The Virginia Department of Education released its final guidance on Tuesday, after a 30-day public comment period. School divisions have until the end of the year to update their policies. The guidance follows Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s July executive order for a “cellphone-free education.” The governor last month issued Executive Order 33 to keep cellphones out of the classroom to address distractions and mental health concerns.

“This guidance from the Virginia Department of Education is an important step towards creating a healthier learning environment where students can receive a quality education free from harmful distractions,” Youngkin said in a written statement released today.

The most stringent guidelines apply to elementary schools, where students will be barred from using their phones inside the building or on school property, including before and after school. Whether middle school students can use their devices before or after school is left up to local divisions. At the high school level, students can use their phones before or after school hours.

In Tuesday’s news release, VDOE officials cited a recent poll of Virginia voters that showed nearly 70% supported a cellphone ban, including during lunch and breaks. The release states that the poll results align with the “broad, bi-partisan” feedback the department has received. The release states that one of parents’ biggest concerns is reaching their children in emergencies. The final guidance includes suggestions for school divisions on creating effective communication plans for emergencies including to “overcommunicate” with families and increasing the frequency of messages during emergencies. The guidance gives divisions the choice of allowing their students to access their phones in an emergency but states that protocols should be clearly communicated to students and parents.

The news release states that many students wrote in requesting to use their phones during lunch.

“However, research shows students receive more than 200 notifications a day on their smartphones and two-thirds of U.S. students report being distracted by using digital devices,” the release states. “It is essential that students have the opportunity to develop face-to-face conversations and critical in-person communication skills during unstructured school hours.”

The guidance makes exemptions for phone use for medical purposes, such as apps that monitor vital signs, if the allowance is written into an individualized education or health plan for students.

Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com

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District 1

Rose Dwyer

Age: 66

Occupation/job title: Retail sales

Highest level of education: Certification, Bible College of Texas

Previous elected offices held (if any): Appointed School Board member

Website: RoseforVB.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

As a former PTA President, I understand the importance of parents being involved in their child’s education and schools must welcome parental involvement, especially when mental health concerns are identified. Mental health problems among students were worsened by school closures during COVID. The VA Beach School Board should have re-opened schools for in-person learning much sooner than they did. Too much screen time also negatively impacts children, especially young ones developing social skills. Many young children are showing up to school addicted to devices such as phones. School boards need to limit the amount of time that children spend on technology while in school, especially with the youngest learners.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it. 

Students need to be more prepared to enter the workforce or college and we must emphasize the importance of career training. While college is important, it isn’t the right solution for everyone. Careers in trades are very lucrative and must be encouraged in school. Virginia Beach has a vocational training specialty school but it is only part-time. I will advocate for the Virginia Beach City Public Schools career and tech ed program to be a full-time program. School infrastructure is also an issue we must be planning for now. As a former appointed school board member in another district, I have experience in planning around this topic and will bring that experience to the Virginia Beach School Board.

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Jennifer Franklin

Age: 55

Occupation/job title: Production manager, C&F Mortgage

Highest level of education: Some college

Previous elected offices held (if any): Current school Board member

Military experience: Retired Navy

Website: /jenfranklinforvb.com/

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

This topic is crucial for fostering an environment in which our students and families can thrive academically and personally. As the vice chair of the School Board and a board member for over 3 1/2 years, I have witnessed firsthand the priority our board and school administration place on this issue. In Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS), we are committed to ensuring that our counselors receive comprehensive training to effectively support our students. Additionally, we collaborate with Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) through the Care Solace platform. This partnership provides a 24/7 hotline for any student or family within VBCPS, as well as their household members, to access mental health support.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it. 

The foremost challenge for Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) is attracting and retaining high-quality educators. Tackling this issue demands a comprehensive strategy: Fostering strong parent-teacher partnerships — building robust relationships between families and educators enhances the school environment and supports teacher satisfaction. Supporting teacher professional development: Investing in continuous professional growth helps teachers stay updated with best practices and remain motivated. Providing competitive compensation: Offering attractive salaries and benefits is crucial for drawing and keeping top talent. By emphasizing these three strategies, VBCPS aims to create an environment where high-quality educators are both attracted to and retained within our schools.

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Kelly Convirs-Fowler

Convirs-Fowler dropped from the District 1 race.

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District 3

Mark Bohenstiel

Age: 66

Occupation/job title: Owner, Coastal Candle VB

Highest level of education: High School diploma

Website: www.markforvbschoolboard.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

A Yale School of Medicine study found that excessive screen time can have harmful effects on youth, even years later. Addiction to phones, online gaming, etc. is an epidemic. While I believe that parents are the most important teachers in a child’s life, it is imperative that schools not contribute to this problem with too much screen time in the classroom. I support recent decisions of the School Board to limit cell phone use in the classroom, but teachers have indicated it is still a problem. I would support a school board policy that sets appropriate limitations on screen time based upon age.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it. 

One of the most pressing issues is that a large number of students across the division cannot read on grade level. It is imperative that a focus be placed on academic achievement rather than political issues in the classroom. Students who struggled through COVID virtual learning are still trying to catch up. The Governor has placed an emphasis on providing resources for reading instruction and extra tutors. This is a great start but it must continue at the local level. Replacing school infrastructure is also an important issue that must be addressed in a cost-effective way.

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John Sutton

Sutton withdrew from the race for District 3.

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District 4 special election

Anissa M. Bowden

Bowden did not respond to the questionnaire.

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Alveta J. Green

Age: 66

Occupation/job title: Retired educator

Highest level of education: Doctorate, The George Washington University

Website: agreen4schoolboard.org

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

School boards can address the growing concerns for mental health through the development of strong policies that will provide school-based services, programs and support for students. It is important for school boards to work collaboratively with their local state legislatures to address funding needs to ensure competitive pay for personnel who have specialized training to support students’ mental health and well-being such as school counselors, psychologists, social workers and behavior specialists.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

Virginia Beach Public Schools currently has a book ban in place which restricts the intellectual freedom of all students. I can address this issue by initiating policy changes to end the book ban by working with other School Board members to help educate that book bans limit access to knowledge especially books written by marginalized authors and books about the history of marginalized groups. Each parent must have input for his/her student’s intellectual freedom. Protocols that will allow a parent to review books his/her student wants to read can be implemented through policy. The elimination of book bans guarantees the intellectual rights of every Virginia Beach student to seek and receive information.

