Alexandria School Board Candidates

[Anonymous]

Ish is getting my vote. We need cis white male perspective on the board.

[Anonymous]

I would never vote for anyone with even the smallest connection to PTAC after last year's high public praise of Hutchings/ACPS and gaslighting of parents (which wasn't anything new last year).

Tammy Ignacio has gotten an "endorsement" from the treasurer of PTAC. And another PTAC board member is hosting an event for her.

In October PTAC is hosing a candidate forum.

This seems like a conflict of interest. It certainly isn't equitable.

I get that people can do what they want on their own time, but if I was another candidate in B, I'd be concerned about favoritism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Building on the messages about the school board election in the Non Binding Survey post, have there been any updates about who is running since this article from 5/5? Filing deadline is 6/8.

https://www.alxnow.com/2021/05/05/new-alexandria-school-board-shakeup-looms-as-few-incumbents-have-filed-to-run-for-reelection/

Running

A:

Michelle Rief (running again, has kids in ACPS)
Jacinta Greene (running again, current board member)
Chris Suarez (not running for re-election)

B:

Bridget Shea Westfall (new candidate, Open ACPS)
Preenann Johnson (new candidate, Former Principal of the Year)
Debbie Ash (new candidate)
Margaret Lorber (current board member, not running)
Cindy Anderson (current board member, appears undecided)
Veronica Nolan (current Vice Chair, kids in ACPS, undecided)

C:

Meagan Alderton (running, Current Chair, kids to private school)
Ramee Gentry (current board member, not running for re-election)
Heather Thornton (current board member, undecided)
Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi (new candidate)

All incumbents should be shown the door after this past 18 months. Wow. What a dumpster fire.

[Anonymous]

Your understanding is wrong. Talk to the kids. They will tell you. They want the SROs back.


I'm a teacher btw.

My sources are my own two kids that attend they school and their friends, and none of them do. I'm not about to go out and survey other kids besides the kids that I know.

[Anonymous]

I just really, really wish Meagan Alderton was not running unopposed. I have only seen two yard signs with her name and both are private school families. Does she not realize how bad the optics of that are?

[Anonymous]

It's unfortunate that Meagan Alderton is running unopposed while there are 7 candidates running in district B for three seats (no incumbents are running) and 5 candidates running in district B for three seats (two incumbents, Jacinta Greene and Michelle Rief are running). Most Alexandrians don't understand that there are districts for school board. Honestly, I don't get it other than to represent an area. But maybe instead of having huge areas like B, which is from the east side to the west side, we have representation for the entire city. I know that means the west side might not have as much representation but honestly there are a lot of west side candidates in B this year. Lots of good candidates in A and B who won't get elected. I think all the candidates in B either have kids in ACPS or kids graduated. In A, it's pretty similar except for one candidate who is single and does not have children. Meanwhile in C you have Alderton as chair whose kids have never gone to ACPS schools. I hope she is NOT elected chair. At least there is Abdel Elnoubi in C. He is an ACPS parent and former Tucker PTA president. I've heard good things about him and he seems to value public education and stick up for those students and families whose voices might not always been heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just really, really wish Meagan Alderton was not running unopposed. I have only seen two yard signs with her name and both are private school families. Does she not realize how bad the optics of that are?

I am so sick of the videos of Alderton and Hutchings dancing in ACPS schools. Give me a break! Their heart is not in the right place. At least Hutchings has a child in ACPS. Alderton doesn't care about ACPS other than photo opps. Does she have political ambitions? Seeing her at various Democratic party events and canvassing made me sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just really, really wish Meagan Alderton was not running unopposed. I have only seen two yard signs with her name and both are private school families. Does she not realize how bad the optics of that are?

I am so sick of the videos of Alderton and Hutchings dancing in ACPS schools. Give me a break! Their heart is not in the right place. At least Hutchings has a child in ACPS. Alderton doesn't care about ACPS other than photo opps. Does she have political ambitions? Seeing her at various Democratic party events and canvassing made me sick.

