59 minute read
Comment
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
COMMENT
Advertisement
OCTOBER 7 — 13, 2021| PAGE 7 4 FCCPS School Board Candidate Statements
Statements from other canidiates will appear next week.
Jerrod Anderson Courtney Mooney Tate Gould David Ortiz
Like many families moving to Falls Church, my wife and I were attracted by the reputation of the schools. Entering our fourth year with FCCPS, I certainly cannot imagine my children— Orrick (6) and Huxley (4)— having better teachers and paraprofessionals. Starting at Jessie Thackrey Preschool, my oldest in particular has received additional support to enable his full participation and success in the classroom. I am running for school board to help ensure (in collaboration with other board members, school administration and staff, and other community members) that the schools continue to provide the excellent educational experience they are known for.
My work in the fields of education, economic development, and health statistics has provided me with hands-on experience through which I have developed a holistic perspective on the many factors that impact student success. In my work, I have consistently leveraged data to improve student outcomes, ensure teacher satisfaction, and direct effective use of government resources. This has involved balancing needs and concerns of multiple stakeholders (including teachers and school and district level administration) when making decisions, and using a range of methods of communication and feedback loops to gather information both before and after decisions have been made. I would bring this experience in statistical analysis and collaborative problem-solving to the board.
After knocking on over 2,000 doors (and counting), I have gained a great appreciation of how many different voices there are in our community. The 2019 equity report noted that “FCCPS must do more to ensure that all voices are represented, not just the loudest and most fervent.” This is a sentiment echoed throughout last year and is something that FCCPS should take to heart. We should give everyone the opportunity— through annual surveys, widely publicized town halls, or some other broad-based feedback method, including in languages other than English— to have their voices heard and to allow them to represent themselves in their own words.
In my many conversations with parents, teachers, and other community members, I have been asked about a wide range of topics, including alternatives for addressing bullying, relevance of professional development for teachers and paraprofessionals, and closing existing gaps for special populations in academic performance, participation in advanced classes, and extracurricular opportunities. By actively seeking systematic feedback from community members, the board can ensure the budget is effectively allocated to address these and other priorities, strategic planning is performed with full information, and policies can be thoroughly evaluated.
I think the FCC schools are special and unique, and I want FCCPS to be a caring community where all students thrive, all staff feel supported, and all parents can engage as partners in their child’s education. Importantly, we should encourage a culture of empathy where no student experiences school as an environment of exclusion. I am committed to making certain that the educational experience in Falls Church City schools is consistent with these values.
There have been and will be various forums during this school board race. Each with its targeted audience. Today, I want to address the audience that led me to want to run for a board seat in the first place— our city’s parents. Yes, our schools are great, as are the teachers, staff, and administrators in them. But it is the support, involvement, personal accountability, and trust from you, the parents, that makes this school system what it is.
The connection between parents and our school system is a relationship centered around our kids. Healthy relationships are powerful springboards for mutual achievement. They also require people feeling empowered to speak up and share in responsibility and transparency. That is not always easy or comfortable. Which is why our school board must be unflinchingly committed to providing strong leadership and be both facilitator and arbiter of consistently building and maintaining a healthy relationship between parents and the school system. We do not achieve this or build excellence with a “war behind the door” that leaves most in the dark as to what conversations are being had or opinions/ concerns are being weighed. Our school board must instead set the tone of openly engaging each other and our Superintendent in honest scrutiny and respectful discussions/debates which are representative of the various views, questions, concerns, and ideas of the community and its parents. When feedback and concerns go unaddressed, unvalidated, or parents feel guilty for having them, it undermines the parent/system relationship which is so critical to our success. People need to see mutual accountability play out. They need to hear themselves being represented.
If elected, I am deeply committed to creating an environment where parents feel heard and the school board holds itself to the highest of standards, starting with myself. This is why I am running. I want every parent to feel they have someone who is empathetic, accountable, and an advocate, in me. I have spent the past year filling that role. I am committed to the management of our Superintendent so that person can be the best leader they can be. I want to help set clearly defined measurable goals that support our students both academically and mentally/emotionally. I want to ensure our school system is one that puts the children in its care, first. That can rise to whatever challenges it faces swiftly and with nuance.
My former basketball teammate, now college coach, wrote the other day, “Someone holding you accountable is not the same as someone attacking you.” This simple but profound truth I learned long ago. People, teams, or organizations who are truly seeking to achieve and maintain excellence understand some version of this. While they celebrate victories and milestones, they also welcome constructive criticism. They hold themselves up for scrutiny and to be challenged. They encourage good faith debate and dissent. They constantly ask themselves how they can be better… even when they are great.
If this resonates with you, I’m asking for your vote.
Like many families, our family moved to Falls Church City (in 2016) because we wanted to be part of a great community, have our two kids attend excellent schools with caring teachers, and live among neighbors who look out for each other. The Little City is truly a special place and has lived up to our expectations.
The pandemic has tested communities around the country, including ours. It has and is still taking so much from all of us. In our schools, we are still understanding the impact of the social, emotional, and academic losses of our students. Our collective patience as parents or teachers is strained.
Yet, I believe we can do the hard work of listening well and healing and remember the many strengths of our school community. I am running for School Board to be part of the team that leads our school community to help ensure our district is forward-thinking, yet reflective of its past missteps, not just its past successes. I am running because I know the difficult policy decisions this next Board will be facing.
What sets me apart from the other candidates are three attributes that I believe are critical for effective school board functioning, regardless of which other candidates are elected. First, I offer a breadth and depth of educational knowledge and experience, based on 25 years of working in the education sector in a variety of roles, which I hope will be an asset as our School Board navigates math curriculum reform, collective bargaining, and strategies to combat learning losses, among many other issues.
Second, I understand the importance of school board governance and the function of providing fiscal oversight. As an accountability body, we must reflect on previous decision-making and ensure we implement school board governance best practices, initially focusing on strengthening communication with the community. We must maintain a strong relationship with the City Council, our partners in adopting a responsible fiscal plan for our schools. I have experience, having provided direct oversight for billions of federal grant dollars and now serving as the CEO or owner of multiple education companies.
Finally, I have a long history of bringing people together from different camps to work towards a common good. I have worked closely with governors and state superintendents in both political parties on their education policy. At the US Department of Education, I directed a major federal investment that spanned two administrations (Bush, Obama). As a CEO, I have led the merger and acquisition of 5 companies to successfully bring together groups of staff with different work styles and cultures.
