NYCPS 2025-2027 CCEC Candidate
Link: CCHS Manhattan Candidate Profiles
Candidate Statement: Benjamin Morden
Friday, February 14, 2025
Dear Families,
I’m Benjamin Morden, a proud product of NYC’s public school system and a father of three wonderful daughters. Two of my daughters attend NYC public high schools (Stuyvesant and Brooklyn Tech), and the other is a graduate, enrolled in college. With my family’s support, I’m running for reelection for Manhattan Representative to the Citywide Council on High Schools (CCHS) and I kindly ask for your vote.
It has been my honor to serve families on CCHS as a Manhattan Representative the past 2-years and as the CECD2 President and Treasurer the previous 4-years.
In my 6-years of service, I’ve deliberated on 100+ resolutions and sponsored 40+ resolutions. I’ve also worked directly with superintendents, educators, and DOE officials advocating for advancing academic rigor and outcomes, for assisting student college and career readiness, and for ameliorating school attendance and safety. These last 12 months, I was lead sponsor of the following 4 passed resolutions listed at https://www.cchsnyc.org/resolutions:
- 1. An ePortfolio Resolution addressing student college and career readiness – CCHS Resolution to Implement an ePortfolio Initiative for NYCPS High School Students; please see related news article https://nypost.com/2024/11/02/us-news/nyc-parents-call-for-student-version-of-linkedin-to-showcase-achievements/.
- 2. Student Resolution Contest raising civic awareness – Resolution to Adopt the CCHS Resolution Writing Contest; please see details at https://www.cchsnyc.org/cchs-writing-contest for the recently completed 2024 contest.
- 3. New AI High School Resolution addressing both the need for additional high school seats due to NYS Small Class Size mandate and necessity to update computer science education – CCHS Resolution Recommending the Establishment of an Artificial Intelligence-Themed High School; please see related news article https://nypost.com/2024/05/04/us-news/nyc-parents-call-for-ai-high-school-would-set-national-precedent/.
- 4. Health Resolution addressing the Fentanyl Crisis – CCHS Resolution Urging High Schools to Expand Naloxone Training to School Staff in Addition to Nurses and Expand Student, Fentanyl Awareness & Prevention Programs; please see this informative news article https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2024/08/19/naloxone-training-school-staff-expands-prevent-student-overdoses/.
I had provided contributions and support to these following 2 resolutions: CCHS Resolution for the Expansion of Zoned High Schools in NYC, and CCHS Resolution Calling on NYCPS to Improve the Mechanics of the High School Application Process.
As a community advocate, I coordinated with concerned parents raising awareness of the then drafted CCHS Resolution to ensure that schools, administrators, teachers, students, and parents have resources and a framework to de-escalate tensions caused by the Israel-Hamas war and promote constructive strategies to the New York City Public Schools community.
Another volunteer activity that I’ve committed to these last 6+ years, is directing the HerMoveNext Foundation. HerMoveNext is a nonprofit chess outreach program supporting K-12 girls in 24 U.S. states and 7 countries from Canada, China, to Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Panama with free remote chess lessons and free participation in online US Chess Federation rated tournaments. Chess improvement parallels academic improvement. Players and students alike flourish with the right mix of motivation, opportunities, resources, instruction, and practice.
Thank you for reviewing my candidate statement. With your vote, I hope to continue representing Manhattan students with aggressive advocacy and relevant resolutions.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Morden