Just pulling my foot out of my mouth here. I wanted to post something to try to avoid confusion following the inclusion of an inaccurate statement in a mailer that we sent out into the world this week. You can download it here: MOO1101_givemoon_FINAL2 (PDF Download).

As you can see, this postcard incorrectly says Ilryong is married to an “FCPS employee.” As you may know, his wife actually is a teacher in D.C. My mistake!

Andy

A lot of people have asked me – now that I am not seeking re-election – whom am I supporting for School Board this year. So I decided to share my views.

I write this from the perspective of a Board member who made a life-changing decision 16 years ago, so that readers might get some idea of what drives people to seek this demanding position, why that motivation is so important, and whom I am supporting.

When someone considers whether to run for elected office, there is one question they need to answer for themselves, before ever filling out a form, asking folks for support, or soliciting contributions:  Why am I running?

For me in 1995, it was easy to answer that question:  I believe that our American way of life can survive only if we build and maintain strong public schools, where children learn to love learning, and where we build the next generation of creative, critical thinkers.

I also knew that some candidates for office were running for different reasons, many of which directly contradicted that philosophy.  Some felt that schools should teach Biblical creationism as science.  Others saw the office of school board member as a steppingstone to higher office.  Still others wanted to slash the school budget in the false belief that the Superintendent had a pile of money hidden under the administration building, or that we had plenty of money if we only cut the apocryphal “waste, fraud and abuse.”

Finally, some ran for the school board to address actual or perceived slights to their children.

If people with a “global” outlook of the kind that led me to serve are not willing to run, then we get a school board comprised of single-issue members with a predetermined political agenda.  And the children suffer the consequences. So I ran.

Research teaches that high-achieving school districts are generally led by thoughtful, focused school board members who share some important characteristics.  These include a history of volunteer service in schools, a focus on student achievement instead of the minutiae of day-to-day management, and a dedication to the success of every student.

Lower-achieving school districts are generally led by board members who lose their focus on student achievement, obsess over management decisions committed to the discretion of educational professionals, and direct their energies to narrow, tangential issues.

In Fairfax County, we have been blessed to be led by board members who share a passion for improving student achievement, who have run for office for the reasons that led me to serve.  Certainly, we have addressed tangential issues.

But they have not consumed our attention, time, or energy for long.
This year, the voters are faced with stark choices, many of which relate to the reasons that led each candidate to run for the school board.

As in years past, some candidates bring a wealth of experience born of years of local involvement volunteering in our schools, or a desire to maintain and build upon our strong school system.  They are running for the reasons I first ran.

I support: 

Ryan McElveen – At-Large

Ilryong Moon — At-Large

Ted Velkoff — At-Large

Nell Hurley — Braddock District

Jane Strauss — Dranesville District

Pat Hynes — Hunter Mill District

Tammy Kaufax – Lee District (running unopposed)

Dan Storck — Mt. Vernon District

Kathy Smith — Sully District

Other candidates got involved in the local schools out of concern for one or more decisions the School Board made on narrow issues that impacted them or their children.  These include student discipline, school boundaries and closings, high school start times, or the grading scale.

As in years past, some – lacking basic knowledge of how well we educate all children to high standards on a shrinking budget – believe falsely, that the Superintendent has a pile of money hidden under the administration building.  Some persist in spreading the myth that our central office is “bloated,” notwithstanding overwhelming empirical evidence to the contrary.

Ignoring our school system’s well-documented record of success, these candidates view the school system and board as broken, and believe their mission is to “fix” the decisions they disagree with.  I cannot support these candidates:
Sheree Brown-Kaplan — At-Large (Her inability to work cooperatively with other volunteers caused many members of the Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities to resign, inhibiting the committee from completing all its work.)

Louise Epstein — Dranesville District (Wants to take resources that help us enable poorer children to succeed, and provide them to children from wealthier families.)

