr. Ware Allen a window on the Pittsburgh Public Schools' efforts to overhaul career and technical education and better prepare students for college and the work force.
Dr. Ware Allen also served on the district's task force on high school reform, on a district committee on career and technical education and on a multi-agency group on dropout prevention. She has a doctorate in work force education and development from Penn State University.
Mr. Ravenstahl said he selected Dr. Ware Allen "because of her extensive professional experience in working with young people and her proven commitment to the future of Pittsburgh Public Schools, our children and our city."
Dr. Ware Allen will be sworn in at tomorrow's board meeting.
In all, eight people applied for Ms. Arnet's seat.
Dr. Ware Allen's appointment maintains the number of female board members at four and increases the number of black board members to four on the .
"I am humbled by this opportunity to serve the interests of all Pittsburgh Public School students and the City of Pittsburgh and am committing my best to this challenging and important role," she said in a statement.
Read more: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09237/993108-100.stm#ixzz0PDm6NRSZ
==A+ Schools Voter Guide==
Dara Ware AllenSchool Board Director since 2009Executive Director, Youth Works Inc.Resides in Highland ParkCross-filed as both Democrat and Republican
Throughout my professional experiences, the ability to workcollaboratively and build win-win coalitions with a cross-section ofindividuals and groups is a skill that comes naturally to me. Fromworking with governmental, corporate, educational, and nonprofitexecutives as well as individuals from a grass-rootslevel, I am often able to build consensus among keystakeholders. I would continue to use this ability to enhancestrategic discussions and planning around PPS educationalpriorities and initiatives.
I along with other current members of the Board take allof the indicators identified byA+ Schools of effectivegovernance very seriously. Ofall of the indicators, I expendparticular effort in striving tocontinuously build mycompetence as a boardmember. It is important tobase our decisions on data(informal and formal) and ahigh level of preparedness.Ultimately, our individualcompetence is a directreflection of our effectivenessoverall.
The School Board's role is to work collaboratively together with the Superintendent and designated staff while giving voice to the concerns and best hopes of PPS residents.
Ware Allen, Dara
Category:Candidate 2011