FCPS Versus First Amendment Rights
Just down the road from our offices, at Gunston Hall, a gentleman farmer and founding father from Fairfax County during colonial times, George Mason, worked tirelessly to ensure his fellow Virginians were not oppressed by a government located across the Atlantic Ocean.
Mason was elected to the legislature and was the primary author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776. This document was instrumental in crafting the Bill of Rights, composed by another Virginian and founding father, James Madison.
Cassandra Aucoin: Mother, Leader & Advocate
Raised in a military family, Cassandra Aucoin lived in Northern Virginia as a teenager and went on to graduate from Virginia Tech. Now a mother of two, Aucoin is one of three Fairfax GOP-endorsed candidates for at-large seats on the county school board.
“Fairfax County is at the crisis point with its public education and we need change to make it better and stronger. I want to use my leadership experiences to help restore excellence to our once-great school system,” Aucoin says. “I am not running to advance the agenda of any political party but as someone who is committed to serving the best interests of students, parents, teachers, and taxpayers.”
Work the Real Problem: Declining School Achievement
In Apollo 13, after the explosion that crippled the mission’s Command Module, flight director Gene Kranz famously tells a panicked mission control, “Let’s work the problem, people.”
Fairfax County Public Schools desperately needs a Gene Kranz.
It seems not a day goes by without additional evidence of the decline of Virginia’s and Fairfax’s public education system.
Youngkin Announces ‘ALL IN VA’ Plan to Address COVID-19 Era Learning Loss
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced ALL IN VA, a comprehensive plan to support Virginia’s students facing the continued detrimental impacts of COVID-19 learning loss, declining academic performance and absenteeism. Virginia’s Standard of Learning scores demonstrate that student achievement remains well below pre-pandemic levels. The Youngkin administration is taking further, aggressive action to ensure all Virginia students get the academic support they need to recover learning loss, boost their attendance and academic performance.
Kevin Pinkney: Father of 5 for School Board
Kevin Pinkney and his wife, Linda, are the proud parents of five children — three are now graduates of Fairfax County Public Schools and two are still enrolled in the system. “I care deeply about the excellence of our schools and the success of our students,” Pinkney says. “That is why I’m running to be Franconia District Representative on the Fairfax County Public School Board and ask for your support.”
A graduate of Harvard Law School, Pinkney has worked in private practice for 20 years. Pinkney has spent his career listening to clients’ needs, respectfully sharing ideas, and crafting solutions to complex issues — all skills that are sorely needed on today’s Fairfax County School Board.
Priscilla DeStefano: Mother of 3 for School Board
Mother-of-three Priscilla DeStefano has lived her entire life in Fairfax County’s Braddock District, where she is now running for school board. A first-generation citizen, DeStefano was raised by her mother and grandmother, both immigrants from El Salvador. With a rising 10th grader, 1st grader, and preschooler, DeStefano understands the hopes and frustrations of county families. Her stated motivation for running is to “give parents a voice again.”
At her website, PriscillaForFairfax.com, the candidate lays out her concerns and priorities for county schools.
Lawsuit Against FCPS May Be Coming to Enforce VDOE Model Policies
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has announced that it will not comply with the Virginia Department of Education’s recently-issued model transgender policy. The refusal violates a Virginia statute that expressly requires school boards throughout the Commonwealth to adopt policies consistent with the model policy. In defying the law, FCPS has thrown down the gauntlet and dared the Attorney General to sue.
Falling Test Scores in Fairfax County: How Long Before Property Values Follow?
It’s time to join together and stop the decline.
We all come to Fairfax County for different reasons. Whether it’s the public school system, a government job, or owning property in one of the nation’s most historically affluent counties — Fairfax County used to be a sure bet.
Unfortunately for all of us, that’s no longer the case. Public schools are in decline — and as the schools go, so goes the engine of our local economy.
Stori Zimmerman: Concerned Mom & Educator for School Board
Stori Zimmerman — military spouse, parent, educator, coach, and mentor — is running for Mount Vernon’s seat on the Fairfax County School Board. “I have been an educator in and out of the classroom for over 20 years with the unique experience of having taught on every grade level from K-12 to include college,” Zimmerman recalls. “I have also volunteered my time as a tutor and mentor to young, old, and in between.”
As a concerned mother and educator, Zimmerman is running to bring a fresh mindset to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a fundamental shift on our school board and in our schools,” the candidate says.