Three Norfolk School Board seats are up for election: Superward 6, Superward 7 and a special election for Ward 5. In total, five candidates are running. Read about four of the candidates here, three of whom are educators.
Ward 5 special election
Ken Paulson
Paulson did not respond to The Virginian-Pilot’s questionnaire.
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Superward 6
Sarah DiCalogero
Age: 50
Candidate’s occupation/job title: Associate professor of mathematics, Tidewater Community College
Highest level of education: Master’s, University of Virginia
Website: www.sarahforschools.com
Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? Mental health is a concern for our entire society. School boards can address mental health issues in two distinct ways. First, we can create policies that support services and resources for the school system; second we can ensure that there is adequate funding for these resources. Right now there are 23 psychologists serving 50 schools. I would like to see an increase in funding so that at least all middle schools and high schools in the district have their own psychologists and that the remaining psychologists serve at most two elementary schools. Psychologists would have more time to provide support for teachers and staff and meet with students. Additionally, an increase in the number of social workers who get to know students and their immediate needs would aid in providing wrap-around services for students and families.
Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? In many of our neighborhoods, Norfolk Public Schools doesn’t have the best reputation. Families are uncomfortable sending their students to our schools and in many cases their concerns are not unwarranted. We have schools that are clearly struggling. Whether that struggle is a teacher shortage, behavior issues or crumbling infrastructure we need to look outside of the school system to solve these issues. Fixing the issues with the schools is going to take community involvement. Together we can make NPS one of the best urban public school systems in the country. I believe in NPS and that you can get a fantastic education in our school system. This belief is why I have one graduate and two current students in Norfolk Public Schools.
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Rebecca Danchise Topping
Age: 45
Candidate’s occupation/job title: Communications director, First Presbyterian Church
Highest level of education: Bachelor’s, cq comment=”in history and economics” ], College of William & Mary
Previous elected offices held: West Ghent Civic League vice president
Website: rebeccafornorfolk.com
Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? I will champion building new norms around eliminating cell phone use during instructional time, working with parents and educators to enact cell phone-free policies and procedures creating a healthier and more focused educational environment. As we have seen in the statistics, (A Common Sense Media Study), 97% of 11 to 17-year-olds use their phones during the school day, with a median time of 43 minutes. Research shows that cell phones directly affect mental health issues arising from children’s social media and cell phone addiction during the school day. Classrooms should be free of distractions and students should feel safe in school. By working on enforcing the policies and giving school administration and teachers the support to enforce cell phone policies, I hope to offer one solution to help improve mental health in schools.
Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? A pressing issue facing our division and divisions across the country is improving the school environment for teachers and students. Teacher morale is at an all-time low; some call it a “profession in crisis.” While Norfolk Public Schools pays competitively, we struggle with retention and unfilled positions. I will advocate to improve the teacher experience by exploring solutions like more family engagement and improved teacher appreciation efforts at the district level. School safety is also a top priority in school environments, and we can work to build on existing strategies for prevention, and response, as well as a focus on mental health and wellness. Our teachers and students need to feel safe. And, lastly, our buildings need to support the changing needs of education. I support reviewing all Norfolk schools for productivity, healthfulness and to support every student’s success.
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Superward 7
Alfreda A. Thomas
Age: 51
Candidate’s occupation/job title: Teacher, Norfolk Public Schools
Highest level of education: Early Childhood Education, Tidewater Community College
Website: None
Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? To provide support systems like, school social workers, licensed behavior specialists, school psychologists, licensed behavior analysts and provide psychosocial training for teachers and other staff dealing with students. We need to support staff well-being. Also, we need to promote social, emotional and behavioral learning.
Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? Poverty and inequality is a big problem in our district. Ensuring adequate housing, resources, support teachers financially, invest more in education and skills development, higher minimum wage, proper and affordable health care and great community programs.
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Ronald L. White
Age: 52
Candidate’s occupation/job title: Asst. Professor, School of Education, Norfolk State University
Highest level of education: Research”] Doctorate, Hampton University
Previous elected offices held: Chair and vice-chair for the Norfolk Public Schools Gifted Education Community Advisory Committee (2022-2024); President of the Tidewater Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2020-2022); Higher Education Representative for the Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2024)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561201080566
Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? School boards can and should advocate for all teachers being trauma-informed educators and for the use of Parent Resource Centers staffed with school social workers, school psychologists, and other trauma-informed and certified staff members. Staff members who are also accessible externally at PTA events, community centers, church events, community-based enrichment programs, and the like.
Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? Equal access to safe and quality schools should be the division’s top priority. With the Governor’s new initiative to distinguish schools with a new rating system, I want to use my post, in a collective voice, to advocate for critical evaluations and needs assessments to ensure each school receives high marks. That is, rather than a blanket approach, I will advocate for the use of community advisory boards and differentiated approaches to develop equitable growth plans.