No matter which other candidates get elected in November, I believe I can help bring our School Board together to ensure the best outcomes for our entire learning community. I ask for your support, as I would welcome the opportunity to use my skills and experience to serve this community that I love. Learn more or contact me at www.tategould.org.
In 2013, we moved to Falls Church City because of its excellent schools and supportive and open-minded community. The Little City warmly welcomed us, and we immediately felt at home. The commitment to education was apparent in the resources and programs at the library, and in the schools’ support for our children. Our son is in tenth grade and focuses on music and computer science. Our seventh-grade daughter is a very active student organizer and advocate. The schools have supported them every step of the way. My sister and her family moved to Falls Church City in 2020 so that their children (currently in second and fourth grade) could attend our schools.
I am running for a seat on the Falls Church City School Board to serve the schools that have served us. I have over 20 years of experience executing the core functions of the School Board: strategic planning; budgeting; setting policy; and performance oversight. I know how to work with communities to develop a shared vision for the future and put it into practice. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the School Board, the community, and teachers to help all students achieve their dreams, develop and implement a vision for the future of our schools, and perform effective oversight of the administration of our schools.
The schools, and school board, will lead the emergence of our schools and community from the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2020-2021 school year was disruptive to the entire community. I am happy and grateful that children are back in school and that mitigations are in place to keep the community safe. The pandemic amplified two existing challenges that we must face.
The first is mental health and emotional growth. Promoting the mental health of our children is an essential aspect of preparing them for adulthood. Depression and anxiety among children were issues before the pandemic. The isolation and suffering of the pandemic have amplified them. Being away from peers significantly affected students’ social and emotional development.
The second is equity. We were fortunate: my wife and I were able to transition our work to home. Our schedules were flexible, and we could help with homework or technical issues during virtual school. Many families were not so lucky. They had to work outside the home or lost their jobs. Some struggled with English. Others had special needs that could not be met in a virtual setting. Consistent with the International Baccalaureate principles we profess, we have an obligation to address the root causes of these unequal outcomes.
I look forward to working with my colleagues on the school board, the Falls Church City community, and especially teachers when developing solutions to these and other challenges. Teachers are most families’ direct connection to our schools. Teachers inspire our children and hold them accountable. Teachers implement the policies the school board approves. Teachers are a source of innovation and creativity. Their voices should sing in the school board’s work.
OCTOBER 7 — 13, 2021 | PAGE 8
LOCAL
THE FALLS CHURCH Education Foundation presented a check to the presidents of each PTA at their first meeting of the school year. Each PTA recieved $1000 from the Foundation. (Photo: News-
Press)
Falls Church School News & Notes
School-Based Diagnostic Testing Coming Soon
As discussed at a recent school board meeting, FCCPS will provide diagnostic testing for anyone who has symptoms of Covid-19. This will eliminate the need for families to try to locate a test provider should their students be sent home ill. The individual will receive a BinaxNow Proctored Test kit to use at home. This test is proctored by a healthcare professional who will monitor the home administration and verify the results. As soon as the division receives its allotment of test kits from the Virginia Department of Health they will begin the process.
Superintendent Noonan said to be on the lookout for more news to come on the Screening Test Program.
FCCPS is working with the VDOE and the VDH to secure a vendor who will help them implement a system-wide screening test process.
As part of this plan, FCCPS will need to hire a Registered Nurse. This could be a full-time person or part-time position shared between a couple of RNs. If you, or someone you know, is interested in being part of their team please let FCCPS know.
According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, these students who were named National Merit Commended Students “...have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success. These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments and the key role their schools play in academic development is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”
Among those recognized are Anamika Gavin, Mia Kittenbrink, Nathaniel Kusic, Andrew Miller, Robert Miller, Dylan Petrillo, Michael Bartholomew, Jessica Cummings, Sean Pala, Nicholas Parente, Katherine Teague.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Justice HS has ten students who have been named a Commended Student in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for the exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2022 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2022 competition by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in Oct. 2020. Justice High School is pleased to recognize their students for their continued pursuit of educational excellence.
FCCPS On-Time Graduation Rate Among Highest In VA
In data released by the Virginia Department of Education, nearly ten out of every ten FCCPS students who entered the ninth grade during the 2017-2018 school year graduated from George Mason High School (now Meridian High School) within four years. The GMHS Class of 2021 had a 98.5% On-Time Graduation Rate — the third-highest in Virginia (which averaged 93% overall).
In addition, FCCPS had perfect, 100% On-Time graduation rates for Asian, Hispanic, English Language Learners, and Economically Disadvantaged students.
Statewide, of the 97,155 students in the class of 2021, 93% earned a Board of Educationapproved diploma, compared with 92.3% of the 2020 cohort. The dropout rate for the class of 2021 was 4.3%, compared with 5.1% for the previous graduating class.
Falls Church Home & Garden Tour Proceeds Will Benefit Schools
The Falls Church Home & Garden Tour is on Sunday, October 17 from 1 — 5 p.m. and highlights locations within “The Little City.’’ Presale tickets can be purchased online for $30 through Friday, October 15th. Tickets can also be purchased for $35 on the day of the event.
Home & Garden Show 2021 will be the seventh edition of this community event highlighting the beautiful and diverse city of Falls Church. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Falls Church Education Foundation and the Falls Church City Public Schools PK-12.
Mustangs Force Several Turnovers En Route to Victory
by mike abler
Falls Church News-Press
The Mustangs celebrated Homecoming in style with a 61-40 win over the Skyline Tigers last Friday. With a bounce back win the football team improves to 4-2. Skyline took an early lead as Meridian gave up a touchdown on the opening drive and fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Skyline missed the two extra points and Meridian found themselves in an early 12-0 hole.
After a slow start and an injury to Skyline’s QB Meridian’s defense came on strong forcing five straight turnovers which included four fumbles and an interception. Meridian was able to put up 35 unanswered points on the board in what turned out to be the difference in the game. Offensively, the team bounced back from the previous game, “We executed better and fixed the mistakes from last week,” Senior QB Rice Evans said.
The Tigers put up a great fight in the 2nd half outscoring the Mustangs 28-26 after several substitutions for Meridian. However, the Mustangs maintained the lead and went to victory. The loss drops Skyline to 0-4 on the season. Head Coach Adam Amerine, (who’s also the defensive coordinator) noted that the mercy rule was repeated. During the game, it was revoked because Skyline kept fighting back.
Despite Skyline’s struggles this year, Evans and Amerine were pleased with the win. “They always play us well,” Amerine mentioned.
