Tony Sabio — whose diverse record of service includes time in the U.S. Navy, Secret Service, and CIA — is running for school board in Fairfax County’s Providence District. Now a security professional in the private sector, Sabio writes commentaries for Law Enforcement Today. As war broke out in Ukraine, Sabio rescued a 15-year-old U.S. national stranded in the country — a story that was featured in People Magazine.

With his expertise in security matters, Sabio is determined to improve the level of safety in our county schools as well as mental health resources available to students. In addition, Sabio intends to restore parental rights and high academic standards.

As a candidate, Sabio is holding a series of virtual “fireside chats” to connect with voters and meaningfully address their real concerns. In a recent discussion with Mark Spooner of Fairfax Schools Monitor, Sabio took on the district’s current obsession with “equity” and outlined a better way forward.

Sharing his own childhood experience with poverty and later as the foster parent of an at-risk child, Sabio questioned the value of the school district’s “equity” initiatives to date. Too often, “equity” in Fairfax County Public Schools means teaching kids a defeatist mindset, Sabio argued. On the school board, Sabio would strive to reallocate scarce resources away from ideologically-driven administrative bloat, in favor of effective security personnel and frontline, classroom educators.

WATCH TONY SABIO’S ‘FIRESIDE CHAT’ WITH MARK SPOONER:

To learn more, donate, or volunteer, visit Sabio4Fairfax.com.