I think Hutchings other kid is at BI now as well. May be wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just really, really wish Meagan Alderton was not running unopposed. I have only seen two yard signs with her name and both are private school families. Does she not realize how bad the optics of that are?

I am so sick of the videos of Alderton and Hutchings dancing in ACPS schools. Give me a break! Their heart is not in the right place. At least Hutchings has a child in ACPS. Alderton doesn't care about ACPS other than photo opps. Does she have political ambitions? Seeing her at various Democratic party events and canvassing made me sick.

I think Hutchings other kid is at BI now as well. May be wrong.

If that’s true than his defenders need to shut right the hell up about him sending his daughter because (they claim) she was bullied (which is not true).

Interestingly I talked to a couple who left his admin recently. It sounds like a ton more are clamoring to leave. I wonder how many central office employees will need to flee before the school board cracks down on him? I mean, we have incredibly younger and inexperienced people in major roles within ACPS because all those with experience left. That’s not good.

[Anonymous]

What’s the story with parents of private school kids running for public school board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just really, really wish Meagan Alderton was not running unopposed. I have only seen two yard signs with her name and both are private school families. Does she not realize how bad the optics of that are?

I am so sick of the videos of Alderton and Hutchings dancing in ACPS schools. Give me a break! Their heart is not in the right place. At least Hutchings has a child in ACPS. Alderton doesn't care about ACPS other than photo opps. Does she have political ambitions? Seeing her at various Democratic party events and canvassing made me sick.

I think Hutchings other kid is at BI now as well. May be wrong.

You're wrong. His son is in 6th grade. Bishop Ireton starts at 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever happened to Marc Solomon and Jewellyn Cosgrove from last election?

Both moved due to changes in work/family circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just really, really wish Meagan Alderton was not running unopposed. I have only seen two yard signs with her name and both are private school families. Does she not realize how bad the optics of that are?

I am so sick of the videos of Alderton and Hutchings dancing in ACPS schools. Give me a break! Their heart is not in the right place. At least Hutchings has a child in ACPS. Alderton doesn't care about ACPS other than photo opps. Does she have political ambitions? Seeing her at various Democratic party events and canvassing made me sick.

Hutchins has both kids at BI this year. He’s a complete embarrassment

[Anonymous]

Where does Suarez's oldest kid go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where does Suarez's oldest kid go?

Suarez is not running.

District A candidates:
Jacinta Greene (incubment): no kids/no kids in ACPS
Michelle Rief (incumbent): kids in ACPS
Willie Bailey: no kids currently in ACPS/graduate of ACPS/kids graduated from ACPS
Deanna "D" Ohlandt: kids in ACPS
Ish Boyle: kids in ACPS

District B candidates:
Debbie Ash: kid in ACPS
Ashley Simpson Baird: kid in ACPS
Kelly Booz: kids in ACPS
Bridget Westfall: kids in ACPS
Ricardo Roberts: kids in ACPS
PreAnn Johnson: no kids in ACPS/kid graduated last year from ACPS
Tammy Ignacio: no kids in ACPS/kid graduated last year from ACPS/kids graduated from ACPS

District C candidates:
Meagan Alderton: no kids in ACPS/in private school/never in ACPS
Abdel Elnoubi: kids in ACPS
Christopher Harris: no kids in ACPS/kids graduated from ACPS

No incumbents are running in B. Anderson, Nolan, and Lorber are not running for reelection.

In District A, Suarez is not running for reelection.

In District C, Thornton and Gentry are not running for reelection.

My take? Vote for candidates with kids in ACPS who are currently in ACPS. Anyone who was in a leadership role in ACPS during the past 18 months, I'd question. Johnson and Ignacio's websites are pretty sparse. If you are voting on one issue, like SROs, look at the other stances of those candidates. Some candidates have voted against SROs, but are good advocates for our children. Other candidates who are pro-SRO are anti-science and public health, not what we need in a pandemic. Do you research. Read their websites, email candidates, attend the candidate forums where you can ask questions.