EchoBlog

Cassandra Aucoin, 64

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Party: Republican endorsed

Aucoin said she previously worked as a chief of staff for a global organization and is now retired. She said she supports policies that keep all children safe, including anti-bullying policies and “policies regarding girls on the girls’ team and boys and the boys’ team.”

The most important issue, she said, is addressing learning loss and achievement gaps that were amplified during pandemic school closures. She wants to focus budget resources on classroom instruction and school safety.

Maureen Brody, 60

Party: Republican endorsed

Brody said she’s running to focus on fundamental academics. If elected, she said she backs expanding vocational education; improving school safety with a focus on student crime and bullying; and helping people see teaching as a respected and noble profession.

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Saundra Davis, 52

Party: Republican endorsed

Davis said she is running for school board because she believes there is little diversity of thought on the school board, leading to “group think.” Davis said the most pressing issue was finding ways to recover learning loss fueled by pandemic closures.

Other priorities include understanding better why teachers and students leave FCPS, focusing on special education, and increasing the number of schools that participate in the Purple Star program for military-connected students.

Peter Gabor, 61

Party: Independent

Gabor, a math and computer science teacher in Fairfax, said he is running for the board because he would bring the perspective of an educator who’s in tune with the concerns on the ground.

Teacher retention is the most important issue Gabor hopes to tackle if elected. He also hopes teachers and individual schools can have more autonomy to carry out their professional duties to serve each student.

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Ahmed Hussein, 58

Party: Independent

Hussein said he is running to promote the partnership between parents and the schools, “which has been eroded recently.” If elected, he wants to focus the school system’s resources on capital improvements, expanding support services to students, and increasing compensation for teachers and staff.

Hussein, who works in information security, said he also wants to address hate speech and bullying and to build trust in the community by fostering better relationships with parents.

Kyle McDaniel, 34

Party: Democrat endorsed

McDaniel said he wants to direct resources to schools most heavily affected by pandemic-related school closures. He said that includes tutoring support, supplemental e-learning, increased staffing and family support services.

McDaniel also wants to address teacher shortages with retention bonuses, higher pay and teacher pipeline programs. Other priorities include combating student hunger by eliminating all existing lunch debt and phasing out lunch fees; addressing gun violence; and working to deliver consistent special education services.

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Ryan L. McElveen, 37

Party: Democrat endorsed

McElveen previously served on the school board from 2012 to 2019. He said he wants to focus on mental health for all students, specifically working to provide supportive environments in schools. He wants to offer every student at least one annual mental health screening check and access to professional resources.

In addition to mental health, McElveen said he would prioritize retaining high-quality educators, maintaining safe facilities, implementing universal high-quality pre-K programs and supporting an inclusive curriculum by “preventing the banning of books, and upholding the rights of LGBTQIA+ students.”

Ilryong Moon, 66

Party: Democrat endorsed

Moon previously served on the school board from 1995 to 1999 and then again from 2004 to 2019. Moon said he wants to address achievement gaps and pandemic learning loss, with a focus on those who were affected most. He suggests offering more opportunities during summer and winter breaks and weekends, as well as expanding preschool programs to help reduce achievement and opportunity gaps.

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Other issues Moon hopes to tackle include teacher recruitment and retention; staff and student mental health and well-being; and engagement with families and communities.

Linda Pellegrino

Party: Independent

Pellegrino did not fill out The Post’s questionnaire and did not file a campaign website with the Virginia Department of Elections. According to her Facebook post, Pellegrino is running as an independent because the school board focuses too much on “political indoctrination.” She also said she wants to help keep children safe.

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