Voters in the City of Alexandria will see school board candidates on their ballots this fall for the first time in three years. Alexandria Living Magazine asked candidates for School Board for their answers to eight questions.
Related links:
- Who's Running for Alexandria School Board in 2018?
- Alexandria School Board 2018 Voter's Guide: Answers from District A Candidates
- Alexandria School Board 2018 Voter's Guide: Answers from District C Candidates
- Download the full voter’s guide here.
Alexandria City Public Schools
DISTRICT B
Margaret Lorber — Candidate in District B and current School Board member.
What three words would you choose to describe Alexandria City Public Schools?
Multi-cultural; inclusive; striving.
What is a major life accomplishment you'd like to share?
I played a significant role in the nation-wide expansion of the school breakfast program.
When you envision what ACPS will look like in ten years, what do you see?
I see a school system with capacity to meet our needs, and based on smaller elementary and middle schools than we have now. I see a multi-campus high school that provides increased opportunities for career training and specialty concentrations such as STEM, Music, Art, World Language, History, and other areas. I see greatly reduced suspension and expulsion of students due to full implementation of restorative discipline practices in all of our schools. I see a vast reduction in the achievement gap as a result of commitments to meet all our students’ needs. I see pre-K programs for all children.
What was something that you personally enjoyed as a part of your childhood schooling?Creativity was heavily encouraged at my high school. I especially liked my chemistry class where the teacher let us decide how we would run an experiment, even if it turned out to be a failure. We learned from our mistakes. And we laughed a lot!
Who was your most influential teacher or school official and why?My 5th grade teacher, Miss Graham, had a huge influence on me. She was strict and had high expectations and I hated her for a few months until I started being able to meet those expectations. Then she became my favorite teacher and I was lucky enough to have her again for 6th grade. She taught me the importance of self-discipline and good study habits.
What extracurriculars were most important to you as a student?
I was a cheerleader and loved it. Piano was the second most important.
What would you say to new families, with school-aged or preschool children, considering moving to Alexandria to encourage them to join our city/to entice them here?
Alexandria is a city with a richly diverse population that exposes children to abundant cultural and academic offerings while helping acquire the social and emotional skills of living in a multi-cultural society. Our high school reflects these strengths, with its varied academic programs, unique extra-curricular offerings, and commitment to welcoming and encouraging students who come from all over the world. Our students have enormous support from the entire Alexandria community, reflected in entities ranging from the Alexandria Scholarship Fund to the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium, and in the large number of graduates who become the first in their families to attend college. Our elementary schools are very community-oriented and encourage parent involvement. In contrast to some other communities, our elementary schools have continued to emphasize music and art education along with reading, mathematics, science and social studies. Physical activity is also emphasized with biking and swimming programs being phased in at all of our schools.
What is one thing you would like to improve about our schools?
We need to advance equity in our school system. I would like every student and every family, whatever their background and needs, to feel respected and supported in our schools, and to benefit from high-quality educational programs tailored to those needs. To promote equity, we also need to end the disproportionate suspensions and expulsions of minority students and students with disabilities. Full implementation of restorative justice practices in all of our schools can increase student achievement by reducing unnecessary suspensions and expulsions. These practices teach students mediation and negotiation skills, contribute to a more positive school environment and “shift the focus of discipline from punishment to learning and from the individual to the community.”
Abigail Downs Wacek, Candidate in District B
What three words would you choose to describe Alexandria City Public Schools?
Capable of greatness.
What is a major life accomplishment you'd like to share?
In 2014 my husband and I bought our first house, here, in Alexandria. I have always loved Alexandria and have known that this was where I wanted to be. Walking into our house for the first time was a moment I will never forget.
When you envision what ACPS will look like in ten years, what do you see?
I envision a school district where all Alexandrians want to send their children. I envision a school district where students have a choice in their route to success - either through robust vocational programs from which they can enter the workforce with valuable skills, or on their way to the top tier colleges and universities of their choice.
