School board candidate Jessica Swanson focuses on equity, early childhood education
 |
| Jessica Swanson (left) speaks at a candidate forum hosted by the Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners Revitalization Corporation March 18. |
Jessica Swanson, who is seeking the Democratic endorsement for the Mason seat on the
Fairfax County School Board, says her top priorities are early childhood
education, supporting teachers, and ensuring schools with the neediest students
get extra resources.
Swanson’s
opponent for the endorsement is Ricardy Anderson. No Republican candidates for Mason
school board have come forward. The current Mason school board member, Sandy
Evans, is not running for re-election.
opponent for the endorsement is Ricardy Anderson. No Republican candidates for Mason
school board have come forward. The current Mason school board member, Sandy
Evans, is not running for re-election.
The
challenge in Mason District, Swanson says, is “to make sure FCPS brings an equity lens, as we
have more needs and need more resources.”
Swanson
believes it’s important to hire the best educators and let them use their
judgement in the classroom.
believes it’s important to hire the best educators and let them use their
judgement in the classroom.
“We
need great staff members in every school and great teachers in every classroom
to close achievement gaps,” she says. “Supporting our educators is really
important to me.”
need great staff members in every school and great teachers in every classroom
to close achievement gaps,” she says. “Supporting our educators is really
important to me.”
As a
result, competitive compensation is a top priority for Swanson, not only for
teachers but for other FCPS employees as well. She says staff should be able to afford
to live in the county where they work, and cited a recent conversation with a school
bus driver who had to spend money out of pocket to keep the bus clean.
result, competitive compensation is a top priority for Swanson, not only for
teachers but for other FCPS employees as well. She says staff should be able to afford
to live in the county where they work, and cited a recent conversation with a school
bus driver who had to spend money out of pocket to keep the bus clean.
Expanding
early childhood education is also a key priority for Swanson. There are about
1,500 families on a waiting list for the school system’s free Family and Early
Childhood Education Program, which is limited to children from
low-income households. She says the waiting list would likely be a lot longer
if more qualified parents knew about it.
early childhood education is also a key priority for Swanson. There are about
1,500 families on a waiting list for the school system’s free Family and Early
Childhood Education Program, which is limited to children from
low-income households. She says the waiting list would likely be a lot longer
if more qualified parents knew about it.
“Preventing
achievement gaps by starting early is really important to me. There’s a real
opportunity to do more in this arena,” Swanson says, suggesting that the Graham
Road building and the Willston Center could be used for early childhood
programs, with a priority for the neediest families.
achievement gaps by starting early is really important to me. There’s a real
opportunity to do more in this arena,” Swanson says, suggesting that the Graham
Road building and the Willston Center could be used for early childhood
programs, with a priority for the neediest families.
Those programs benefit the whole family, she notes, as parents would be able to work if their
children are in a safe learning environment.
children are in a safe learning environment.
In the
face of accusations that Swanson supports charter schools, she asserts: “I’m
not running to bring charter schools to Mason District. I’m a strong supporter
of public schools.”
face of accusations that Swanson supports charter schools, she asserts: “I’m
not running to bring charter schools to Mason District. I’m a strong supporter
of public schools.”
Nationally,
charter schools, which are aimed at allowing flexibility to promote innovation,
have been criticized by public education advocates for draining money from
public schools.
charter schools, which are aimed at allowing flexibility to promote innovation,
have been criticized by public education advocates for draining money from
public schools.
“Charter
schools are not appropriate for Fairfax County,” Swanson says. “We have a ton of
talent and the ability to innovate here. If we want to tackle issues, we can do
it quickly here.”
schools are not appropriate for Fairfax County,” Swanson says. “We have a ton of
talent and the ability to innovate here. If we want to tackle issues, we can do
it quickly here.”
Early in her career, when
Swanson signed on with Teach for America, she was assigned to a charter school
in Washington, D.C., where she taught for four years.
Swanson signed on with Teach for America, she was assigned to a charter school
in Washington, D.C., where she taught for four years.
Several
years ago, she supported a proposal put forth by Eric Welch, a teacher at
Stuart (later renamed Justice High School) for a charter school located in the
building formerly occupied by Graham Road Elementary School. That school, which
was not approved by the school board, would have been part of Fairfax County
Public Schools; it would not have been outside the system.
years ago, she supported a proposal put forth by Eric Welch, a teacher at
Stuart (later renamed Justice High School) for a charter school located in the
building formerly occupied by Graham Road Elementary School. That school, which
was not approved by the school board, would have been part of Fairfax County
Public Schools; it would not have been outside the system.
