Alexandria School Board Candidates

[Anonymous]

I searched the Bring Integrity Back group and I didn't see anything troubling about Bridget's post. She didn't post about the rally for Open ACPS either. Someone else did and she commented on it. I think that was the week that every school went back to four days a week except APS and ACPS. If she commented on a friend's social media and you are shopping around screenshots to expose her, that seems a little mean spirited. Saying that Bridget is two faced is so far from true. I'm in Open ACPS and she has been to every school board meeting this year and last year. She wants to build community trust and improve community engagement and community. Bridget Westfall wants our school board and superintendent accountable and transparent.

[Anonymous]

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

Marc Solomon moved to NY.

[Anonymous]

D Ross Ohlandt is also a Ph.D. Lots of "doctors" for ACPS school board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Marc Solomon moved to NY.

He did? He was active in a lot of Alexandria community groups. That is interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bridget isn't a teacher but has a background in early childhood education and working in K-12 schools. She was a researcher and is social worker. I'm in District C so I can't vote for her. I don't think being in a Facebook group would prevent me from voting for her, no matter how the people were on social media. I know her from volunteering in Alexandria. She's a behind the scenes type of super volunteer. Bridget gets things done. She might be part of OpenACPS but that doesn't mean she would be their puppet. If you think that about Bridget, you are mistaken.
She works at my agency and she is the go to person about fiscal monitoring. She's been there forever but worked different offices. If you want someone to expose what is really going on in ACPS, it's Bridget.

I'm sure Bridget is nice, but Alexandria and ACPS really despise Open ACPS. There are some really vocal members who stirs stuff up on the GWMS parents' page.

[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)

A:
Michelle Rief, current board member, kids in ACPS
R Ross Ohlandt, new candidate, kids in ACPS
Jacinta Greene, current board member

B:
Debbie Ash, new candidate
Preann Johnson, new candidate, kids in ACPS, ACPS employee
Bridget Shea Westfall, new candidate, kids in ACPS
Ashley Simpson Baird, new candidate, kids in ACPS
Kelly Booz, former board member, kids in ACPS

C:
Meagan Alderton, current school board chair, kids in private school
Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi, new candidate, kids in ACPS
Heather Thornton ??? current board member

[Anonymous]

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

Surprising absolutely nobody - Jewellyn moved to a better school district when it was time for her own kids to go to kindergarten...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bridget isn't a teacher but has a background in early childhood education and working in K-12 schools. She was a researcher and is social worker. I'm in District C so I can't vote for her. I don't think being in a Facebook group would prevent me from voting for her, no matter how the people were on social media. I know her from volunteering in Alexandria. She's a behind the scenes type of super volunteer. Bridget gets things done. She might be part of OpenACPS but that doesn't mean she would be their puppet. If you think that about Bridget, you are mistaken.
She works at my agency and she is the go to person about fiscal monitoring. She's been there forever but worked different offices. If you want someone to expose what is really going on in ACPS, it's Bridget.

I'm sure Bridget is nice, but Alexandria and ACPS really despise Open ACPS. There are some really vocal members who stirs stuff up on the GWMS parents' page.

You're speaking for the entire city? Bless your heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bridget isn't a teacher but has a background in early childhood education and working in K-12 schools. She was a researcher and is social worker. I'm in District C so I can't vote for her. I don't think being in a Facebook group would prevent me from voting for her, no matter how the people were on social media. I know her from volunteering in Alexandria. She's a behind the scenes type of super volunteer. Bridget gets things done. She might be part of OpenACPS but that doesn't mean she would be their puppet. If you think that about Bridget, you are mistaken.
She works at my agency and she is the go to person about fiscal monitoring. She's been there forever but worked different offices. If you want someone to expose what is really going on in ACPS, it's Bridget.

I'm sure Bridget is nice, but Alexandria and ACPS really despise Open ACPS. There are some really vocal members who stirs stuff up on the GWMS parents' page.

ACPS and Dr Hutchings despise anyone who doesn't fawn all over them and offer constant praise. The culture he's created does not allow for constructive, respectful feedback of any kind. He gets defensive and aggressive anytime he's questioned, and encourages his staff to do the same. It doesn't really matter the subject area, although yes, Open ACPS in particular seems to really drive him crazy. The problem is he attacks any parent that questions anything, whether or not they're involved in Open ACPS or not, so regardless of how you feel about that issue, you should be very concerned about his attitudes towards parents in general.

If you're going to be in a leadership position - you simply cannot take opposing points of view so personally. It's a sign of a weak leader - among the many, many other examples.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Hutchings seems to take constructive criticism really poorly. His track record of c-level staff--particularly Black leaders in ACPS--leaving and being vocal about his retaliation are warning flags. At his previous district in Ohio, his MO was to divide over equity issues. His Twitter is often "vague-booking" shade at so called foes. Are Preann Johnson and Kelly Booz going to pushback? Who on the current board besides Alderton and Greene are fans of Dr. Hutchings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Hutchings seems to take constructive criticism really poorly. His track record of c-level staff--particularly Black leaders in ACPS--leaving and being vocal about his retaliation are warning flags. At his previous district in Ohio, his MO was to divide over equity issues. His Twitter is often "vague-booking" shade at so called foes. Are Preann Johnson and Kelly Booz going to pushback? Who on the current board besides Alderton and Greene are fans of Dr. Hutchings?

Johnson will make Hutchings seem like he is responsive to parent concerns. Johnson is stubborn, unwilling to consider others' ideas, and dismissive of parents legitimate concerns. In this time of needing to hold Hutchings to account, she is an extremely terrible choice.

[Anonymous]

I think being an ACPS employee should disqualify you from being on the school board. It’s a huge conflict of interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think being an ACPS employee should disqualify you from being on the school board. It’s a huge conflict of interest.

Johnson is retiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Hutchings seems to take constructive criticism really poorly. His track record of c-level staff--particularly Black leaders in ACPS--leaving and being vocal about his retaliation are warning flags. At his previous district in Ohio, his MO was to divide over equity issues. His Twitter is often "vague-booking" shade at so called foes. Are Preann Johnson and Kelly Booz going to pushback? Who on the current board besides Alderton and Greene are fans of Dr. Hutchings?

You are right. I won't be voting for anyone this year who was satisfied with Hutchings/ACPS pre-pandemic, who is clearly part of the establishment or aligns themselves with the establishment. Otherwise, ACPS' death spiral will only continue.

So that eliminates Johnson & Booz outright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Hutchings seems to take constructive criticism really poorly. His track record of c-level staff--particularly Black leaders in ACPS--leaving and being vocal about his retaliation are warning flags. At his previous district in Ohio, his MO was to divide over equity issues. His Twitter is often "vague-booking" shade at so called foes. Are Preann Johnson and Kelly Booz going to pushback? Who on the current board besides Alderton and Greene are fans of Dr. Hutchings?

The current board are ALL fans of Hutchings.

Why do you think he hasn't been held accountable even slightly until very recently? If you've been paying attention for just this year, you missed out on the years that they all just nodded their heads in agreement with him. They LOVE him. He may have slightly embarrassed them in very recent months but they ALL think he's great and still do.