What was something that you personally enjoyed as a part of your childhood schooling?
Field trips. We are lucky to live in an area where we can visit George Washington’s home, Lincoln’s Cottage, and the Smithsonian without traveling more than a few minutes. I was fortunate that I was able to visit these places, and I would like ACPS to be a school district that fully takes advantage of these amazing resources.
Who was your most influential teacher or school official and why?
My eighth grade English teacher, Ms. Frazier, because she taught me how to be a writer. She instilled in her students a love for the written word and for American literature. I still have my heavily annotated copy of The Great Gatsby at home, which she went through with us line by line to make sure that we understood all of Fitzgerald’s references and hidden meanings. A whole lesson just on the importance of the color of Jay Gatsby’s shirts! She was, and I am sure remains, a wonderful teacher.
What extracurriculars were most important to you as a student?
Theater. I participated in theater, on stage, back stage, and as a “Cappie” critic, throughout high school. Theater teaches us that people from all sorts of backgrounds can come together to create something amazing. Some of my best memories from high school involve the theater department — whether building set pieces, hanging lights, or waiting to see what pranks arose on joke night.
What would you say to new families, with school-aged or preschool children, considering moving to Alexandria to encourage them to join our city/to entice them here?
I often tell folks that I meet that Alexandria is a wonderful place to raise a child. I would know. I went to elementary, middle, and high school here, and returned here directly after college. From elementary school trips to Winkler Botanical Preserve to running into high school friends working at the Dairy Godmother in Del Ray, Alexandria retains the charm of a much smaller city. As someone who attended both private and public school in Alexandria I can speak to the merits of both, and I would tell those new families that I believe in what ACPS can do.
What is one thing you would like to improve about our schools?
More input from teachers before implementation of new educational programs. It is our teachers who are in the classroom and it is to our teachers that we should listen to first when considering whether a program is working, needs improvement, or should be replaced. We should not expect instant results in test scores - students need time to learn - and so we must look to our teachers as our guide for what is and is not working in the classroom.
Cynthia (Cindy) Anderson — Candidate in District B and current School Board member
What three words would you choose to describe Alexandria City Public Schools?
Caring, Committed, Community.
What is a major life accomplishment you'd like to share?
An education related life accomplishment for me was being the first person in my family to attend and graduate from college. I am proud to have paid for my education with a combination of scholarships, loans and employment earnings. This is one of the primary reasons I am such a strong supporter of the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria. I know how difficult paying for college can be, especially since costs have increased significantly since I was a student.
When you envision what ACPS will look like in ten years, what do you see?
I would love to see expanded pre-K, more play-based learning, foreign language in elementary school, and additional opportunities for middle school students both during school and for extra-curricular activities. I’m looking forward to the discussion about expanding our high school capacity this fall. I think there are exciting opportunities to explore that will allow us to provide greater opportunities for success for our students. I’m particularly interested in further expansion of our Career and Technical Education (CTE) career paths.
What was something that you personally enjoyed as a part of your childhood schooling?
Learning to read was a magical experience because then I was in control of what I could learn. During my time at Maury Elementary School, students helped run the library. I worked there before school and whenever I finished my classroom work. I was lucky to have the same teacher for both 3rd and 5th grade. She was a great female role model who shared her love of math and nature with students. She also gave us extra recess and would lead us in calisthenics in the gym on rainy days!
Who was your most influential teacher or school official and why?
I had many great teachers but the most influential one was my ACPS middle school history teacher, Jack Esformes. He taught me to consider not just historical facts but to think about what life was like for the people we studied. In that way, it became a course in history with a healthy dose of empathy. More importantly, he made me promise I would attend college. It was a promise I kept in spite of my parents’ less than enthusiastic views about the importance of a college education. This experience speaks to the importance of teachers.
What extracurriculars were most important to you as a student?
My favorite extracurricular activity was soccer. I was a member of one of the first girls’ soccer teams at TC. The team only existed after Title IX made it a requirement to provide girls with opportunities previously only available to boys. I also enjoyed the German Club and the many opportunities for community service.