At 4-2, the team is optimistic about the future if they stay healthy. “If we go into November with few injuries, then I think we’ll be tough to beat,” Amerine said.
When asked about how they’d approach their next opponent, both Evans and Amerine said this: “We treat every team with respect and not take anyone lightly.”
The Mustangs look to continue their success and make the playoffs this year.
THE MERIDIAN MUSTANGS took on the Skyline Tigers at a home game to celebrate the first homecoming at the newly renamed school. (Photo: Fccps)
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Einstein: Everything Is Energy
More intriguing words from Albert Einstein, the world’s foremost theoretical physicist, retrieved from the Internet:
“Concerning matter, we’ve been all wrong. What we have called Nicholas F. Benton matter is energy, whose vibration has been so lowered as to be perceptible to the senses. Matter is spirit reduced to a point of visibility. There is no matter.” “Time and space are not conditions FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS in which we live, but modes by which we think. Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, determined by the external world.”
“A human being experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
“One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike. We still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us. It is entirely possible that behind the perception of our senses, worlds are hidden of which we are unaware.”
Just wow!
COMMENT
OCTOBER 7 — 13, 2021 | PAGE 9
I’d hold our community up to any when it comes to providing aid to desperate Afghan refugees. With the Defense Department now providing temporary housing to some 50,000 at multiple military bases (Fort Lee in Virginia), Arlingtonians are pitching in to share life’s basics while the new arrivals go through screenings.
Already there are signs of longterm challenges.
The Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc., just off Columbia Pike on S. Highland St., responded to a State Department’s request and joined allied groups on Sept. 1 to help with Afghan Placement and Assistance. The nonprofit has approval to resettle 3,100 individuals across its network of branch offices and affiliated organizations in 15 cities across the country.
“ECDC has been resettling Special Immigrant Visa holders from Afghanistan at several network locations for many years and is experienced in welcoming and integrating this population,” the group said.
Together with community partners, it will secure housing and necessities during the first 30-90 days as well as provide cultural orientation, assistance in education, legal guidance for changing immigration status and employment placement. It seeks donations in cash, housing options, furniture and job opportunities.
The nonprofit called Just Neighbors, using one of many pandemic-era grants from the Arlington
Our Man in Arlington Community By Charlie Clark Foundation, is providing legal services to low-income immigrants, asylees and refugees, with the goal of building “community among clients, staff, volunteers and the larger society.” Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington began back in July— before the dramatic but messy evacuation from Kabul in August—providing “supportive services as part of a multi-stakeholder operation to help evacuate Afghani nationals” who aided U.S. security operations. Showing up to greet arrivals at Fort Lee, about 20 Catholic Charities staff provided assistance in translating, completing legal documents and youth activities. Resurrection Lutheran Church collected donations from congregants to assemble kits of routine household items for delivery to refugees as they settle, delivered via the church’s broader Lutheran Social Services operation. The emergency charity Arlington Thrive channeled $3,000 in Homeland Security Department funds to the Arlington Kabob restaurant near Hall’s Hill, which then supplied meals for 10 people daily for three weeks. Co-owner Susan Clementi, born in Kabul (though raised in London) and fluent in the Afghan language, told me, “When refugees come, we try to do what we can to help, but they must give back.” Though eager to help the county’s philanthropic “first-responders,” Clementi is concerned about some refugees’ behavior, judging both from experiences in her restaurant and from newspaper accounts. Examples range from leaving trash behind to neglect of body hygiene to prolonged use of the welfare system. “My expectation is that they not be a burden on the U.S. So we try to educate them on what are American standards,” she said.
The “core values” in America differ from those in, say, European countries. Americans have “more of a conscience,” she says. “When somebody helps someone here, we take it forward.”
What is needed, Clementi argues, are cultural advisers. She stresses that the Afghanistan she knew long before the Taliban’s emergence, was a modern urban society, showing me 1960s photos of a place where women were educated and dressed in fashions that would blend in with any Western city. Her one message to those who escaped Afghanistan’s current crisis: “When you go into somebody’s country, you need to respect their culture.” *** Traffic was halted on Langston Blvd. (formerly Lee Highway) near Halls Hill Oct. 1 as 100 Arlingtonians celebrated the road’s name change.
Elected officials, organizers and neighbors cut a ribbon dedicating the new portrait of abolitionist and black education pioneer John M. Langston. The colorful image was executed—on the wall of an enthusiastic Sport Fair-- by D.C. muralist Kaliq Crosby.
Speaking outside the accompanying art exhibit at Dominion Lighting, Circuit Judge William Newman said he was “touched, as a black man,” because the name Langston Blvd. will now echo daily “as long as U.S. mail gets delivered, pizza gets delivered and GPS gives directions.”
OCTOBER 7 — 13 2021 | PAGE 10
LOCAL News-Press
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Community News & Notes
CBC To Host Candidate Forums Later This Month
Citizens for a Better City will host two Zoom candidate forums in the month of October following the two held by the Falls Church League of Women Voters and Village Preservation and Improvement Society earlier this fall.
CBC seeks to provide multiple opportunities to showcase the candidates given the large number running for office in this election cycle.
The first forum will be for City Council Candidates and is scheduled for Thursday, October 14 from 7:30 — 9 p.m.
The second forum will be for School Board candidates, cosponsored by the Falls Church PTAs, and is scheduled for Thursday, October 21st from 7:30 — 9 p.m. Zoom link and further details will be posted on the CBC website: fallschurchcbc.net
Chamber of Commerce Family Fun Night Returns
Join the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce for an evening of family fun and light networking. In addition to mini-golf there will be a picnic dinner from Lost Dog Cafe, a fire pit from Sislers Stone, a fire truck provided by the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department for kids to investigate, family corn hole and dessert from Nothing Bundt Cakes. There will also be a meet and greet area with some puppies and dogs from Lost Dog & Cat Rescue.
The event will take place on Tuesday, October 12 at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required. Adult tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Children’s tickets are $10.
Arc of NOVA to Host Spirits of Giving Fundraiser
Community members are invited to join The Arc of Northern Virginia Board of Directors for a cocktail fundraising event to benefit the disability community from 3 — 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 16 at Falls Church Distillers.
This will be a “grown ups only” experience, offering an afternoon of adult conversation and socialization for those with a curious nature and a sophisticated palate. Spirits of Giving celebrates the craft of the local distiller and benefits the mission of supporting those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Your $50 event ticket gains you entry to the private event, where you’ll find a variety of hors d’oeuvres, the musical talents of Jake Sizemore and one complimentary cocktail.
