Chauntyll Allen is a proud member of the Saint Paul School Board and is now running for Ward 4 City Council in Saint Paul. Learn more at chauntyllforward4.com

Born and raised in Rondo, Chauntyll Allen is a longtime front-line community organizer, educator and youth activist. She leads Black Lives Matter Twin Cities, founded Love First Community Engagement, worked as the Director of Criminal Justice and Activism at the Wayfinder Foundation — among many other community leadership roles.

She joined the Saint Paul School Board in January 2020. Her journey with the St. Paul school district began as a graduate of Central High School, and continued through the years as program coordinator with Community Education, basketball coach for middle and high school, Teaching Assistant, Discovery Club teacher, and Educational Assistant (EBD level 4-6). Chauntyll brings a special interest of special education and addressing the current disparities to the Board. She was inspired by Commissioner Toni Carter’s dedication to working with youth, and she has been a great mentor to Chauntyll.

Chauntyll and her wife Satara Strong-Allen live in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood. In addition to serving as a board member, Chauntyll is a youth advocate and educator. A love of Saint Paul and love of Saint Paul’s youth drives Chauntyll in her work.

Building a School to Success Pipeline

St. Paul’s greatest asset is our young people. We must expect excellence, honor students’ unique identities, actively support their visions for themselves and their schools, while also acknowledging their challenges. As a fierce champion of youth leadership and self determination, I will continue to press for student-centered approaches and ways to integrate youth voices.

The COVID pandemic and George Floyd uprising showed that we are capable of forging creative solutions and community care models. We face urgent racial disparities that require new and bold approaches AND we have untapped ingenuity all around us: our students. As a member of the St. Paul School Board,  I will continue to encourage innovative ideas that address our systemic problems and help St. Paul, Minnesota become the best school district in the nation.

📚 Boost Literacy 

To reduce incarceration, we must increase literacy. I will work to ensure that our K-3 scholars learn to read by advocating for additional funding, targeted training for educators, additional staffing and culturally relevant curriculum.

❤️‍🩹 Cultivate Safety and Mental Health

Each student must feel a sense of belonging. I believe in a holistic approach to safety and mental health that starts with creating trauma-informed spaces supported by trained, caring professionals and community members. I will continue to advance programs and policies that ensure culturally appropriate and trauma-informed mental health approaches that affirm and heal rather than stigmatize and punish. 

🖍️ Implement Universal Pre-K

Early learning encourages brain development, eliminates inequities, and decreases poverty; even so, finding quality and affordable early learning programs is challenging. I have supported initiatives like the SPARK campaign and will continue to work to ensure that all St. Paul youth have access to this critical first step to success. 

👷🏽‍♀️ Fund Technical Education

We must have a broad set of options for students to pursue success on their own terms. I have been a leader in bringing technical education and trades back into the schools, and have seen the talents of our youth at the Career Pathways Center. I will advocate for additional funding, create targeted programming for youth exiting punishment programs and recruit and retain more educators of color.

💵 Increase Educator Pay and Advancement 

It takes a village to raise a child; the school staff play a central role. It is imperative that we compensate professionals for their contributions and provide pathways for advancement. I have actively supported additional pay for ALL educators and will continue to protect the full spectrum of educators by pushing for funding and formula changes to move our district into a future of ongoing abundance.

Endorsements

In her many years of grassroots organizing and public service, Chauntyll has always taken a village approach to advancing change. She knows that none of us can individually create the movements we need to achieve liberation and justice for our communities. That’s why she has strong support of many community leaders (of all ages!), elected officials and organizations who continue to collaborate with her to build a school to success pipeline for ALL St. Paul youth! 

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