Birmingham City Board of Education, District 8

Donald Tyrone Silmon

Age: 47

Political experience: First campaign for elected office.

Professional experience: Executive assistant to Mayor William Bell.

Civic experience: Member, Birmingham Public Library Board, 2016-present; member, 2016-2017 class of Leadership Birmingham; founder, Dads on Duty mentoring group, Birmingham City Schools; coach, Amateur Athletics Union boys’ basketball.

Education: Texas Southern University, bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and marketing, 1992; associate’s degrees in pre-law, psychology and health education, Lawson State Community College; graduated from Woodlawn High.

Top contributors: Gene Hallman, $1,000; Monumental Contracting, $300; Darryln Bender, $300; Marinos Market, $250.

Main issues: Silmon wants to strengthen four areas of the Birmingham City School System. He wants to support and stabilize leadership. He also wants to ensure access to high-quality professional development for teachers by providing ongoing, site-based professional curriculum. He wants to ensure all schools are equipped with the technology students need to prepare them to compete in the global economy. And he wants to for strategic partnerships between schools and parents, community leaders, churches and businesses.

Campaign: https://www.facebook.com/DTyroneSilmonBCS8/