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Shannon Kendricks

Kendricks did not respond to the questionnaire.

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District 5

Melinda Rogers

Age: 50

Occupation/job title: Self-employed, CLASS Observer

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s, Buffalo State University

Website: melindarogersforschoolboard.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

To address mental health concerns across the division, I will advocate for a multifaceted approach. First, limiting screen time on personal and school devices, especially for our youngest learners, should be a priority. Second, I will push for increased funding to hire more mental health professionals, social workers and counselors, as current staffing levels are insufficient to meet students’ needs. Proper resources must be available to support and refer students effectively.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

VBCPS is facing a critical issue with staff retention. Last year, some high schools lacked the necessary staff, forcing students to attend classes via Zoom at different schools. If this problem isn’t addressed, it will continue. To tackle this, I will propose both economic and quality-of-life improvements for staff. This includes adjusting the school calendar for greater instructional flexibility, advocating for a budget review to prioritize staff wages, and supporting policies that compensate staff for work done outside of contract hours, such as mandatory staff training and classroom preparation during unpaid breaks.

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Vincent Smith

Age: 54

Occupation/job title: Division manager, city of Virginia Beach

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s, Old Dominion University

Website: www.VincentSmithVB.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

The Governor’s Executive Order 33 is a good first step. The School Board needs to ensure our students have access to a calmer, focused learning environment. Young minds are full of energy and the ability to concentrate is not necessarily an inherited trait. Removing distractions will also give our students a respite from the stresses of social media. Secondly, we must not only ensure a safe and secure environment for our students but we must make sure they know it is safe and feel safe in it. This will lead to better focus on learning. Lastly, when on the School Board I will do all I can to ensure all students, teachers, and staff have appropriate access to qualified mental health resources.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

By VBCPS’ own statistics, pushing 30% of our elementary students are not reading at grade level. This percentage decreases slightly but not significantly as students move on to higher grades. We need to do better for these students. Nationally, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), this number hovers around 37%. Despite VBCPS already doing noticeably better than a national statistic, I find this shocking and saddening. Reading and written communication are cornerstones of human civilization. Students who cannot read at grade level will struggle to learn at grade level and become frustrated. This ties into the mental health discussed above. I propose building a funding prioritization policy for reading recovery that automatically reallocates funds whenever this number climbs over a set threshold. That reallocation would continue perpetually until the percentage drops below that threshold.

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District 7

Matthew “Matt” Cummings

Age: 40

Candidate’s occupation/job title: Sentara health plans, team coordinator

Education: Master’s, Eastern University

Website: mattforvirginiabeachschoolboard.com/

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

Creating anti-bullying and inclusive environments is important for our students’ mental health and well-being. Our youth need to feel safe and welcomed in an environment that promotes their academic learning and social and emotional growth. A 2023 report from the Surgeon General highlighted that social media is a major contributor to depression and anxiety among teenagers. Developing a curriculum focused on mental health and well-being, reducing screen time on devices and exploring outdoor education opportunities will benefit our students. Additionally, I would advocate for partnerships with local and telehealth agencies to meet the demand for mental health services. In my previous professional roles, I established partnerships with national telehealth organizations to address the rising demand for student mental health services.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

The nationwide shortage of teachers in public education is a pressing issue. Ensuring our students come first requires focusing on retaining and recruiting staff. If our city doesn’t address this shortage, we’ll see larger classrooms and lower-quality education. I propose stronger partnerships with local colleges and launching targeted marketing campaigns to attract talent. I would explore scholarships to encourage graduates to return and teach. Currently, Virginia Beach does not have the most competitive pay and is causing teachers and staff to leave for better-paying jobs in neighboring districts. Increasing access to transitional licenses and credentialing will also boost our talent pool. As a parent with children at Salem Middle and Tallwood Global Languages Academy, I believe in the bright future of our schools with low student-to-staff ratios and a focus on retaining talent.

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Noah Moreland

Age: 27

Occupation/job title: Damage prevention technician, Utiliquest LLC

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s, Old Dominion University

Website: www.vote4moreland.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

1.) We revitalize efforts to get the community interested and engaged in their students/school systems. Enhancing connectedness between students, families and employees. This starts with transparency involving school activities curriculum and fostering an open spirit towards parents who do want to be involved, enabling them to do so with as few barriers as possible. The more connected we are the more we can look out for, engage with and create a spirit that makes everyone feel involved and important in the school system. 2.) We improve and focus on workforce readiness initiatives in the school system. Mental health challenges can often stem from a lack of direction or purpose and showing students what options they have other than university that exist and can be just as fulfilling for them after they graduate.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

One of the biggest issues is an increasing desire for better workforce readiness initiatives. University is increasingly becoming less desirable to many students and our schools do a poor job of showing what other options are out there. I’d like to partner with companies and contractors to develop pathways for students to get jobs straight out of high school that can lead to well-paying and meaningful careers. This could include jobs in the utility industry, city infrastructure maintenance, and apprenticeships that can lead students to start their own businesses with the skills they have learned.

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At-large District

Monty Ashliman

Age: 56

Candidate’s occupation/job title: Retired, U.S. Navy

Education: Master’s Naval War College

Military experience: 32+ years active duty in the U.S. Navy as an aviator and retired as a Captain.

Website: www.montyashliman.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

The public school team is responsible for a school culture that respects everyone. This is respecting others and treating them how you want to be treated, which is where my background is unmatched. While teachers must recognize concerns in the classroom, they should not be expected to be experts in mental health. This is best provided by trained experts. Our schools partner with CHKD for family access to mental health treatment, and I support this endeavor. Schools should not contribute to mental health problems. Overuse of social media and screen time are driving factors behind mental health concerns. Unnecessary school closures and isolation amplify mental health concerns. Children must be taught social skills and how to interact with others. We should limit instruction time provided through electronic devices. Students need more face-to-face instruction and interactions with peers.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

A pressing issue for our public schools is the health of the teacher workforce, and I have a proven record in my career of building teams for success. There are dedicated professionals desiring to teach and we need to ensure our schools are where they want to be. We must allow the teachers to teach and not overburden them with collateral duties that are not in support of educating the students. Teachers’ preparation time should not be taken up with commitments that are not directly supporting their lessons to be taught in the classroom. School administrations must support teachers and the enforcement of rules in the classroom that are for the safety of everyone. Virginia Beach is a wonderful community to raise a family. We must ensure our schools are strong attributes of this community, a place where families want to be, and they are confident in the school system.