The Distiller’s Experience ticket is $100 and adds a tour that covers the distillation process and a sample of a pre-release seasonal or future whiskey aging on the premises.
Tickets and more information can be found on thearcofnova. org/spritsofgiving.
Fairfax Fall Festival This Weekend
The City of Fairfax invites those interested to join in celebrating their annual Fall Festival. What started out as a small market for artisans to display their wares has grown to a festival with more than 400 arts, crafts, information, food and vendors, children’s activities and three stages of music and entertainment for all ages.
The festival will take place in historic Old Town Fairfax from 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 9 and the late night concert will run from 5:30 — 8:30 p.m. in Old Town Square. More information can be found on fairfaxva.gov.
DMV Begins Offering Appointments And WalkIn Services on Alternating Days
Appointments for service will be offered only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and walk-in service will be offered only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Hours will vary by office location.
At the direction of the General Assembly, DMV will be integrating walk-in service back into its operations in addition to appointments.
Walk-in service will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis based on the type of transaction; customers should anticipate wait times.
For the health and safety of customers and employees, lobby chairs will be spaced and all customers are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings.
DMV also continues to offer many service alternatives outside of the customer service centers. More than 50 transactions are available at dmvNOW.com and many can be conducted by mail.
FORMER NEWS-PRESS REPORTER Darien Bates (right) was a principal panelist at the national FSTEC conference in Dallas last week, along with Joe Guszkowki of Restaurant Business magazine (left) and Pankaj Patra of Brinker International (center). Bates spoke as chief online operations officer for &pizza. They discussed the post-pandemic challenges facing the restaurant
industry. (courtesy photo)
National Coming Out Day Film Festival
In culmination of Ally Week and to mark National Coming Out Day, The Alden will host a movie marathon featuring LGBTQ+ affirming films. Masks are required for all participants.
The event is free but registration is required. Patron IDs will be checked for films with age restrictions.
The event will take place on Monday, October 11 with showtimes at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Register for The Alden’s email list at www.aldentheatre.org to see the list of films being shown.
Meeting of the McLean Art Society
The McLean Art Society will be holding a Zoom Meeting on Friday October 22 from 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.. Ally Morgan, a visual artist and teacher, will be doing a mixed media presentation on animal portraiture. The demonstration will begin at 11 a.m.
Guests are always welcome. Non-members who wish to participate in our programs must notify Ray Goodrow at raygoodrow@aol.com in order for him to send you an invitation via email to attend the Zoom session. More information can be found online at mcleanartsociety.org.
Early Voting Now Open for November 2, 2021 Election.
Early in-person voting began on Friday, September 17 for the November 2, 2021 General Election.
The ballot includes contests for state office (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and House of Delegates) and local office (Sheriff, Commissioner of Revenue, Treasurer, City Council, and School Board).
The deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration is Tuesday, October 12.
Citizens can check their voter registration status, request a ballot and track their ballot on the Virginia Department of Election’s Citizen Portal: vote.elections.virginia.gov.
FALL 2021 VOTERS’ GUIDE
This Voters’ Guide is published by the League of Women Voters. The League has a long tradition of publishing the verbatim responses of candidates to questions important to voters. Go to VOTE411.org to get personalized information about your ballot. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any candidate or political party.
VOTER INFORMATION
For more specific voter information, contact the City of Falls Church Voter Registration and Elections Office at (703) 2485085 (TTY 711) or email: vote@fallschurchva.gov regarding voter identification requirements, absentee voting by mail or in-person, and sample ballots. Online, go to www.fallschurchva.gov/vote.
ELECTION DAY VOTING: Registered voters who live in the City of Falls Church are eligible to vote at the appropriate polling place for their residences. Ward 1: Oak Street (formerly Thomas Jefferson) Elementary School, 601 South Oak Street, Oak Street gym entrance (park on Oak Street, Fellows Court, Parker Avenue, or Timber Lane)
Ward 2: Falls Green (formerly Oakwood) Apartments, 501 North Roosevelt Boulevard
Ward 3: Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls Street (park in Community Center lot or on Little Falls Street)
IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED TO VOTE: Virginia law requires all in-person (early and Election Day) voters to provide either an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID Confirmation
Statement at the polls. Voters arriving at the polls without an acceptable form of ID will be required to either sign an ID Confirmation Statement or vote a provisional ballot. If a voter votes a provisional ballot, they will have until noon on the Friday following the election to deliver a copy of identification to their locality’s electoral board or sign an ID Confirmation Statement in order for their provisional ballot to be counted.
The following forms of identification may be used to vote: • Valid Virginia driver’s license or special identification card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (may be expired) • Valid employer-issued photo identification card • Military identification card • Valid student identification card issued by any higher education institution in Virginia • Valid student identification card with a photo issued by any higher education institution in the United States • Valid student identification card issued by any public or private high school in Virginia • Valid US Passport • Any federal, Virginia state, or local government-issued identification with photo • Virginia voter identification card issued by the Virginia Department of Elections • Voter confirmation documents • Valid tribal enrollment or other tribal ID from any of the 11 tribes recognized by Virginia • Nursing home resident ID if issued by a government facility • Current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck containing the name and address of the voter • Any other current government document containing the name and address of the voter • Signed ID Confirmation Statement (available at the polling place)
ABSENTEE VOTING: In Virginia, all registered voters may vote by absentee ballot, in-person, or by mail. No excuse is necessary. ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL requires the completion of a Virginia Absentee Ballot Application Form online or by mail. Your request for an absentee ballot by mail must be received by the Voter Registration and Elections Office by 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 22, 2021. You will be mailed the absentee ballot, which must be mailed back in time to reach the electoral board by noon on Friday, November 5. NOTE: A witness sig-
nature is required on the absentee ballot envelope.
ABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON (Early Voting) began September 17, 2021. You may vote in-person at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections (300 Park Ave, Center Level, Suite 206) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, and on Saturdays, October 23 and 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The last day to vote in-person absentee is on Saturday, October 30.
ABOUT THIS GUIDE This guide is produced by the League of Women Voters of Falls Church, which includes both women and men. LWVFC is a nonpartisan organization founded in 1951, whose purpose is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government. Please visit www.lwvfallschurch.org for more information, and go to VOTE411.org to enter your address and compare candidates’ responses to the questions the League asked them. In addition to the local races highlighted here, this year’s ballot includes races for Virginia Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General as well as the contest for Member, House of Delegates, 53rd District, Candidates: Sarah White (Rep), Marcus Simon (Dem), and three uncontested races for Sheriff, Metin A. “Matt” Cay; Commissioner of the Revenue, Thomas D. Clinton; and Treasurer, Jody P. Acosta.
