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Stephen Owens

@stephenjowens.bsky.social

1.5K followers 430 following 650 posts

Passionate public education advocate--but not an acolyte. Atlantan. Dawg fan. Candidate for APS School Board - District 2. www.OwensForAPS.com

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · Dec 4

Hello Bluesky! I've been here a while but I want to introduce you all to my work at Brown's Promise. (THREAD)

America's public schools are re-segregating, and are now at rates not seen since the 1970s. This is a problem that affects all corners of American life. Brown's Promise aims to fix it.

A line graph showing the rate of average White-Black student segregation in America's public schools from 1970 to present. After a quick decrease in segregation due to court orders, public schools have been steadily resegregating since the 1980s

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 14h

I got this text last night after a school board candidate debate and it’s the raddest thing. What an honor to earn someone’s trust, if even just for a vote

A text that reads: “next time you are in Mozley Park can you bring a sign by [address redacted]. [Name redacted] and I will be voting for you. I responded “I will! And thank you!” Because I’m addicted to exclamation marks and terrified that people will not think I like them. They “liked” that message and then wrote “you won the teenager over too but she can’t vote until 2027.” And I said “that means so much to me, truly.” FIN

Reposted by Stephen Owens

Gideon Lukens @gidlukens.bsky.social · 1d

Georgia’s 2026 ACA marketplace window shopping began October 1, meaning people are already seeing next year’s premiums spike because of expiring tax credit enhancements. A typical 60-year-old couple making $85,000 in Georgia will face a $24,900 increase in annual premiums. (1/4)

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 2d

Definitely not the norm in Atlanta, great flag

Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 2d

Had some folks ask me how I will hold myself accountable to the people if I am elected to the school board. I have my own ideas (commitment to regular in-person listening sessions, etc.) but would love to hear what pragmatic ways y'all have seen local politicians can be grounded

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 4d

They have a local brewery with MississIPA State beer on tap

Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 4d

Good for Cash Jones cause it’s not his fault Mike Bobo crowned him as Mr. Forth Down against Bama

Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 5d

Gotta be! Cause I’d put them… 4th? Behind GT, Florida, and Auburn

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 5d

I’m gonna guess that they think WE think Bama is our biggest rival

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 5d

I once started an “updog” joke with my six year old that led to, after a series of confusing back-and-forth, me trying to explain the merits of heavy drug use

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 5d

Put me firmly in the “yes APS has a lot of money but the needs of our students are enormous” camp. If you wanna help hold our school board accountable to supplying all students with what they need, sign up to help canvass here: linktr.ee/owensforaps?...

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 5d

Imma be so mad when USA loses 0-2 to TBD

Jerad Walker @jeradwalker.bsky.social · 5d

World Cup tickets just hit the secondary market. 🤣

Tickets for the first match featuring the USA

Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 7d

the way that I almost spit out my drink.

It's a way to report lost dogs, people. I'm still not happy with the over-surveillance of Atlanta but in this instance we're the big brother to dogs, so it's a cute type of overreach.

screenshot from an email from ring doorbells (that for some reason is emailing me??) that has the subject line: "Search Party - a new way to neighbor" and begins "Hello Neighbor, I'm proud to introduce Search Party, a new feature..."

Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 9d

I’m going to be thinking about those people a lot, because of how cruel it is that they may go without things like laundry detergent because our state and nation provides so little supports. No education angle here; just a lament of how we treat those whom we would rather not think about.

Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 9d

I was honored to spend Friday afternoon playing bingo with the people in Abernathy Towers (elder care facility) as a part of my campaign. When I was getting ready I asked the property manager what prizes I should get and she told me that everyone needs basic necessities like soap and deodorant.

Picture of me leading a game of bingo in Abernathy Towers

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 10d

Richard Woods is the most popular politician in Georgia. Got more votes than any other Republican, including Kemp and Trump, last election. He’s as close to a sure thing as you’ve got here.

Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 10d

Good summary by AJC here of a candidate that has no path in the Republican primary to unseating a popular incumbent.

Screenshot of AJC article that reads, “Mainor believes she’s the more experienced candidate

Despite Woods’ nearly 12 years as superintendent, Mainor believes her background running a physical therapy clinic makes her better equipped to be superintendent. “So when it comes to oversight and management, hands down I have way more experience,” she said.”

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 11d

For how good Georgia looks we’re actually losing

Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 11d

But I don’t WANT to rely on halftime adjustments

Reposted by Stephen Owens

Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 11d

A running game you say?

Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 11d

Concerning

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 11d

A running game you say?

Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 11d

“Atlanta’s full” get real

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Reposted by Stephen Owens

Tracy Jan @tracyjan.bsky.social · 14d

GOP lawmakers cite Georgia’s experiment as a model for the federal Medicaid work requirements set to take effect in 2027.

A new report by a government spending watchdog found that the nation’s only Medicaid work requirement program spent twice as much on administrative costs as on health care.

Georgia’s Medicaid Work Requirement Program Spent Twice as Much on Administrative Costs as on Health Care, GAO Says

Republican lawmakers cite Georgia’s Pathways to Coverage as a national model for federal Medicaid work requirements that are set to take effect in 2027. A new report shows the program has spent at lea...

www.propublica.org

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 15d

This research has helped fit another piece in my mind on the puzzle that is chronic absenteeism. Specifically this part: having easy access to make up work is not the same as having easy make up work. Confusing the two can lead a lot more parents into thinking there’s less value in being in school.

Morgan Polikoff @mpolikoff.bsky.social · 15d

NEW from me and Amie Rapaport at @futureedgu.bsky.social: New Parent Research Helps Explain Causes of Post-Pandemic Absenteeism Crisis // www.future-ed.org/new-parent-r...

New Parent Research Helps Explain Causes of Post-Pandemic Absenteeism Crisis

Though chronic absenteeism has declined from its post-COVID peak, too many students are still missing too much school. Research shows that absent students fall behind academically and are more likely…

www.future-ed.org

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Stephen Owens @stephenjowens.bsky.social · 15d

Conservatives when you accidentally cut child poverty in half