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Sharon R. Felton

Age: 70

Occupation/job title: Retired

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s, Old Dominion University

Previous elected offices held (if any): Virginia Beach School Board member, 2015-2022

Website: www.sharonfelton.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

Student mental health is a critical issue that requires our full attention, for every student, every day. I will advocate for increasing access to mental health resources within schools by hiring more counselors and social workers, providing regular mental health training for teachers and staff, and cultivating an environment where students feel safe and supported. I will seek ways to partner with mental health organizations to offer additional support. I will also stress the importance of parents’ involvement in their children’s mental health education through regular communication and educational workshops. Addressing student mental health early and consistently allows for an environment where students have a safe space and an equal opportunity to thrive academically and personally. Student mental health is essential to my mission to support every student, every day.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

One of the most pressing issues in our division is the aging school buildings, some of which are over 70 years old and no longer conducive to a healthy, innovative learning environment. Despite these challenges, I want to applaud our dedicated faculty and staff for showing up and providing a world-class learning experience for every student every day. I will work with my colleagues on rebuilding and modernizing our schools by partnering with local and state elected leaders to identify and designate funding. This includes exploring bonds, grants and public-private partnerships to secure the necessary resources. By investing in new, state-of-the-art facilities, we can create environments that inspire learning and support the academic and personal growth of every student every day. Our students deserve safe, modern spaces that reflect our commitment to their future and well-being.

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.

LaKeesha S. “Klu” Atkinson

Age: 41

Job title/company: Consultant

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s, Norfolk State University

Previous elected offices held: School Board since 2016

Website: N/A

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? First, we have to acknowledge that mental health is a public health issue. One entity can’t tackle it alone. How we can address it as a board is by strengthening our partnerships with the Portsmouth Health Department by collaborating on joint initiatives, share resources and align mental health objectives with broader health goals and local mental health organizations and nonprofits. We can leverage their expertise and networks to enhance program reach and effectiveness. We currently have a “Here to Help” program. We can build on this initiative by incorporating feedback from participants and stakeholders and explore ways to offer additional support services or resources that address unmet needs.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? The Hampton Roads area has a huge transplant population due to the military. With the influx of families, our schools are growing in population. To address this growth, a new school building is needed. We are addressing this issue by utilizing modular classrooms as a short-term solution, but the long-term goal is advocacy for new construction. We can look into various funding sources for new construction, such as state and federal grants, bonds and public-private partnerships.

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Irene S. Boone

Age: 42

Job title/company: Pre-employment manager/Military Sealift Command

Highest level of education: Some college or professional certification, in progress

Previous elected offices held (if any): Appointed to School Board in February 2023. Elected in November 2023.

Website: N/A

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 parents and schools. It’s a concern for all who have a responsibility to the next generation. I am proud of the initiatives taken by PPS as it relates to mental health and that’s our “Here to Help” initiative. I would encourage any student needing help with navigating mental health or just needing someone to talk to to take advantage of this program. This will allow students to connect with counselors and even school psychologists.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? One of the most pressing issues for our division and many other divisions would be the teacher shortage. I believe the way to address it is in the direction the current School Board has gone in. I’m happy to have voted to move forward with a study that will explore how to ensure we get our teachers on the correct pay scale. A scale that encompasses their experience and years of service. In the meantime, as we wait for the study to be completed, as a board, we’ve given several raises to all of our staff.

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Kendall C. Bradshaw

Age: 56

Job title/company: Realtor, Creed Realty

Highest level of education: Master’s, Old Dominion University

Website: None

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? Mental health is a very important issue in our society right now. The School Board can address this issue by hiring more guidance counselors so they have the time to identify and intervene appropriately, having each school provide a safe place on campus for students to deal with their problems and concerns, educating faculty and staff through professional development, offering mindfulness techniques for all and preventative care for those at risk.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? One of our most pressing issues is the hiring and retention of state-certified teachers. In order to correct this problem, the board should conduct the appropriate study and budget the funding necessary to bring new-hire teacher salaries into line with surrounding cities, fund yearly cost of living increases and pay experienced teachers for their years of service. The board can also work to address teacher burnout by offering wellness programs, professional development targeted to this concern and engaging teachers’ input while fostering a positive and supportive environment.

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Arnette D. “Love” McSwain

Age: 51

Job title/company: Retired deputy sheriff, city of Chesapeake, Portsmouth business owner

Highest level of education: Two master’s, Liberty University

Military service: U.S. Army (SSG) 1990-1999; first female commander of the American Legion Post 190 (in 76 years); current 2nd Dist. American Legion of VA Chaplain

Website: www.devornloveinme.org

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? School boards can address the issue of mental health by ensuring there are funds within the budget that are allocated to address the growing concerns about the mental health of students. They can authorize a team to research medical agencies, hospitals and clinics to see what type of services can be provided for students. Services to provide professional development for staff members on how to support students who are experiencing mental health issues will be sought out during the research process. Agencies to provide workshops for parents on how to support their children will be needed. School Board members can collaborate to create policies that will include the administration, teachers, students, parents and mental health facilities/personnel. Staff will learn the criteria for referral and protocol on how to refer students for the intake process for treatment.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? One of the most pressing issues for the Portsmouth division is, per state test scores, only 61% of our students are proficient in reading. There are approximately 13,371 students in Portsmouth and this percentage shows approximately 8,156 are proficient in reading. I would address this issue by getting an understanding of the current reading initiatives in the district and analyzing the reading curriculum. I’d review the data that shows our students’ reading performance, per grade. I will consult with my colleagues to identify the areas of strategic approach that have been going well and the challenges. I would suggest a collaborative approach with administration, staff members, students and parents to strategically navigate our procedures for increasing our students’ reading proficiency. We must unify the approach of staff and parents to address the academic needs of our students.

