MEET URIAH!

Uriah Ward (he/him) is an educator, a community organizer and an East-Sider. He believes that every child, regardless of background, deserves a quality education that prepares them for the world as it is and gives them the tools to build the world as it should be. He knows how important it is for schools to be safe and nurturing places for children to learn and grow. He also knows how important it is to support the educators who work directly with our students so they can focus on meeting student needs and cultivating a productive learning environment.

 

In 2015, Uriah became a teacher. He taught middle school Social Studies at a public school where he served as the Social Studies Department Chair, was the advisor for the SGA, and coached the chess team. He currently works at Augsburg University as a Financial Aid Counselor where he has been an active member of the MAFAA Legislative Committee. He also worked briefly as a transitional educator, helping special needs students develop the work skills they needed to become independent.

 

Uriah earned a Bachelor's of Science in Political Science and a Master’s of Arts in Education from East Carolina University, where he also served as the President of the College Democrats.

 

Uriah has always sought out ways to engage with his community and advocate for progressive change. He is a long-time advocate for increased public school funding and has always stood against efforts to privatize education. He was the longest-serving organizer on the successful Vote Yes for St. Paul Kids campaign in 2018, which secured approximately 18.6 million dollars a year for 10 years for Saint Paul Public Schools. Uriah has also led on progressive causes including LGBTQ+ rights, police accountability, and removing confederate monuments.

 

As a strong believer in the power of organized labor, Uriah initiated and was a leader in the drive to unionize staff at Augsburg University. He knows how important it is for staff to work in co-governance with administration to meet student needs. Uriah has also been a consistent leader in Democratic politics. He was the first President of the Saint Paul Young DFL, he has managed and volunteered for several winning progressive campaigns, and was twice-elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

 

Uriah lives on the East Side of Saint Paul with his wife, Ashley, and their dog, Hamilton. In his free time he enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing basketball, and exploring Minnesota’s many parks and green spaces.