Democrats hold a caucus for school board endorsements

The Fairfax County Democratic Committee is holding a caucus to determine which candidate the committee should endorse for the Braddock District seat on the school board.

Two candidates are seeking the committee’s endorsement: Alexa Krezel and Tom Dannan.

A special election will be held on March 3 to fill the seat on the school board vacated by Rachna Sizemore Heizer, who was elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

The Braddock District includes several communities in Annandale.

Related story: Sizemore Heizer elected to the Board of Supervisors

Braddock residents can register for the Democrats’ endorsement caucus now through 5 p.m. on Jan. 7. They’re holding a caucus rather than a primary because school board elections are non-partisan.

Online voting will take place for pre-registered voters from 9 a.m. on Jan. 6 to 5 p.m. on Jan. 10.

In-person voting for the caucus will take place on Jan. 10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at three locations: Braddock Hall, the Fairfax County Government Center, and the Landings Community Center in Burke.

Early voting for the March 3 special election will begin on Jan. 16 at two locations: the Fairfax County Government Center and the Burke Centre Library.

The Fairfax County Republican Committee hasn’t endorsed a Braddock school board candidate, but expects to do so at their next membership meeting on Jan. 20, says First Vice Chair Rosie Oakley.

Candidates rack up endorsements

Krezel is a long-time member of FCPS’s Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee, served as president of the PTA at Canterbury Woods Elementary School, and is currently the president of the Orchestra Boosters at Woodson High School.

She has professional experience in project management, HR, and learning strategies.

Krezel has received endorsements from school board members Ricardy Anderson (Mason), Mateo Dunne (Mount Vernon), Ilryong Moon (at large), and Ryan McElveen (at large), among others.

Dannan founded a children’s fitness center and served as president of the PTA at Terra Centre Elementary School. He’s a former Peace Corps volunteer who returned to the developing world to manage a health-based nonprofit.

Some of the endorsements for Dannan include former Braddock school board member and current supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer; board chair Jeffrey McKay; supervisors Andres Jimenez (Mason) and Dalia Palchik (Providence); and school board members Sandy Anderson (Springfield), Robyn Lady (Dranesville), Seema Dixit (Sully), Karl Frisch (Providence), Marcia St. John-Cunning (Franconia), and Kyle McDaniel (at large).   

Budget challenges

Krezel and Dannan faced off in a candidate forum on Jan. 5. The recording can be viewed here.

When asked how they would address the school district’s budget challenges, Krezel said she would review the county’s procurement process and leverage public-private partnerships to seek more grants and donations.

“Supporting teacher compensation is absolutely critical,” Krezel said, noting that many new teachers still can’t afford to live in Fairfax County. She also said teachers shouldn’t have to spend their own money or rely on parent donations for classroom supplies.

Dannan suggested looking at economies of scale, such as options for shared services, while maintaining support for classrooms. “If we invest in teachers and staff, they’re going to take care of our kids.”

He said the school board should advocate for more funding from the state, while making good use of current funds and eliminating programs that are no longer effective.  

“Right now, FCPS is at a crossroads,” Dannan said. “That’s what got me off the couch and into this race. … Our kids’ futures are being dramatically reshaped by changes in technology and the economy.”

He also called for more planning time for teachers, better mental health supports for teachers, mentoring for young students, and more resources for Title I schools, preK, and special education. “If we can make those investments, it’s going to pay off down the road.”

Dannan said he wants to emphasize a collaborative environment, community engagement, and a thoughtful approach to AI, while ensuring every kid feels safe in school.

“We need to continually assess what has been successful, how families are engaging with the system, and how we are engaging with the community,” Krezel said. “We must continue to measure what matters and look to close our achievement gaps.”

Diverse learning needs

In response to a question about students’ diverse learning needs, Krezel called for a holistic approach that recognizes every child has unique learning needs.

Communication is critical in helping parents who have children with disabilities understand the IEP process, Krezel said. Students who are learning English, and thus have lots of extra learning needs, shouldn’t be excluded from the arts or enrichment activities that get them excited about learning, she said.

“All kids have diverse learning needs,” Dannan said. “I’ve lived in different countries, so I know how challenging it is for kids to come here not knowing the language.”

He would like the state to allow students to take mandatory tests in their native language. He also called for more support for special education teachers and more opportunities for career and technical education.

A safe learning environment

When asked about how FCPS can provide a safe learning environment, Krezel said, FCPS needs “a layered approach that involves people, process, and technology.”

That means more psychologists and counselors in place to support safety and mental health, she said, and robust communications to ensure security systems and procedures are effective.

For Dannan, peer support groups and counselors are important in ensuring school safety, as well as empowering school safety officers to build connections with students. He also proposed “mandatory education for students on things like consent and harassment, so we can build a community of understanding and support.”

Krezel said FCPS already offers effective mental health services, but needs to do a better job with communications, as many families don’t know about those services. FCPS also needs a communication strategy to assure parents that there is no shame in seeking help.

Dannan agreed that students and parents aren’t taking advantage of mental health services, adding, “we need to understand why.” He called the rising rates of suicide, anxiety, and depression among youths “an absolute crisis.”