NOTE: Candidates are listed here in the order they appear on the ballot as determined by the Virginia State Board of Elections of the City of Falls Church Electoral Board.
FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL
THE OFFICE
The City Council enacts ordinances and resolutions, approves budgets, sets tax rates, and establishes policy. The seven Council Members are elected at-large for four-year terms and are not affiliated with any national political party. The annual salary for Council Members is $9,200; the salary for Mayor is $9,800.
THE QUESTIONS:
1. Tell us about yourself and WHY ARE YOU RUNNING for Falls Church City Council in 2021. 2. How long have you lived in Falls Church City, and in WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED with the city and community during your time here? 3. What is the TOP ISSUE currently facing the Falls Church City Council, and, if elected, what will you do to address it?
David F. Snyder
Attorney, administrative law, international trade
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Falls Church City activist and City Council member; regional representative on transportation, environment, and emergency preparedness bodies; EMT; vaccine trial volunteer; and fortunate husband, father, and father-in-law. WEB SITE https://davidfsnyderforcitycouncil.com/ EMAIL ADDRESS davidflemingsnyder@gmail.com TELEPHONE 703-241-0419
QUESTIONS:
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING: I grew up in a small town in the coal region of Western Pennsylvania where I learned from my parents the importance of service and working with everyone. My mother and father were community activists and professionals who gave back to their community and church. They taught me through example what it means to live in and contribute to the community for the benefit of all. In addition to my parents, I was influenced by my town’s longtime fire chief and other volunteer firefighters, who ingrained in me a life-long commitment to public safety. I am running for City Council in 2021 because I want to continue to contribute the experience I have gained to meeting the challenges Falls Church faces. WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED: We have lived in Falls Church, first from 1978-1980 and then from 1987 to the present. I began community service here as a co-leader of a citizen group that successfully opposed off-track betting parlors and as President of the Falls Church Housing Corporation, which then owned and managed the Winter Hill affordable apartments. Since 1994, I have served on City Council, with stints as Mayor (1998-2000) and Vice Mayor (1996-1998, 2010-2015). I currently chair the National Capital Region Emergency Preparedness Council and the City Council’s Legislative Committee. I have chaired and now serve on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (currently as Vice Chair and Chair of NVTA’s Technology Group), and the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee. Our son, daughter, and son-in-law attended and graduated from Falls Church City Public Schools. TOP ISSUE: This summer U.S. News & World Report ranked Falls Church City third in the country for the high quality of our community, schools, and government. This did not happen by accident or overnight. Rather, this distinction is the result of hard work by citizen volunteers, taxpayers, our businesses and nonprofits, professional City staff, and elected officials. Our greatest challenge is to maintain our community’s many great qualities and then to address new challenges as they arise, always with a willingness to hear all voices and assure inclusiveness in everything we do.
PAGE 1 CANDIDATES FOR FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
CANDIDATES FOR FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL — CONTINUED Debora “Debbie” Schantz-Hiscott
Executive Director, Falls Church Education Foundation
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Executive Director- Falls Church Education Foundation; Sr. Mgr - Business Dev/Corporate Finance, MCI/Verizon UNC-Chapel Hill, B.A., Economics, Psychology, Industrial Relations; London School of Economics - Labor Economics WEB SITE debbiehiscott.org EMAIL ADDRESS debbiehiscottforcitycouncil@gmail.com TELEPHONE 703-786-6622
QUESTIONS:
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING: A long-time Falls Church City resident, I have served the community in both a professional and volunteer capacity for nearly three decades and the past year as a City Council member. I raised three children in Falls Church City Public Schools, have led the Falls Church Education Foundation for the past nine years, and have worked to ensure schools and community are a healthy, welcoming environment that we are all proud to call home. I have learned what is important to the residents and how to best use my skills to meet those needs. I am running for re-election so that I can continue to build on the important work we have started, including seeing through the business development plans on the 10-acre site in West Falls Church. For nearly 15 years, I advocated for a new public high school and was a founding member of the political action committee that promoted the bond referendum to construct the new facility that welcomed students last spring. I have both a personal and moral obligation to ensure city leaders keep the promises we made to voters to retire the debt with strong new commercial development. I also want to reduce our environmental impact, provide more affordable housing and equity, and support local businesses. WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED: As a City Council member, I have served on the Legislative Committee, Environmental Sustainability Council, Architectural Advisory Board, and Library Oversight Board and was elected chair of the Community Development Authority. During my tenure, I have worked with my colleagues to mitigate pandemic impacts, support local businesses, address racial inequities, pursue affordable housing opportunities, work towards a climate action plan and lower the tax rate. Prior to serving on City Council, I spent 25 years working, volunteering, and raising my family in the city, while developing deep relationships with a broad cross-section of the community. I’ve been a youth and high school coach for 15 years, served in leadership in the PTA for 17 years, volunteered with Women’s History March, Tinner Hill Music Festival, Homestretch and the Falls Church Homeless Shelter. I also draw on the business development, strategy, and budgeting skills gained through a career in corporate finance. TOP ISSUE: The American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) provides the city with unprecedented funds for city improvements. It is imperative that the Falls Church City Council identifies and pursues opportunities to direct these funds toward projects and programs that benefit all members of our community in both the short and long term. If re-elected, I will work to spend these funds on stormwater and infrastructure projects that will enable our community to better withstand the impact of climate change while decreasing the debt financing that we would otherwise incur to complete these projects. This savings will allow us to support other city programs and keep our tax rate low.