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Lateacia A. Sessoms

Age: 42

Job title/company: Executive director, Connecting Communities

Highest level of education: Master’s, Norfolk State University

Website: N/A

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? To tackle the increasing mental health challenges faced by students, school boards can adopt a multifaceted approach: 1. Commence by evaluating the effectiveness of existing mental health programs to identify areas of success and areas that may require enhancements. 2. Subsequently, establish on-site mental health resources within the school system, led by skilled counselors and therapists. These professionals can deliver prompt support, counseling services, crisis intervention and connections to external resources, ensuring that students have easy access to the necessary assistance. 3. Furthermore, cultivate partnerships with local mental health organizations to enrich the scope and quality of support options available to students.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? A critical priority that I will immediately address within the Portsmouth School Board is the enhancement of staff compensation and retention strategies. By ensuring competitive remuneration and implementing effective retention initiatives, we can attract and retain top-quality educators and staff members who are essential for maintaining a high standard of education in our schools. Additionally, investing in professional development opportunities, creating a positive work environment and recognizing the contributions of staff members can further bolster retention rates and foster a culture of excellence within the Portsmouth school district.

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Jaclyn T. “Jackie” Walker

Age: 42

Job title/company: Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment

Highest level of education: Doctorate, Capella University

Website: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557154260127&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? Student mental health is a critical concern and school boards must act. PPS has made strides with the “Here to Help” initiative, providing vital resources to students facing mental health challenges. As a former PPS employee, I know firsthand how impactful this program has been. As a board member, I would support and enhance this initiative by advocating for pop-up mental health checks in neighborhoods. These clinics, held at community centers or churches, would make resources more accessible. This approach not only helps in reaching those who may not actively seek help but also reinforces that mental health is a priority for our schools. By collaborating with mental health professionals and community leaders, we can create a supportive environment where mental health is prioritized, stigma is reduced and every student has access to care.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? One of the most pressing issues for our division is staff compensation and retention. Ensuring that all employees are on their correct pay step is crucial. PPS has conducted a compensation survey to ensure that teachers’ salaries are comparable to those in the other six cities in the region. Additionally, PPS has provided all staff with a 7% raise, a positive step toward improving compensation. One of my initiatives is to conduct a “Stay Survey” to ask employees why they continue to work at PPS and what we could do to make them stay. This approach highlights how much we value our employees’ contributions. As a board member, I would advocate for regular reviews of compensation and push for initiatives that further enhance staff retention. Ensuring competitive salaries and acknowledging the worth of all employees is essential for maintaining a high-quality education system.

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Ingrid P. Whitaker

Age: 59

Job title/company: Associate professor of sociology, Old Dominion University

Highest level of education: Doctorate, University of Michigan

Previous elected offices held: School Board 2014-2018, 2020-present

Website: ingridwhitaker4schoolboard.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? As a School Board member, I have advocated and supported increasing access to mental health services for students. I was a strong advocate of the Here to Help Program that was implemented by Portsmouth Public Schools. I have also continued to advocate for increasing the number of professional social workers in our schools.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? One of the most pressing issues for our division is sustaining full funding for the needs of our division. These needs include continued increases in teacher and staff pay, the continued expansion of our career and technical programs, the construction of new school facilities and the continued implementation of programs that address the needs of a student population that is disproportionately affected by under-resourced communities. As a member of the School Board, I will continue to advocate that these needs are represented in the budget requests the School Board puts forth each year.

North District

William L. Beverley

Age: 55

Candidate’s job title/company: Retired educator, owner of Coach Beverley’s Driving School, LLC

Education: Master’s, Tennessee State University

Website: N/A

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? Our students are among the most important resources we have in our nation. We must ensure that they have the opportunity to become the best version of themselves. Addressing mental help in our schools is vital. School districts should be able to provide on-time counseling to students. There should be a metric in place in our schools to assess if a child is in need of mental health services. This metric should be a part of the protocol to make that determination. Community mental health agencies should partner with our school systems. We must meet our students where they are and then assist them in their efforts to move forward.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? One of the most pressing issues is maintaining full accreditation without conditions in all of the schools. In 2022-23 school year, 39% of the schools in Newport News were granted accreditation with conditions. In comparison, only 10% of the schools in Hampton fell in that category. Hampton City Schools has implemented Wall to Wall Academies in all of their high schools. This implementation, along with the reimagining of how schools should operate and physically look, has allowed HCS to become one of the best school systems in the country. If I am elected, I would work with our school leaders, board members and city government to investigate the feasibility of implementing this model in NNPS.

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John B. Bloom

Age: 62

Candidate’s job title/company: Substitute teacher and ambassador at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Education: Master’s, New York Institute of Technology

Military service: Officer U.S. Navy

Website: constitutionpartyva.org

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? I would implement the guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Educate the students in their health education classes, educate teachers to spot warning signs of mental health issues in students and educate high school administrators and counselors to provide students with methods to address mental health issues before a crisis develops where a child would consider harming themselves or others. When I was in college in chorus a student committed suicide so this is very personal to me. There was no counseling afforded to students to address this issue in the 1980s when I went to Penn State Beaver Campus where this happened. Like President John F. Kennedy said, “A child miseducated is a child lost.”

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? Sleeping in class —  wake him up if he falls asleep and provide the name of the person sleeping to the class counselor and or assistant principal.

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Rasheena D. Harris

Age: 44

Candidate’s job title/company: Executive director of foster care, James Barry Robinson Institute

Education: Master’s, Boston University Graduate School of Education

Website: RHarris4SchoolBoard.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? From being a substitute for Newport News Public Schools, having two children attending NNPS, having an extensive background in mental health, and listening to citizens while in the community this is what I gather: Additional school social workers are needed to address the social and emotional challenges that students and their families are facing. Hiring qualified family and community engagement specialists who can act as liaisons between teachers, parents, community and administrators will also aid in addressing the mental health and wellness of students. I think this is the beginning of a holistic approach in supporting, advocating and reestablishing trust between schools and families. The division should provide access to wraparound services such as therapeutic day treatments. Looking at the data around social media and its impacts on mental health in youth could also lend to solutions.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? The most pressing issue is recruitment and retention of qualified educators. Like most industries across the nation, the turnover rate has increased over the last few years, causing a rippling effect of challenges. There are some fearful first-year teachers, educators covering combined classrooms and a small substitute pool. The feedback from teachers, citizens and administrators has been the need for raises, retention bonuses for tenured staff, and/or a changed pay schedule where employees are paid bimonthly or every other week. I understand that raises need to happen over time to remain fiscally responsible to the overall budget. I would address the pay schedule to better support educators in the day-to day while securing funding options for routine raises and retention bonuses. Finding ways to hire and maintain the talent already within the division is priority.

