APS School Board Results

[Anonymous]

Looks like Cristina Diaz-Torres and David Priddy won, just as a lot of people expected during a presidential election year.

[Anonymous]

I guess it could be worse. That’s all I can really say about the candidates this year.

[Anonymous]

All of the options sucked, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess it could be worse. That’s all I can really say about the candidates this year.

True. Symone could have won. Although she had a decent showing so I won't be surprised if she runs again in an off-year.

[Anonymous]

Cracking up that the AEM moderator wants us to focus on instruction now after using the site to promote her candidate for weeks

[Anonymous]

The mail in ballots didn’t drop until 11 this eve

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cracking up that the AEM moderator wants us to focus on instruction now after using the site to promote her candidate for weeks

Exactly! Even her BS question from this afternoon asking whether everyone voted for School Board candidates today? Seems like an innocent enough question, but was obviously a chance for pro-Symone folks to chime in on their immense pride and support for her. Barf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The mail in ballots didn’t drop until 11 this eve

They won't make a difference in the results

[Anonymous]

What a shame
More of the same coming from the D endorsed candidates for an office that isn’t supposed to be political. Reap what you sow..oh it is already happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mail in ballots didn’t drop until 11 this eve

They won't make a difference in the results

For real. She didn't win a single precinct, but suddenly the mail-in ballots are going to matter? Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a shame
More of the same coming from the D endorsed candidates for an office that isn’t supposed to be political. Reap what you sow..oh it is already happening.

Yes, people reap what they sow. Part of the reason Symone didn't win.

[Anonymous]

Symone's concession Facebook post:

Congratulations to Priddy for School Board and Cristina for Arlington School Board. Their victory tonight was not unexpected. I knew I had an uphill climb and ultimately could not overcome the advantage of the ACDC sample ballot in a Trump election year. With the pandemic and schools being closed for so long, APS is facing the most difficult challenges of our time, perhaps since desegregation. The long-term consequences will be dire for so many students. It's unfortunate that a majority of "low information" voters who are oblivious to the serious plight being faced by our schools are electing the school board by blindly voting straight down the ACDC sample ballot, which, ironically, was silent about the education of our students in listing why this is the most important election of our lifetime. Nevertheless, I pray that Cristina and David will rise to the challenge of turning this ship around to put our students first amidst having to live with COVID-19 for the foreseeable future, and while navigating deep budget shortfalls. At least the school bond passed! Thank you, Arlington!

I stayed in this race against the odds, despite all the obstacles I faced, and the calls from elected leaders for me to drop out. I stayed in because I was running for change. And I accomplished change. I elevated the narrative of the school board race to focus on equity through literacy, delivery of evidence-based curriculum and instruction in every school, overhauling how we handle special education, and safely re-opening our schools. I elevated the profile of school board candidate to one whose work was well steeped in education advocacy before entering the race, and I was demonstrably the best qualified, hands down. Finally, I changed the political landscape to garner more than 34K votes as an independent candidate in a Trump presidential year, without the financial or personnel resources of my opponents, and while dealing with the physical constraints of the pandemic.

Through my leadership in the Arlington NAACP Education Committee, I've been instrumental in pushing APS to make substantive changes. By running for school board, I had hoped to be able to advance changes from the inside. But it was not to be this time. I'm not going anywhere, however. I'll still be here continuing to advocate for our students and will keep pushing APS from the outside. I also have some irons in the fire to help level the playing field for our most vulnerable students. Stay tuned.

I am proud of our positive, strong, issue-focused campaign. I am proud of the monumental community support I received through purely grassroots efforts. I am especially proud of my campaign team and advisors who stood with me every step of the way, and eternally grateful to all of my supporters. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

[Anonymous]

She’s insufferable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Symone's concession Facebook post:

Congratulations to Priddy for School Board and Cristina for Arlington School Board. Their victory tonight was not unexpected. I knew I had an uphill climb and ultimately could not overcome the advantage of the ACDC sample ballot in a Trump election year. With the pandemic and schools being closed for so long, APS is facing the most difficult challenges of our time, perhaps since desegregation. The long-term consequences will be dire for so many students. It's unfortunate that a majority of "low information" voters who are oblivious to the serious plight being faced by our schools are electing the school board by blindly voting straight down the ACDC sample ballot, which, ironically, was silent about the education of our students in listing why this is the most important election of our lifetime. Nevertheless, I pray that Cristina and David will rise to the challenge of turning this ship around to put our students first amidst having to live with COVID-19 for the foreseeable future, and while navigating deep budget shortfalls. At least the school bond passed! Thank you, Arlington!

I stayed in this race against the odds, despite all the obstacles I faced, and the calls from elected leaders for me to drop out. I stayed in because I was running for change. And I accomplished change. I elevated the narrative of the school board race to focus on equity through literacy, delivery of evidence-based curriculum and instruction in every school, overhauling how we handle special education, and safely re-opening our schools. I elevated the profile of school board candidate to one whose work was well steeped in education advocacy before entering the race, and I was demonstrably the best qualified, hands down. Finally, I changed the political landscape to garner more than 34K votes as an independent candidate in a Trump presidential year, without the financial or personnel resources of my opponents, and while dealing with the physical constraints of the pandemic.

Through my leadership in the Arlington NAACP Education Committee, I've been instrumental in pushing APS to make substantive changes. By running for school board, I had hoped to be able to advance changes from the inside. But it was not to be this time. I'm not going anywhere, however. I'll still be here continuing to advocate for our students and will keep pushing APS from the outside. I also have some irons in the fire to help level the playing field for our most vulnerable students. Stay tuned.

I am proud of our positive, strong, issue-focused campaign. I am proud of the monumental community support I received through purely grassroots efforts. I am especially proud of my campaign team and advisors who stood with me every step of the way, and eternally grateful to all of my supporters. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Symone, not every person who voted against you was a "low information" voter. Some of us researched all of the candidates and, as difficult as it may be for you to believe, determined that you are not the best representative for us on the school board. Perhaps your arrogance and frankly self-righteousness, evidenced by statements like that and the one about you being hands down the most qualified, are part of the reason some didn't vote for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She’s insufferable.

Absolutely. But didn't you know that she's hands down the most qualified? At least AEM will remain pathetically comical now that she'll be jumping back into the fire.