Former school board member Ryan McElveen is running again

Former Fairfax County school board member Ryan McElveen is again running for an at-large seat on the board.

McElveen was an at-large member of the board from 2012 to 2019. He is now seeking an endorsement from the Fairfax County Democratic Committee.

His campaign platform calls for “bringing the joy back to education.” he announced April 6.

“The pandemic only reinforced long-standing disparities and Fairfax County’s tale of two systems,” McElveen says. “From deepening concerns about students left behind academically to declining mental health among all students, the challenges our community must surmount are far more daunting than ever before.”

A resident of McLean, McElveen is a graduate of George C. Marshall High School. He is an associate director of The Brookings Institution’s John L. Thornton China Center, where he manages the U.S.-China Leaders Forum. In 2019, he ran for chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Jeffrey McKay won that race.

After leaving the school board in 2020, McElveen founded the Global Leaders of Fairfax County program.

“At a time when public education is under attack by politicians, I want to work toward a better tomorrow that embraces gun violence prevention, universal prekindergarten, free and healthy meals for every student, and solar panels on every school,” he says.

If elected to the school board, McElveen would also stand for:  

• High-quality mental health resources.
• Competitive compensation to retain high-quality educators.
• Educational environments and facilities that are safe, inclusive, healthy, and sustainable and that inspire learning.
• A 21st century curriculum, academies, and world language programs in every school.

There are three at-large slots on the school board, so the Democratic Committee will endorse three candidates.

Another former school board member, Annandale attorney Ilryong Moon, is also seeking the Democratic endorsement for an at-large seat. He was an at-large member of the school board from 2004 to 2019.

The other candidates vying for a Democratic endorsement for an at-large seat on the board are Kyle McDaniel, the owner of a flight school; Munir Hamid, an IT professional; and Lawrence Webb, a former member of the Falls Church City Council and Falls Church School Board. Chris Lewis, an FCPS IT manager, has suspended his campaign.

The only incumbent who had been seeking re-election, Abrar Omeish, has withdrawn from the race.

Among the other two incumbents, Rachna Sizemore Heizer is running for the open Braddock seat on the board, and Karen Keys-Gamarra is running for the House of Delegates.

Saundra Davis and Cassandra Aucoin are running in November for at-large seats on the board.