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Central District

Rebecca Shwayder Aman

Age: 49

Candidate’s job title/company: Partner, Carney Patterson Meade PLC

Education: Juris Doctor, University of Virginia School of Law

Previous elected offices held: School Board

Website: rebeccaaman4schoolboard.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? As an NNPS mom and School Board member, I understand the importance of addressing student mental health. Our School Board plays a crucial role in raising community and government awareness about the mental health challenges our students face and the resources they need. We actively support our superintendent and leadership in engaging qualified professionals to connect students and families with essential mental health services. In 2023, I identified a change in Virginia Medicaid’s mental health care approach that affected our ability to connect students with care. I addressed these concerns directly with the Virginia secretaries of Education and Health & Human Resources and attended the “Addressing Mental Health in Our Schools and on Our Campuses” conference at William & Mary to share our experience and efforts. I am committed to ensuring students have access to the resources they need.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? One of the most pressing issues for our division is achieving accreditation without conditions for all schools. While we have made significant strides in school safety, our focus now must shift to academic excellence across all grade levels. To address this challenge, NNPS is adopting new English and math curricula. I am confident that these changes will drive progress not only in K-8 but also in grades 9-12. Implementing new curricula, however, is a significant undertaking for our teachers and staff. Therefore, my efforts will focus on consistently reviewing results and gathering feedback to ensure the effectiveness of these changes. In addition, I will work to provide robust support for our educators, ensuring they have the resources and assistance needed to successfully implement the new curricula.

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Christopher Avery Worthington

Age: 50

Candidate’s job title/company: Instructor, University Instructors LLC

Education: Doctorate, Capella University

Website: dr-christopher-worthington-for-school-board.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

• Implementing comprehensive mental health education: Initiatives include integrating mental health lessons into the curriculum and conducting workshops for parents.
• Creating a supportive school environment: This includes promoting mental health awareness, encouraging student-led initiatives and establishing safe spaces for students.
• Training and supporting staff and educators: Providing professional development on mental health issues and creating peer support programs for students.
• Regular assessments and continuous improvement: Conducting surveys to assess student well-being and implementing feedback mechanisms for ongoing improvement.
• Emphasizing community involvement and communication: Engaging community leaders in discussions and ensuring clear communication about mental health initiatives with parents and stakeholders.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? In my opinion, the greatest issue facing my division revolves around salary. NNPS teachers and staff are paid monthly and, even more concerning, our compensation is not competitive! This teacher shortage crisis threatens the quality of education our students receive. I believe that engaging in collective bargaining is an effective solution to address this crisis. There are numerous benefits to collective bargaining and while I’ve outlined a few below, this list is by no means exhaustive.

• Recruitment and retention: Competitive salaries and benefits can attract and retain educators.
• Pay frequency changed: Teachers and staff are currently paid monthly. That’s the equivalent to living on a fixed income. Teachers and staff are struggling to make ends meet.
• Collaboration and communication: Involving teachers in decision-making fosters a sense of ownership and unity among staff.

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South District

Maritsa A. Alger

Age: 60

Candidate’s job title/company: Retired school principal

Education: Master’s, Hampton University

Previous elected offices held: School Board

Website: Maritsaalger.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? There is a clear connection between mental health and academic performance. Students who perform well have greater coping skills and do a better job at handling stressful situations. Social media, bullying and trauma in communities increase student anxiety, self-harm, and disciplinary issues, including disengagement and lack of interest in learning. Well-researched and evidence-based strategies, policies, procedures and practices can foster healthy development and enhance the well-being of our students. We want empowering support systems and consistent routines that promote positive safe relationships, develop leadership qualities and invite our children to see a brighter future. I am committed to protecting and lobbying for funding, services and partnerships that support every child’s well-being and bring hope to our Newport News families and communities.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? Every child deserves to graduate achieving their personal best because they cannot afford to be unprepared for the future. We must continue to have a stronger push for academic opportunities the minute the child steps into the classroom. When schools are supported by all involved with urgency and excellence, we begin to see how shared responsibility increases staff morale and the achievement of all students. Stronger communication and the ability to effectively address school needs create a greater opportunity to reach more students. I will continue to advocate for policies that will strengthen literacy across the curriculum, expand early education and post-secondary workforce readiness, modernize our aging schools, support strong family-school relationships and focus on the achievement and well-being of children.

Tina Banks-Gray

Age: 52

Candidate’s job title/company: Neighborhood centers manager, city of Hampton

Education: Doctorate, Bradley University

Previous elected offices held: School Board

Website: www.tinabanksgray4hcs.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?:

Within Hampton City Schools, we gather, analyze data and set policies and procedures to aid in students’ social-emotional learning, as this is a top priority. Recent surveys reveal that while students report positive relationships, some still struggle with feeling a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging is key for developing purpose and identity, as outlined in our Hampton City Schools Portrait of a Graduate, which prepares students for success in careers and life. To address this, we’ve integrated community-building and social-emotional learning throughout our curriculum and are incorporating restorative practices into each school’s culture. Additionally, we partner with Care Solace to help students, families and staff access mental health support. Our commitment to this partnership underscores our priority of mental health in our division.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it:

It is imperative to hear from the HCS community. Based on recent survey feedback, there are four areas that are of concern: teacher recruitment, changes to state accreditation, student safety and students with disabilities. I will highlight teacher recruitment. Pre-COVID data indicated a downward trend in the number of individuals interested in becoming classroom teachers, a scenario exacerbated by the pandemic. The competition among divisions to hire high-quality teachers has intensified, accelerating the predicted teacher shortage timeline. HCS is committed to offering a competitive benefits package, employing innovative recruitment strategies, maintaining a top-notch teacher induction program and providing ongoing support to enhance teacher retention. Teachers are the most significant factor in student achievement, prioritizing this issue is crucial for our students’ success.

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Ann Stephens Cherry

Age: 77

Candidate’s job title/company: Retired executive director of public relations and marketing, Hampton City Schools

Education: Master’s, Golden Gate University

Previous elected offices held (if any): School Board chair, vice chair and member

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? In Hampton City Schools, our current board has taken some courageous steps to address the issue of mental health. Our first-ever Mental Health Wellness Fair held last year at the Hampton Convention Center saw thousands of parents, students and educators come together to enjoy the services of our amazing community partners who are all committed to addressing this issue.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? The Virginia Department of Education has released some information regarding changes to the accreditation system for this school year. However, they have not provided specifics on the calculation methods for reading and mathematics assessments at this point. Currently, schools receive credit for students demonstrating growth in these assessments from year to year. While growth will still be considered, the state has not disclosed the weight student growth will carry. Consequently, we cannot yet determine how the new model might impact our schools’ accreditation ratings. Nevertheless, this current School Board and administration will continue to set high expectations for all students in all areas, realizing that this approach will help students pass state assessments while maintaining high accreditation ratings.