Marybeth D. Connelly
FCCPS Community Outreach Director
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Running for 3rd term; 27year resident of FC; With her husband, Michael, raised family here and is committed to a thriving Falls Church community. M.Ed. University of Virginia; B.A. Villanova University; 16 years in FCCPS Community Outreach role WEB SITE MarybethConnelly.com EMAIL ADDRESS mbforcitycouncil@gmail.com TELEPHONE 703-200-2426
QUESTIONS:
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING: After serving two terms on Falls Church City Council, I am running because I am committed to serving the people of Falls Church. We’ve made much progress in the past 8 years, and there is still work to do. I’m proud of the Capital Projects we’ve completed: Meridian High School, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, City Hall, parkland acquisition and improvements. That’s the most ambitious financing and construction program in the City’s history and we managed to reduce the tax rate. Because of these projects, the City is a better place to live, work, play, and go to school. My campaign slogan remains the same in each election: “Connect with Connelly” because I believe that bringing people together is the only way the City can successfully navigate our unique challenges. The City succeeds because the people who live and work here understand the importance of working together. Local businesses, civic organizations, schools, and families form the City’s foundation. We thrive when our leadership cultivates all parts. Both longtime and new residents need to engage in living locally through community volunteerism, neighborhood activity, relationshipbuilding. I am committed to strengthening Falls Church by cultivating key connections. WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED: My husband, Michael, and I arrived in Falls Church in 1995. We didn’t expect to stay for 26 years, but we realized that this is the perfect place for us. We raised our three children, Brian, Andrew, and Julie in Falls Church. In addition to 8 years on City Council, I’m in my 17th year working for Falls Church City Public Schools as the Community Outreach Director, which means I am deeply embedded in the community, working closely with local businesses, school employees, and volunteers. I’ve held volunteer leadership positions in community organizations like Village Preservation & Improvement Society, Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, Falls Church Kiwanis Little League, Falls Church Elementary PTA and more. I volunteered in August at the Tinner Hill Music Festival, and was so happy to get back to doing some of my favorite things: welcoming people to Falls Church and taking pictures of them in the LOVE sculpture. I will do whatever is needed to help out in the City that I call home. TOP ISSUE: Four years ago I would have said, “We’ve got to build this high school!” Now I am focused on sustaining the community we treasure. We need to keep the West Falls Church development on track because it is a key part of the high school plan of finance. As a Council member that is a top priority. Caring for the land, water, and people who live here is a big concern. The growth of the City in the past 20 years is directly related to increased commercial development, and we can’t stop now. When making decisions, there are always tradeoffs. As a Councilmember I will strive for balance - the right kind of development, in the right places, benefitting the City as a whole, the people who live and work here, and respecting the environment.
Stuart M. Whittaker
Own and operate a Prius car share business
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Born in IL to a social worker and a librarian, family moved to WA, NY, and back to IL where I finished high school. AB and MBA from U Chicago. Lived in CA and TN. Have worked in private sector most of my career, established my own business in 1986. WEB SITE StuartMWhitaker.com EMAIL ADDRESS StuartMWhitaker@gmail.com TELEPHONE (703) 863-1289
QUESTIONS:
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING: My parents taught that we had an obligation to contribute to the community. At nineteen I worked as a volunteer in five states in the first presidential election campaign after eighteen year olds won the right to vote. I am a strong believer in capitalism and in democracy but believe that both capitalism and democracy must be carefully regulated to prevent excesses. Out of school I joined a technology manufacturer in silicon valley that was instrumental in eliminating AT&T’s monopoly control in telecommunications and in stimulating innovation. I have worked as a consultant in the areas involving technology, finance, and regulation in the US, Europe, Africa, and Asia, with a continued interest in promoting competition and innovation. In 2008 I became aware of the climate crisis and the disparate impact that this crisis has on different demographics. I began to focus on the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, which was transportation. This election is about far more than just the City Council--it is also for representation on powerful regional bodies whose decisions affect citizens of the City. I am running for the City Council to help pursue policies that reduce emissions in a just and equitable manner. WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED: I have lived and been involved in the Northern Virginia community--first in Fairfax County and later in Falls Church City--since 1983. During that time I have been involved in a myriad of organizations and activities. I am a member of VPIS and have contributed to the Falls Church Education Foundation’s annual fundraiser. My two children went K through twelve here, both graduating from George C Marshall High School. I was a long time boys and girls soccer coach and commissioner of an adult coed soccer league. I have worked with community organizations including the Sierra Club and the Coalition for Smarter Growth on transportation and climate issues. I am a graduate of the Transportation Planning Board’s Community Leadership Institute. I now own and operate a small business in the City. I was president of my homeowner’s association. I have been president of my local alumni association. I am a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington. TOP ISSUE: The top issues are equity and the environment. Black Lives Matter means more than ending police shootings of Black citizens and the #MeToo movement means more than respect in the workplace for women. It means a transportation where the length of your commute and your personal safety don’t depend on how wealthy you are, and it means housing that everyone can afford. The environment requires an allhands-on deck effort. The Biden administration is doing its best to reduce emissions but it can’t do it alone. Infrastructure design, most of which is controlled at the local level, has a tremendous effect on transportation emissions and on equity. I will work to make sure equity and environmental considerations are given top consideration.
PAGE 2 CANDIDATES FOR FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Caroline S. Lian
FreddieMac
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: 15 yr city resident, proud wife and Mom. 26 years of professional experience in investment banking, consulting, DC govt, education. Implemented affordable lending programs and currently responsible for enterprise third party risk at FreddieMac WEB SITE carolinelian.org EMAIL ADDRESS carolinelianfcc@gmail.com TELEPHONE 703-980-7542
QUESTIONS:
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING: I was born in Bogor, Indonesia and immigrated to the US in 1979 with my mother and younger brother. I attended public schools in Alexandria, Prince William County, and graduated from UVA with a BA in Biology. I have been married for 18 yrs and have 2 sons ages 10 and 12. I have 26 years of professional work experience that spans consulting, investment banking, public education, local government, and government sponsored enterprises (GSE’s). This is my first time running for public office. I would like to apply my experience in management, operational execution, policy development and implementation to serve our community and help navigate challenges and opportunities. I am passionate about excellent public education, preserving, protecting and expanding affordable housing, and supporting economic development that improves quality of life and the future of the community while preserving green space. I am a full time working mother who believes that diversity in public office is important. I also hope to encourage today’s youth, especially my children, to participate civically and give back to the community. WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED: My husband, Andrew, and I moved into the city in 2006. Andrew’s family has roots in the City that started in 1946. Second, third and fourth generation family have graduated from FCCPS and still live in the city today. A summary of my community involvement includes: PTA Room parent for both of my sons every year since 2013 and a volunteer at multiple PTA events, Odyssey of the Mind Coach 3 consecutive school years, Science Olympiad Coach 2 consecutive school years, Cubscout Pack 657 Den volunteer for both sons 6 consecutive years, Member Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, Tinner Hill Music Festival Volunteer, Board Member Elsie Whitlow Stokes PCS, DC (2016 – 2020), Advisor Next Step Network, sustainable homeownership nonprofit (2016 – 2020), Board Member Students First (2013 – 2016), Board Member Hugh O’Brian Youth Foundation Mentorship Director (2010 - 2013). TOP ISSUE: Our city needs more affordable housing - it supports our community values of diversity and inclusion. The ability for people at all income levels to live here is also important to meeting our full economic development potential. Affordable housing is an exercise in community sustainability and requires a multi-prong approach to address, including: increasing our set aside target, having collaboration from public/ private/nonprofit actors, ensuring federal and state resources complement local funding sources, piloting preservation and tenant protection policies, having strong developer capacity that meets complexity of community needs for green space preservation, carbon neutrality, resident services, and meeting special needs of residents.