According
to Swanson, Welch wanted a school with a longer school day and year and was
eventually able to get other innovative programs started at Justice.
to Swanson, Welch wanted a school with a longer school day and year and was
eventually able to get other innovative programs started at Justice.
“We have
to empower teachers when they have ideas to support our students,” Swanson says.
to empower teachers when they have ideas to support our students,” Swanson says.
Swanson
first got involved in advocating for schools through her neighborhood civic
association in Ravenwood Park. “At that time, funding from the county wasn’t
keeping pace with the need,” she says.
first got involved in advocating for schools through her neighborhood civic
association in Ravenwood Park. “At that time, funding from the county wasn’t
keeping pace with the need,” she says.
Her current job, as director of budget strategy for the D.C. Public Schools, is all
about “making sure educators have the resources they need and that the budget
reflects our goals and our values,” she says.
about “making sure educators have the resources they need and that the budget
reflects our goals and our values,” she says.
As a
result of that experience, she would tackle budget transparency at FCPS and
help families and the community better understand the budget.
result of that experience, she would tackle budget transparency at FCPS and
help families and the community better understand the budget.
Swanson
also proposes more efforts related to cultural competency training, mental
health, and ensuring safe and inclusive schools.
also proposes more efforts related to cultural competency training, mental
health, and ensuring safe and inclusive schools.
She
believes more needs to be done to address bullying, especially when it’s based
on gender identity or cultural and religious differences, to prevent students from getting involved with gangs, and to help families who are not native English speakers navigate the
system and get the help they need.
believes more needs to be done to address bullying, especially when it’s based
on gender identity or cultural and religious differences, to prevent students from getting involved with gangs, and to help families who are not native English speakers navigate the
system and get the help they need.
Swanson
supports boundary changes as a means to address overcrowding at Glen Forest Elementary School. “Boundary changes are sensitive,” she notes, and they should
only be done to make schools more equitable and to maintain diversity. Moving
the most affluent students out of a school, as was done with Annandale High
School a few years ago, is the wrong way to go, she says.
supports boundary changes as a means to address overcrowding at Glen Forest Elementary School. “Boundary changes are sensitive,” she notes, and they should
only be done to make schools more equitable and to maintain diversity. Moving
the most affluent students out of a school, as was done with Annandale High
School a few years ago, is the wrong way to go, she says.
Swanson
insists she’s not interested in the school board as a stepping stone to a
political career. “I’m not doing this as a resume builder. I care about
improving our system,” she says. “I’ve been here in the community advocating
for the schools for a long time, and I want to bring that background, along
with my experience in budgeting and education, to the school board.”
insists she’s not interested in the school board as a stepping stone to a
political career. “I’m not doing this as a resume builder. I care about
improving our system,” she says. “I’ve been here in the community advocating
for the schools for a long time, and I want to bring that background, along
with my experience in budgeting and education, to the school board.”
3 responses to “School board candidate Jessica Swanson focuses on equity, early childhood education”
Leave a reply
I'm thrilled that Jessica Swanson is running for school board. She has been a long time advocate for our schools in Mason District even before she had children. I remember seeing her at school board meetings and being so impressed that someone without kids was so active in our school system. She already has been an asset and will be an even stronger advocate on the board.
Both Swanson and Anderson seem to think there's an infinite amount of resources that can be diverted from other parts of the county to Mason. Sorry, but Mason has the smallest class sizes and gets a disproportionate amount of FCPS's attention and capital resources. Brabrand and Zuluaga practically live at Glasgow and Justice, and hardly ever step foot in other schools in FCPS. Swanson and Anderson are both pandering to Mason voters who have no idea what challenges other parts of the county are facing.
I KNOW! So much parental involvement, support, and being surrounded by families who care about education – HOW EVER are the students coping?!?! WE MUST think of the suffering borne by those in Vienna, Great Falls, and McLean!
You do know that the folks in those parts of the county will do just about anything to wall themselves off from the poors in other districts, including throwing piles of money at schools, homeless shelters, and social services buildings, all to keep such elements out of their districts.