What would you say to new families, with school-aged or preschool children, considering moving to Alexandria to encourage them to join our city/to entice them here?
The first thing I would say to new families with children is they should ignore the websites that rate our schools on a ten point scale. Touring the schools and talking to principals are the best ways to determine what’s best for your child. My entire family, including my husband and two sons, are products of ACPS. I believe the education my children received more recently was better than my own. We all benefitted from being a part of a diverse educational community.
What is one thing you would like to improve about our schools?
I wish there were community tutors or mentors for every child who needs one. Studies have shown that this type of positive student-adult interaction can improve students’ academic performance and increase graduation rates. I firmly believe committed community members can improve educational outcomes for more of our students.
Jewelyn Cosgrove — Candidate in District B
What three words would you choose to describe Alexandria City Public Schools?
Inclusive. Activist. Worldly.
What is a major life accomplishment you'd like to share?
In 2017, as a young parent and long-time activist, I helped found a parent-led action committee called Raising Our Future PAC. Through ROFPAC, parents across the country have been able to pool their resources and support candidates who champion policies that matter to parenting: public K-12 education, paid parental leave, universal access to pre-kindergarten, family-friendly work policies, and more. Our work is helping change the conversation about these policies on a national level, underlining the importance of economic security in families where we are, literally, raising our future citizens and workforce.
When you envision what ACPS will look like in ten years, what do you see?
My vision of the future of ACPS involves an active and invested community supporting a school system devoted to self-motivated learning. Our common goal would be to ensure our students are prepared for their own individual futures and that all pathways to success are open to them, no matter which direction they choose. I envision personalized learning, individual support, and dynamic systems that give students and teachers academic freedom with a focus on being adaptive, resilient, and life-long learners.
What was something that you personally enjoyed as a part of your childhood schooling?
I enjoyed that my teachers always offered an opportunity to go deeper in a subject matter where I showed an interest. From a young age, I was fascinated by government and policy. Teachers throughout my academic career found ways to promote my interests – encouraging me to participate in clubs focused on activism and service, pushing me to attend Girls State and the National Student Leadership Conference, and ultimately to serve as an intern in the Colorado State Senate. These opportunities came to me through teachers who saw me as an individual and developed me in my unique way.
Who was your most influential teacher or school official and why?
While I was blessed with many teachers and coaches who changed my life, I always look back fondly on Madame Jean O’Dell, my high school French teacher. In her class, she found ways to teach every single one of us in ways that worked for us. To this day, I still remember the passage of Le Petite Prince she had me memorize as we worked on pronunciation, and I’ve found myself as a parent reciting it to my daughter. She may never know how impactful her time with me was on my life, except now we have Facebook! Merci, Madame O’Dell!
What extracurriculars were most important to you as a student?
I grew up in Colorado, outside of Denver. One of the best extracurricular programs I did was called the Green City Data Project in 6th grade. A few times a week we went out into the foothills of the Rockies and explored our environment. We identified plants and trees, took samples, and even submitted a recommendation to our local governing board about where they should build a new hiking trail. I had many extracurricular clubs over the course of my education, but that program taught me real world skills and gave me a perspective I hope all students can experience.
What would you say to new families, with school-aged or preschool children, considering moving to Alexandria to encourage them to join our city/to entice them here?
As a pre-school mom myself, I know you’re looking closely at the school system you want your child to enter, and the anxiety over such a decision is very real and can be intimidating. But Alexandria is the perfect place for your student. Alexandria is one of the most unique cities in all of Virginia. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is incredibly admirable and serves to expand the minds of every student in our system, building future leaders and citizens of tomorrow who understand each other and everyone’s different circumstances as a unique value-add to our community.
What is one thing you would like to improve about our schools?