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Stephanie Jackson Afonja

Age: 49

Candidate’s job title/company: Owner, Family Restoration Services, and Holistic Family Solutions

Education: Master’s, Norfolk State University

Previous elected offices held: School Board

Website: www.stephanie4schoolboard.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? Student mental health is rightfully a concern. School boards have a duty to approve resources that positively impact the social and emotional needs of all students. Board members can benefit from ongoing data collection on students’ social and emotional learning experiences. Often students struggle to fit in at school. Boards can proactively implement restorative practices WITH students to help them feel welcome in their school communities. Boards can ensure restorative processes that build community and healthy relationships. Boards can champion the hire of restorative practice coordinators to develop strategies that imbed social-emotional learning activities into the curriculum, creating more equitable learning experiences and outcomes. Boards must maintain mental health as a top priority by understanding that mental health matters.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? While HCS students with disabilities outperform students in neighboring divisions, they continue to lag behind their regular education peers in assessment performance. Data indicates opportunity in reading performance in the elementary and middle grades for students with disabilities. I would support more intentional focus on supporting literacy and assessment outcomes by increasing collaborative training, between special and regular education teachers. I would work with HCS’ business partners to develop more Academics of Hampton work experiences that allow students with disabilities to graduate with comparable opportunities as their non-disabled peers. Deliberate partnering is critical for this to happen. I would contribute to the growth of these partners, with my 17 years of business experience and over 25 years working with children with disabilities.

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Natalie Kidd

Age: 24

Candidate’s job title/company: Digital giving officer, Virginia Living Museum

Education: Bachelor’s, Christopher Newport University

Website: www.kiddforhcs.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? Securing the necessary support for students’ mental health and well-being presents significant challenges, primarily due to inadequate funding. School boards must explore creative solutions that leverage the resources of all stakeholders to address this critical issue. Implementing programs that emphasize social-emotional learning can effectively target the anxiety many students face. Additionally, it is imperative that school boards actively advocate for increased funding to support smaller class sizes and lower counselor-to-student ratios. Furthermore, school boards across the commonwealth must challenge the current discipline policies of the Department of Education, which restrict schools’ ability to address violent and disruptive behavior. These limitations foster an environment of chaos and fear, undermining the safety and well-being of all students.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? Ensuring high-quality education requires providing comprehensive support and training for all teachers, especially those who are not fully licensed. Investing in targeted professional development and mentorship programs is essential for bridging gaps in expertise and equipping all teachers with the skills and confidence needed to address their students’ diverse needs. It is also important to explore strategies to ease the burden on veteran teachers who support new teachers on a daily basis. Implementing measures that offer additional resources and structured support will help prevent experienced educators from becoming overwhelmed while maintaining the quality of mentorship and guidance they provide to their less experienced colleagues. Addressing these issues will help reduce teacher turnover and alleviate teacher burnout, benefiting our entire school division.

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Reginald C. Woodhouse

Age: 71

Candidate’s job title/company: Pastor, First Baptist Jefferson Park

Education: Doctorate, Virginia University of Lynchburg; doctorate, Providence Theological Seminary

Previous elected offices held: School Board

Military service: U.S. Army

Website: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063474249734&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue? HCS is collaborating with local mental health professionals to ensure students have greater access to additional resources. Likewise, we can provide extra training to parents and school staff so that they are better equipped to identify and address these issues with students. Additionally, I think that giving students more time in sessions with school counselors will help them acquire the coping mechanisms and self-management skills they need to deal with their emotions and deal with life in general. For students who may need additional support outside of school, HCS continues to partner with Care Solace, a mental health provider concierge service that assists students, families and staff in securing a mental health provider in the community. Continued commitment to helping students, families and staff with this provider makes it evident that mental health matters in HCS.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it? We have four pressing issues for our division — teacher recruitment, students with disabilities, student safety and changes to state accreditation. I am going to address student safety. Although we excel in this area and have numerous measures in place, student safety remains at the top of the list. We must remain vigilant to ensure the safety of all students and staff. A safe learning environment is the number one priority of our school division and HCS has systems in place to address safety in each of our schools. I believe an anonymous tip-line would be an asset to what we already have in place. This would be critical for protection against external threats and building an internal safe environment for students and staff. We continue to evaluate procedures that foster an environment of safety preparedness in our school culture for learning.

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Nansemond Borough

Valerie Fields

Age: 64

Occupation/job title: Retired Suffolk public school teacher

Highest level of education: Master’s, Norfolk State University

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

The School Board can address the issue of students’ mental health by continuing to support the superintendent’s health services programs which address the physical, emotional, mental and social health needs of students. Counseling services, crisis teams and an anonymous tip line to report any form of bullying are a few of the initiatives available to students to support mental health. Strong support of such initiatives will ultimately safeguard the mental health of students of the district.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

One of the most pressing issues for is the need for capital resources for the improvement of schools. I would address the issue by collaborating with the current School Board to understand the need, network to seek the needed funding and transparently communicate with stakeholders regarding progress. As the district increases in housing and communities, many of the schools in the district have exceeded or are approaching capacity and/or shelf life and are in need of expansion and/or updates. The need to remediate the use of mobile units as classrooms is present in many of the schools. Capital resources to address the issues must be a priority for the School Board.

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James E. Shores

Age: 56

Occupation/job title: Program management analyst, Department of Defense

Highest level of education: Juris Doctor, Regent School of Law

Military experience: Retired Lt. Col., U.S. Marines, Naval Aviator

Website: shores4suffolkschools.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

Department of Education has posted a really good reference on this subject. I think their approach and recommendations (7), on page 2, are spot on. Budgets and prioritization of the same is always a challenge. The climate surveys that Dr. Gordon, our superintendent, utilizes are a good start in picking up indicators on potential mental health concerns. Recently, the chairperson of the SPS Safety Committee attempted to address the mental health of the student population, to incorporate it into the safety program, but it did not seem to garner support from the school administrators. This was my observation, not saying the administrators don’t care. I think it was a well, thought-out recommendation, and therefore if elected I’d like to propose the board take action on it.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

Parent confidence in our public schools. Exodus to home and private schooling. Teacher morale and retention. Only 52 of surveyed teachers saying there is high morale is unacceptable. Demographics. Northeast Suffolk is experiencing a boom in population. Our high schools are already at maximum capacity. If budgets are not aligned to stay ahead of the growing population, overcrowding will have a negative effect on education quality and teacher-to-student ratios.

