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Lauren Bartelme

Position sought

School Board

Age (as of Election Day)

42

Campaign Website

N/A

City elections are traditionally non-partisan and candidates must run as independents, according to both the city charter and the Code of Virginia. No party affiliation or “mark” will appear next to any of the candidates’ names on the Nov. 5 ballot. Have you been endorsed by a recognized political party or have you aligned yourself with a group of candidates representing themselves as independent, non-partisan candidates, including candidates running in other city races? Please check the answer that is most appropriate.

Please elaborate on your answer to the previous question and explain how this will affect the way you will serve on the school board.

I seek to represent all Fairfax City students and families as a member of the school board regardless of political party or political beliefs.

How does your status as described in the two previous questions help Fairfax City voters choose a candidate that aligns with their particular political beliefs?

All five school board candidates are running as independents. As a group, we all have professional experience in education and we all strive to put students first. City voters should read about our background, experience, and goals for the City of Fairfax Schools when choosing their candidates.

Names, ages and any pertinent details you wish to share about your family.

I live in Fairfax City with my husband John. I have two daughters. Amelia is a freshman at Fairfax High School (and a graduate of Providence Elementary School and Katherine Johnson Middle School). Eleanor is a sixth grader at Oakwood School, a specialized school in Annandale. She also attended Providence Elementary School for two years and was homeschooled for four years.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you are a candidate in.

No.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Physics from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Masters of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University

Occupation – Please include years of experience.

I have 9 years of experience as a classroom educator, including 3 years as a teacher in Fairfax County. I have taught middle and high school math and science, working with diverse student populations in both urban and suburban settings. I have been at home for the past four years home schooling my youngest daughter.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

none

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Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking a position on the City of Fairfax School Board because I am passionate about public education. As a city resident since 2009, I love this city and I enjoy raising my children here. I want to ensure that all city students receive a high-quality education, including typically under-served student populations. I have a child who has been well-served and thrived in our city schools. I also have a child whose needs were not met and who I eventually pulled out of school. I believe that our schools should met the needs of all students in our community, and I want a position on the City of Fairfax School Board to work towards this goal. I also want to prioritize the maintenance of our school buildings which are a huge asset to our community and in need of repair. In addition, I want to ensure that we leverage our collaboration with Fairfax County Public Schools to ensure all of our students’ academic success.

The single most pressing issue facing voters is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I think the most pressing issue facing our schools is teacher recruitment and teacher retention. Our students need and deserve the very best teachers. While the City of Fairfax School Board does not control staffing and salaries in our city schools, I do think we can advocate for our city teachers in our collaboration with Fairfax County Public Schools. In addition, we can ensure that our teachers feel supported and valued within our community and have a good working environment in our city schools.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe that I am a strong candidate due to my experience in education, especially my experience working with diverse student populations. I know two of the other candidates personally and two by reputation. Each candidate has a strong background in education and each candidate puts students at the center of their decision making. As there are only 5 candidates seeking office, this is the team that I will be working closely with as a school board member. I have confidence that this entire group of candidates is up for the job and will act in the best interest of Fairfax City and our students.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I am a new candidate for the City of Fairfax School Board. I do think that our school board has done a good job in many ways. I believe our city has kept our school buildings in better condition than surrounding jurisdictions, and I believe we need to maintain this priority by passing the bond referendum. Our school board ensured that we got local level IV AAP programs at our elementary schools and a level IV center at KJMS, allowing our high achieving students to stay in their neighborhood schools. Unfortunately, some students in our city do not have their educational needs met. We have a performance gap between various student populations, and we have some special education and 2e students who struggle to obtain the services they need. The City of Fairfax School Board needs to work with Fairfax County Public Schools to ensure that the programming and curriculum meets the needs of all students in our city.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I believe the City of Fairfax School Board needs to continue to prioritize the maintenance of our school buildings. In Fairfax County, some of the school buildings reach serious levels of disrepair before they have their time in the renovation queue. When my husband and I first decided to purchase a home in Fairfax City, we were impressed with the schools. My children have attended school in well-maintained buildings where they can focus on their education. I support the bond, and I believe the School Board should focus on needed renovations at Providence and Daniels Run Elementary Schools and to Fairfax High School’s roof.

I believe that the City of Fairfax School Board needs to ensure that the School Services Agreement with Fairfax County Public Schools continues to serve our students. We need to advocate for our students as we work closely with Fairfax County Public Schools to ensure the best educational opportunities for our students.

I believe that the City of Fairfax School Board needs to advocate for students whose needs are not currently being met. This includes typically under-served student populations, special education students, English-language learners, and twice-exceptional students. As a member of the School Board, I will advocate for those who may not have a voice at the table.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I began my teaching career as a member of Teach for America, a corp of teachers who teach two years in schools that are underserved due to systematic racism or poverty. As a geometry and physics teacher in Baltimore, I learned about about the challenges facing our nation’s schools and ways in which we can overcome them. I continued my teaching career in Washington DC and then in Fairfax County as a middle school science teacher. I have worked in diverse schools, with diverse populations, and I have always held high expectations for my students. I have served in leadership positions, including work as an instructional coach and department head. I am very aware of the challenges that exist within schools and how schools are dealing with these challenges. I also have experience as a parent in Fairfax City. As a parent, I have experienced good and bad within the school system. In addition, I have been involved in the community as a resident since 2009 and as a Girl Scout Leader for the past 9 years. I know education, I know our city schools, and I know our community. These experiences ensure that I can handle this job.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice ever shared with me was by a seasoned teacher during my first-year teaching. She told me to find something specific that I liked or admired about every single student in my classroom, even the most challenging, hard to reach, and difficult student. It was advice that I took to heart as a teacher, and it helped me become a better educator. Everyone has good in them and something to offer to their community. This advice helped me learn from my students, create meaningful relationships with my students, and get less frustrated with challenging behaviors. This is also advice that I have extended into other areas of my life as I collaborate with adults and interact with others in the community.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I want voters to know that I care deeply about public education and student achievement. I believe that all students can achieve if given adequate opportunity, and I believe that all children deserve a quality public education. I will work hard to make sure that their children, grandchildren, and neighbors receive a quality education in our city schools. I believe that our whole community benefits from having strong public schools and well-educated citizens.

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