I would most like to see a commitment to equity in all of our schools. Public schools, rightly, become a place every student can call home and that means we take students as they are and build upward. I believe an equitable education environment that serves each student for their unique needs and connects them to support outside of school will generate excellence across the board, and I believe we have a unique opportunity in Alexandria to be leaders in this space. To get there, we need to take a hard look at how we serve each student, assess and audit our progress, and commit to the hard work ahead.
Veronica Nolan — Candidate in District B and current School Board member
What three words would you choose to describe Alexandria City Public Schools?
Diverse, Community, Opportunity
What is a major life accomplishment you'd like to share?
I was the former CEO of a nonprofit (Urban Alliance) that provides high school seniors with paid internships, matches them with mentors and supports their post high school planning. Under my 12 years of leadership I grew the program from serving 42 students in one high school to thousands of students annually in over 30 high schools as well as formed partnerships with over 200 businesses to serve the youth. In 2013 I introduced the program to TC Williams and as a result over 150 TC students have been provided with internships in professional settings with over 75% of them attending college.
When you envision what ACPS will look like in ten years, what do you see?
Based on strategies we’re in the midst of implementing I see other school systems asking to visit ACPS, eager to take notes , all asking the same questions – “How does ACPS provide such a quality, individualized, engaging education based on being one of the most diverse systems in the country?”
Over the last term we’ve developed strong relationships with city council so they’ll also be keen to understand how we all worked so collaboratively together to address — what 10 years ago — was considered a capacity crisis. Finally thanks to our robust staff support, instruction and technology the strong academic results will mirror the resources invested into the division.
What was something that you personally enjoyed as a part of your childhood schooling?
I loved reading as a child. Through books I was able to explore different cultures, ways of thinking, historical situations, and it opened up my mind in ways nothing else did. As a result I relied on my teachers and librarians for recommendations and appreciated their support of my continued interest of finding new titles to conquer. We had a Literature Bowl that was a “Jeapordy-style” contest of the school’s required reading list. I was eager to represent my class at every occasion and equated each opportunity to participate as if I was representing the Capitals of the recent Stanley Cup Championship (Go CAPS!).
Who was your most influential teacher or school official and why?
That’s tough as I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been taught by so many excellent teachers. I had teachers who pushed me, inspired me, challenged me. I’ve been involved in education for 20+ years and have been incredibly privileged to watch absolute masters at their craft transform a child’s path. The outstanding ACPS educators I’ve witnessed are who have influenced me most because they inspire me to serve on the board. When I asked one recently why he’s so committed he replied, “Because I truly feel like I can make this next generation better than mine. They give me hope.”
What extracurriculars were most important to you as a student?
I joined the swim team in high school and learned the importance of striving to do one’s best so that the whole could advance versus individual accomplishments shine through. I recall one time in particular when a teammate was trying a stroke for the first time. This individual came in dead last but we all cheered her on till the bitter end as if she was in an Olympic tryout. The encouragement, support and collaboration everyone showed – with pure joy – is what I try to emulate on any team I’m a member of.
What would you say to new families, with school-aged or preschool children, considering moving to Alexandria to encourage them to join our city/to entice them here?
I’m proud to be an ACPS parent and am humbled to daily serve the community as a board member. Not only does it provide opportunities to receive an excellent education but I believe its diversity is its strength. As someone who has been the boss to hundreds of individuals I’m a huge believer in one’s emotional intelligence being a key advancer in one’s career. The only way to attain a heightened level of emotional intelligence is if you have authentic relationships with folks who differ from your background. The ACPS experience offers that like no other district in the country can along with an engaging education.
What is one thing you would like to improve about our schools?
Alexandria is an exceptional community and we have a tremendous staff that works tirelessly to teach our students. It’s been an honor to witness their talents in the classroom. In my first term we concentrated on reviewing academic results by aligning them with current 2020 strategic plan. The data suggests that more needs to be done to address the academic needs of many of our students. In order to continue improving academic results we need to continue working towards: ensuring school community’s feedback is consistently present; providing staff with the necessary resources to teach; having systems in place to measure results in a timely fashion.