Scott C. Diaz
Department of Defense Civilian Employee
EMAIL ADDRESS scott.c.diaz@gmail.com TELEPHONE 703-400-0350
QUESTIONS:
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING: I have spent a career serving my nation at home and abroad and now I want to to serve my community. I have not run for public office before, but my work experience within the Department of Defense has prepared me for service on the city council. I have more than two decades of experience engaging with people from around the world, from a variety of cultures and experiences, working with them on relevant issues, achieving consensus on goals, and taking action to see them through. Our desirable location and school system drive others to want to be part of our community. Unfortunately, our city is small, with no place to go but up. Development plans for the next decade call for many hundreds of apartments and condominiums to be built along the development zone of Broad and Washington Streets. This will expand our population by thousands and hopefully bring dozens of small businesses to the city. This expansion will place a growing burden on our infrastructure. WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED: We have lived in Falls Church for two years. To our great fortune, the day after we moved in, our street held its annual welcome BBQ where we were able to meet most of our neighbors; we immediately felt accepted and part of the community. We took advantage of the nearby tennis courts, the library, and walked the neighborhood with our dog. We enjoyed casual shopping and dinners in the city. We became season ticket holders at the Creative Cauldron and enjoyed their shows. Six months later COVID restrictions were put in place. For the next year and a half we took advantage of physically distanced citywide events. We love the State Theater and spent many evenings under a propane heater enjoying great local musicians, Cherry Hill park was our favorite summer concert outing, and the Farmer’s market was a great weekend escape. Most importantly, Falls Church was where my son cast his first ballot. TOP ISSUE: Growing our city shouldn’t be at the expense of our families, community, and small businesses. Our development should be managed to maintain the characteristics of our community. As our population expands, we should be looking for ways to maintain the quality and level of city services without increasing the individual tax burdens of our residents.
FALLS CHURCH SCHOOL BOARD
THE OFFICE
The School Board’s primary responsibilities are to set policy for the school division, approve the annual budget, develop a strategic plan, and hire a superintendent to operate the school division in accordance with board policy. The seven School Board Members serve four-year terms and are not affiliated with any national political party. The annual stipend for School Board Members is $3,600; for the Vice Chair, $4,800; and for the Chair, $6,000
THE QUESTIONS:
1. Tell us about yourself and WHY ARE YOU RUNNING for Falls Church School Board. 2. How long have you lived in Falls Church City, and in WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED with the city and community during your time here? 3. What is the TOP ISSUE currently facing the Falls Church School Board, and, if elected, what will you do to address it?
Ilya Shapiro
Constitutional Lawyer
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Ilya Shapiro is vice president and director of constitutional studies at the Cato Institute. An immigrant twice over (from Russia and Canada) and a national renowned scholar, he works to advance liberty & give all kids the opportunities he’s had. WEB SITE https://shapiro4fallschurch.org/ EMAIL ADDRESS shapiro4fallschurch@gmail.com TELEPHONE 202-577-1134
QUESTIONS:
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING: I’m running for school board to ensure that the Little City maintains excellent schools while providing accountability, responsiveness, transparency, and diversity of thought. I learned the importance of education from my parents. They made tremendous sacrifices to get me out of the Soviet Union because they didn’t want me growing up under Communism. We immigrated to Canada, settling in Ontario, where I had a typical small-town childhood, full of sports and Boy Scouts, working hard and dreaming big. I came to the United States for college (Princeton) and law school (University of Chicago), moved to D.C. in 2004, and became a U.S. citizen in 2014. I’m now a vice president of the Cato Institute, where I regularly file briefs before the Supreme Court and testify before Congress and state legislatures. Like most immigrants, I do a job that most native-born Americans won’t: defending the Constitution. I’m also a member of the Virginia Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, chairman of the advisory board of the Mississippi Justice Institute, on the board of the Tony Patiño Fellowship (giving scholarships to law students), and on the board of fellows at the Jewish Policy Center. I want to give back to the community. WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED: This is my first time running for office. As I filed my paperwork, I thought of nothing but my two sons, ages 5 and 3. My oldest is a kindergartener at Mount Daniel and my youngest is at Dulin Cooperative Preschool (where my wife Kristin is the president). We moved here in 2014 to give the kids we hoped to have the best educational opportunities possible. Our tiny school district continues to lead the region, not just in overall quality but in addressing the past year’s challenges, and I’m thankful for the parents, teachers, staff, and board members who made that happen. Still, on pandemic response we were toward the bottom of the league nationally, always a step behind best practices. And at a time when parents were most concerned about education loss and getting back to in-person school, the board repeatedly deferred to the superintendent and instead debated whether to change school names. Those mistaken priorities are why I’m running, and the theme of my campaign is accountability. TOP ISSUE: Accountability. That means responsiveness and representation: I will represent community members and respond to your concerns. Accountability means transparency: if elected, I will explain my votes and official decisions online. Accountability means independence: I will not go along with groupthink or the path of least resistance, but will bring a fresh perspective that our board lacks. The community has expressed a desire for having a diversity of opinion and experience. If elected, I’d represent and engage all constituents—and that includes non-parents. I take the school board’s role in governance seriously, and want to make sure that the superintendent and district leadership are ultimately accountable to the community.