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Whaleyville Borough

Thelma V. Hinton

Age: 66

Occupation/job title: Retired, stay-at-home mom

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s, Norfolk State University

Previous elected offices held: Suffolk City School Board, 2009-2012

Website: sites.google.com/view/thelma-v-hinton-for-suffolk-sc/home?authuser=0

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

In 2023, Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly voted to provide more mental health services for students, including proposing to require divisions to employ additional counselors and provide instruction on mental health in every classroom and required the school bus drivers to receive mental health training. School Board members should work together to implement these provisions and bills. The School Board can also help by having the school social worker, psychologist and the school nurse to be the front-runners to address these issues and it is called S.O.A.P. (Subject Objective Assessment and Planning).

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

School safety looks at hazards and overall conditions that will disrupt the learning environment. Issues such as COVID-19, fire hazards, infectious diseases, crime and the like are concerns. The pressing issue of physical safety of students and staff within our facilities is the first priority. As a School Board candidate with a focus on equity, equality and fiscal accountability, I believe the School Board should consistently review safety issues surrounding funding for adequate resource officers, secured access doors all around the buildings, fencing, proper lighting, security cameras, metal detectors, and training for staff, custodial workers and all support staff. Security Equipment Grant Management is a current grant provided by the Virginia Department of Education . This is one of the areas I would recommend our board to research and apply for annually.

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Sean McGee

Age: 41

Occupation/job title: Critical asset risk program manager, Air Combat Command, U.S. Air Force

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s, Saint Leo University

Military experience: U.S. Marine Corps

Website: www.seanmcgeeforsuffolkschools.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

1. Prevention: We must equip our teachers and staff—those who interact with students daily—with the tools and training needed to identify the signs and symptoms of mental health struggles. By providing them with additional resources and support, we can ensure they are better prepared to recognize when a student is in need. Furthermore, it’s crucial to develop comprehensive educational programs for students and their families, raising awareness about mental health issues and the resources available to them.

2. Support: The School Board should advocate for increased funding to expand the number of dedicated mental health professionals, such as therapists, social workers, and counselors in our schools, that our students have immediate access to.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

As the husband of a Suffolk Public Schools teacher and the father of five children currently attending elementary, middle and high school within SPS, one of the most urgent concerns within our division is the safety of our schools. In June, Suffolk Public Schools released their annual climate survey, revealing alarming statistics: 37% of students and 27% of teachers and staff reported not feeling safe at school. Conduct comprehensive risk and vulnerability assessments for all schools to identify and mitigate all security gaps. Establish a Threat Working Group that proactively meets to evaluate security postures and make informed decisions based on emerging threats and intelligence. Advocate for the assignment of armed officers at every school, with the ultimate goal of having two dedicated officers per school to ensure a robust security presence.

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Jonathan Rankin

Age: 39

Occupation/job title: Professional CDL truck driver, G&G Farms

Highest level of education: some college toward a Business Administration degree

Military experience: One year in the Navy

Website: www.rankin4whaleyville.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

As with any problem the board would have to first, identify and define the problem as there may be multiple problems contributing to the main problem; define the goals and desired outcomes; there must be a deep dive into identifying the root cause of the problem or problems; develop an action plan; execute the action plan and evaluate/assess the results and apply additional analysis for continuous improvements. The School Board could bring in an independent body to do the study. The results of the study could then be used to develop and implement new policies and programs toward improved mental health. Clearly defined metrics should be used to evaluate policies and programs for effectiveness.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it.

Student achievement is far below standards. I will be looking at policies and programs that are not achieving the results intended and look to fellow board members to join me to modify or eliminate those that are failing to produce results or are determined to be ineffective. I will do this through communication and cohesive collaboration.

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Sleepy Hole Borough

Carly Bosco

Age: 44

Occupation/job title: Senior director for Research and Operations, National Institute of Aerospace

Highest level of education: Master’s, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Website: www.boscoforsuffolk.com

Student mental health has been a growing concern for parents and schools. How can school boards address the issue?

A first step to help combat the mental health stressors of our students is to ensure a school environment that is welcoming and accepting of everyone. We need to ensure policies can quickly and effectively deal with bullying and other behaviors that contribute to negative self-images and social withdrawal. We also need to increase the amount of counselors in our schools to maintain realistic student ratios. One positive effect of COVID was greater acceptance and integration of social, emotional learning (SEL) lessons in schools. Putting the full burden of SEL onto the shoulders of teachers and counselors though is unrealistic. This is a place where districts can leverage community organizations that are trying to address mental health. Erika’s Lighthouse is an example, but there are smaller, local organizations also that can provide resources to students, families and staff, as well as foster family engagement.

Name one of the most pressing issues for your division and how you would address it. 

Suffolk is not unique in facing staffing difficulty and teacher drain. While this is a systemic issue, we are losing not only teachers who are opting out of teaching altogether but also teachers who are opting to move to other local districts. Pay is always an issue, but we need to take a hard look at what other factors are creating an environment where teachers actively pursue opportunities outside the district. Employee retention is strongly linked to morale and this is an area we have the power to control even more than pay scales. In the recent climate survey the district conducted, only 51% of high school staff felt morale was high. This leaves 49% who do not, which is troubling. The results in this survey overall from instructional staff certainly point to areas we need to act on with meaningful efforts to make substantive positive change.

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Heather Howell

Heather Howell did not respond to The Virginian-Pilot’s questionnaire in time for publication.

Students will interview professionals, retirees or “someone with a story to tell” as part of the division’s “signature learning experiences” model, which builds community and career awareness and readiness. Officials say it is a way to inspire students directly.

The minimum time commitment is two hours. All volunteers will be required to have a background check.

To sign up, visit bit.ly/3Xoo6Y3 by Wednesday. The form includes questions about work atmosphere, personal and professional passions and the volunteer’s impact on the community. Any questions about the form or project can be sent to Erica Spencer at espencer@hampton.k12.va.us.

Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com

Hampton schools saw a significant increase in student absences; officials said 900 more students across the division were absent Thursday than Wednesday. Hampton was one of several districts across the country that had schools on a “hit list” that circulated Wednesday on TikTok.

“While we can’t attribute all of these absences to the social media hoax, we acknowledge that it likely played a role in many of them,” division spokeswoman Kellie Goral said in an email.

On Facebook parent groups and online neighborhood forums, parents shared fears and plans to keep their children home a day or two. Some wondered — as often happens after school-related violence — whether to switch to homeschooling.

In Newport News, parents reported getting a message from the Warwick High School principal Friday telling them the administration was “notified of some threatening comments and chatter posted on social media referencing several NNPS schools.” The message stated the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services said similar posts were circulating in other parts of the state and nationwide.

The social media frenzy came on the heels of the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Menchville student in Newport News while he was waiting at a school bus stop early Tuesday. It also closely follows school shootings in Maryland and Georgia the previous week.

Ashley Dale, whose children were home sick for a part of the week but were cleared to return on Friday, said she didn’t feel safe sending them back after receiving a message from Hampton schools about the threats.

“I don’t want them there,” Dale said. “It’s scary for me. They’re safer here.”

Dale said this isn’t the first time she’s been concerned about how safe her kids are at school. Last year, she kept her oldest daughter, Madison Peach, then a freshman at Bethel High School, home for several days after a student attacked another with a boxcutter. A few years prior, when a couple of her children were in elementary school, their school called to say that a bullet had been found on the bus they were riding.

“So I said, ‘No more bus.’ ”

But Dale feels stuck. She knows she can’t keep her children home indefinitely and is unable to homeschool. She wishes there were more virtual choices.

“Really, there are no options.”

Madison, 15, said the violence and the messages she’s seen circulating made her worry. Though she usually doesn’t attend football games, her friends at Bethel who do were relieved when the school’s game against Menchville was postponed.

She said the shootings at the schools in Georgia and Maryland have particularly rattled her.

“It’s scary because you don’t know what school is next or who is planning on bringing a gun.”

Though Bethel has a weapons detection system like other Hampton and Newport News schools, Madison said searches are not always conducted when someone sets them off. She worries something could slip in.

A Hampton official said division officials will investigate the complaint and address the issue if necessary.

Despite her anxiety, Madison does not want to learn remotely. She’s able to focus better while at school.

“I think I would do it if it got to a certain point,” she said.

Anxiety after a school or school-connected shooting is not uncommon.

“That’s completely understandable,” said Rachel Stewart, a licensed professional counselor with Thriveworks in Virginia Beach.

Stewart, who works with children, teens and adults, said the Newport News shooting already has come up in some of her client sessions. She said social media is also exacerbating a situation where people’s anxiety feeds off each other.

“When a kid sees their parents being scared or concerned, they’re going to feel the same way, right? When they see other kids being scared or concerned, they’re going to feel the same way,” she said.

This can keep children and teens in a state of anxiety for a longer time, she said.

Even before the most recent violence, Stewart said the fear of a school shooting has been one of the biggest issues for children she works with who are experiencing school-related anxiety.

Data from 2018 Pew Research Center surveys showed that a majority of teenagers — 57% — were worried about a shooting at their school. More than 60% of parents of teenagers surveyed were at least somewhat worried about the possibility.

Mental health professionals have been sounding the alarm about the deterioration of youth mental health for years. Many say the issue was further exacerbated by the pandemic. Schools are seeing record absences, many of them fueled by anxiety and other mental health challenges.

A 2022 policy brief published in the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research cites numerous studies that have found that students exposed to school shootings experience negative impacts on their mental health, as well as their educational and economic trajectories. This includes a higher rate of antidepressant use, lower test scores, increased absenteeism and a higher likelihood of dropping out.

Though the Newport News shooting on Tuesday did not happen at a school, it meets the definition of a “school-associated violent death,” as defined by the School-Associated Violent Death Surveillance System, which includes homicides where the victim was on the way to or from school.

According to the policy brief, school shootings can impact students more directly than other gun violence because of students’ connections to the victims as well as “the loss of trust in their schools’ ability to keep them safe.”

The brief also notes that intensive media coverage of school shootings also likely puts many American students on edge.

Social media hoaxes also cause significant disruptions. A series of bomb threats disrupted schools in numerous Hampton Roads divisions two years ago, in some cases causing students to be sent home early.

“These incidents can cause unnecessary fear and anxiety among students, staff and families,” Goral said. She added that the hoaxes also strain school and police resources, as they ramp up security, investigate threats and deploy counselors and social workers to support students.

A spokesman for the state Department of Education said on Friday that officials are working with school divisions to explore possible resolutions for threats made over social media. Many of these threats may not be originating from within the state, or even the country, he said.

Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com

The private school, which serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, initially planned to only close Thursday, but announced in a notice to parents later that day that it would keep its doors shuttered Friday.

Superintendent for Catholic Schools Michael Riley wrote that school officials have been working with law enforcement. He also said they’d determined the emailed threat of violence was sent by someone outside the Virginia Beach area with no ties to the school.

“And we know this individual sent the threat in response to new coverage he saw related to the school’s recent disciplinary decision,” Riley wrote.

The Virginian-Pilot and other local media outlets reported this week about the school’s decision to suspend a sixth grade student after he told the principal a classmate had a bullet. The boy, 11, was told he also would be punished because he didn’t report the incident immediately, according to his mother, Rachel Wigand.

Wigand said her son didn’t say anything right away because he wanted to wait until the other boy was no longer around. Both boys received the same 1½-day suspension, she said.

Wigand contacted attorney Tim Anderson in an effort to get the decision reversed, but the school refused. She’s now considering suing.

A Virginia Beach private school student reported a classmate had a bullet. Both students got suspended.

“Public opinion overwhelmingly supports my client that St. John’s wrongfully suspended her son,” Anderson wrote Friday. “They are in the hot seat for making a dumb decision and now want the parents of the school to be mad at my client because school is shut down.”

Riley, however, wrote in his letter to parents that school officials must take such threats seriously. A private security firm has been hired to help ensure a safe return to school next week, he wrote.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com