PAGE 3
CANDIDATES FOR FALLS CHURCH SCHOOL BOARD CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Lori K. Silverman
Political Consultant
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: I’m from Chicago, but I’ve been in the DMV since 2000.I grew up in a very political family, and continued working in politics first on Capitol Hill and then as a political consultant (I’m also a lawyer). I moved to FCC in 2016, and love it here. WEB SITE www.lorisilverman4fcc.com EMAIL ADDRESS loriforfccsb@gmail.com TELEPHONE 202-361-8895
QUESTIONS:
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING: Communication. Collaboration. Community. Those three pillars are what I focus on during my campaign in order to maintain our exceptional schools. I believe in strong leadership so we can have the best schools for our children and the community. I pride myself in being a good listener, an advocate, and someone who can work with people even if we have different opinions. I will be a thoughtful and reasonable voice in these uncertain times as we navigate ahead together. I want to ensure our schools remain open full time to our families and teachers in a safe and responsible way, with as few disruptions as possible. I will ensure our children feel secure and receive any additional resources they may need to continue personal growth to become the best versions of themselves. I want the teachers, staff,parents and community to have an authentic voice, feel truly heard, and that everyone receives the respect they deserve. I promise I will always have an open-door policy and be accessible to the community throughout my term. While I know I won’t agree with everyone I speak with, I promise I will consider all information, listen to all voices, and final decisions will come from being committed to do what is right for our children WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED: I’ve lived in Falls Church City since 2016. We moved here for the schools when my daughter started at Jessie Thackrey. Before the pandemic, I was a frequent volunteer in the schools, whether it was recess duty, chaperoning field trips, or helping the teachers with holiday parties. Since the reopening of the schools, that involvement is obviously much more limited, however I still found opportunities during the spring to volunteer outdoors at the schools. I participate in fundraising events sponsored by FCEF to help support the schools. During March and April 2020, I volunteered by driving meals to the elderly. I’ve offered pro bono services at my work to some candidates who I truly believe in. TOP ISSUE: Currently, the top issue is still, unfortunately, the pandemic. I will work hard to ensure the schools stay open, full time, with as few disruptions as possible. In order for this to happen, I strongly support every mitigation strategy outlined by Dr. Noonan. And even if there comes a time when the mitigation measures aren’t mandated by the state, I will still implement them if Center for Disease Control/American Association of Pediatrics guidance recommends it.
Jerrod F. Anderson
Health Statistician
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Falls Church resident for 5 years. Married. Father of 2 boys (4 and 6 years old). Experience in educational technology in Memphis, TN, economic development in rural Arkansas, and national health surveys. WEB SITE https://andersonforfccschoolboard.com/ EMAIL ADDRESS andersonfccschoolboard@gmail.com TELEPHONE 202-306-3583
QUESTIONS:
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING: Like many parents, I spent much of last year helping with my oldest son’s kindergarten education. That was a unique opportunity to be intimately involved with my child’s education. As Covid restrictions loosened and he spent more time at school, I wanted to find ways that best used my skills and experience to further contribute to the schools in this community. My experiences working in rural economic development, on a large survey, and in education technology implementation have
Courtney C. Mooney
Medical Sales (diagnostic testing)
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Born/raised in Asheville, NC. Oldest of three. Father is a pediatric dentist and mother, a high school English teacher. Attended UNC-Chapel Hill on full athletic scholarship for basketball, was a 2yr team captain. Communications degree. WEB SITE www.Mooney4fccsb.com EMAIL ADDRESS Courtneymooneyforfccsb@gmail.com TELEPHONE 571-414-7924
QUESTIONS:
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING: As an 8yr FCC resident and a Mom with a student who is now in 4th grade I was paying very close attention to our board over the past 18months… particularly because I was very involved and on-site from almost day one in medical facilities in DC helping roll out COVID testing and protocols. The pandemic and creating safe environments is very in my wheelhouse as is crisis management. I ended up digging in very deeply as to what conversations were and were all involved taking input from multiple stakeholder groups (with a variety of concerns) to come to a final decision. While working in the Memphis public schools, in particular, I gained a great appreciation for the necessity of teachers’ ability to provide feedback on the administration’s policies and priorities. In addition to allowing for more effective implementation and targeting of educational technology, creating the space for feedback increased teacher buy-in for the program. My experience lends itself well for productively engaging with members of the school community and allowing the appropriate space for them to provide feedback and express concerns. WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED: I have lived in Falls Church for five years. I have attended many of the annual events (outside of pandemic times) such as the Falls Church Festival and the Memorial Day celebrations. I have “attended” every school board meeting since June of 2020, and I put my name in for each of the two vacancies on the school board this past year. I have also benefited from the community’s amazing network of parents to find (after much time searching and a few false starts) the appropriate services for my son. I have found that the schools act as an excellent information source for opportunities to get involved that I would not have known about otherwise. As a school board candidate, I have provided the community updates on school board meetings and the Virginia Standards of Learning results (which I plan on continuing after the election). I was also very happy to sponsor the Run For Schools event this year, and I look forward to more opportunities to serve. TOP ISSUE: Last year highlighted the uncertainty of the future. We are still dealing with the pandemic and its effects, not least of which has been the mental and emotional strain on our students. Next year, we may be dealing with something completely different. Creating processes for systematic community feedback will ensure we know what is working and where opportunities for improvement are. From the final equity report in 2019: “FCCPS must do more to ensure that all voices are represented, not just the loudest and most fervent.” We should not just listen to only the loudest, but we should also strive to give those who are seen as silent the opportunity to have their voices heard and to allow them to represent themselves in their own words.
not taking place and the decisions happening around that and I simply did not see the leadership, nuance, and clear vision that I thought was needed and necessary from the board to be as effective and nimble as we could have been to best serve our students and families this past year. Our board was in a very tough spot but it highlighted to me that we need people willing and able to take up the mantle of leadership and be effective and proactive communicators so everyone in our community feels heard, validated, and their questions and concerns addressed appropriately. We also need strong management by our board of our SuperIntendent so he can continue to develop and be as effective as possible in his role. WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED: I am an 8yr resident and have been very involved in kids sports. I’ve coached youth basketball and during the pandemic started a free basketball clinic for kids in our area that ran several days a week from August-March so kids got critical peer interaction and structure they needed. Also, I led the Falls Church City Parents for Schools group to give families struggling a place to be heard. The goal was to consolidate the many voices inundating our school system for help to provide better bandwidth for our schools, present a clear resource of info, open better lines of communication, and get families the option for in-person learning. Many people saw the signs but that was the smallest part. I created an advisory board of experts to guide us, met w the mayor, city council, superintendent, board members, PTA, and teachers. I wrote weekly newsletters, created a website w information, answered emails. I tried to be an effective empathetic representative for families that needed it. TOP ISSUE: We need to examine how we can be forward thinking in safety while minimizing disruptions when it comes to COVID in school. We need to be transparent around examining learning loss. While students may be meeting baseline goals, that doesn’t look at where they are vs where they could have been or where we anticipated they should be. Many children did not make the strides they should have last year and we can’t just look at SOL or STAR data (not in the way we’ve opted to use those numbers) and have a clear picture on learning loss and how to address it. Curriculum updates in math means we will need to be thinking critically about how to best incorporate those changes and what resources are needed to drive/support our academic excellence.