Elizabeth Schultz — Springfield District (Refuses to support any individual who has ever said anything good about any School Board member who voted to close Clifton Elementary School.  Testified at a school board hearing earlier this year that it is a waste of time for School Board members to discuss how to communicate respectfully with each other in public.)
Finally, I cannot support the following candidates, who have no track record on which to judge their potential as school board members:
Lin-Dai Kendall — At-Large (Has said she wants to teach Biblical creationism as science, and has characterized Fairfax as a “failing” school system.)

Lolita Mancheno-Smoak — At-Large (I have never heard of her until she decided to run for School Board.)

Sheila Ratnam — Sully District (Joined her child’s PTA for the first time this year and has never, to my knowledge, attended a School Board meeting.)
Whomever you choose to support, I urge everyone to vote YES on the school bond referendum.  The bond funds enable us to provide a 21st Century learning environment to all children, and help us attract businesses to Fairfax County.

Finally, please bear in mind that Volkswagen of America, Hilton Worldwide, SAIC, and Northrop Grumman didn’t move their headquarters to Fairfax County because it’s easy to drive to Tyson’s Corner during rush hour.  They moved here because of the high quality of our schools.  Don’t believe any candidate who tries to tell you otherwise.

About this column: Stu Gibson is the Hunter Mill representative to the Fairfax County School Board.

By Editorial, Published: October 22

SCHOOL BOARD elections are generally sedate affairs, rarely getting much attention or generating any heat. Not so this year in Fairfax County, where there are lively contests toreshape the 12-member board in the Nov. 8 voting. The high-profile attention is appropriate: The next school board — which will include at least six new members — will have the critical job of replacing Jack D. Dale, retiring as superintendent in 2013. Mr. Dale made his announcement early in the hope that it would refocus campaign debate on the fundamental issues facing Virginia’s largest school system. Alas, that has not been the case, as some of the campaigns have taken on increasingly strident tones.

Voters should tune out the static of the races. A good place to start is with a fair assessment of the 175,000-student system and the job done by Mr. Dale and the current board. Having inherited one of the nation’s premier school systems, they have made steady and impressive progress. Student achievement has gone up, the dropout rate has gone down and the achievement gap, in which some minority students lag behind their white counterparts, has shrunk. Clearly, there were stumbles. There was too long a delay in addressing parental concerns that school discipline policies were too rigid, and the board could have done better in communicating with the public. But the fact that the board was seen to be in synergy with Mr. Dale on common goals should be seen as a strength, rather than — as some critics portray it — a failing.

To be decided this fall are three at-large seats and six district seats. Incumbents in two districts — Sandy S. Evans (Mason) and Patricia S. Reed (Providence) — are running unopposed while marketing consultant Tamara J. Derenak Kaufax is running unopposed to replace Brad Center in Lee District.

The decision by Martina Hone and James Raney not to seek reelection leaves Ilryong Moon as the only incumbent in the at-large race that includes six other candidates. He deserves to be reelected. On the board since 1995, Mr. Moon is a thoughtful member who does his homework. His experience in picking the two previous superintendents will be useful to the new board, and his background as a young émigré to this country makes him an important voice for English-language learners.

Most impressive of the newcomers are Theodore J. Velkoff and Lolita I. Mancheno-Smoak . Mr. Velkoff, with more than 10 years as a parent volunteer in the schools, has a deep knowledge of the issues and talks with passion about the need to develop new intellectual and social skills in students entering a 21st-century labor force. Ms. Mancheno-Smoak is one of the so-called reform candidates, but, unlike some of her counterparts who seem intent on refighting past controversies, she refreshingly is focused on the challenges confronting students. Foremost is her interest in the needs of at-risk students and shrinking the achievement gap, issues that are informed by her work as an educator and her immigrant background.

Megan O. McLaughlin, a former college admissions officer and mother of three Fairfax students, is the clear choice over Nell J. Hurley for the Braddock seat being vacated by Tessie Wilson. Ms. McLaughlin has distinguished herself as a parent advocate through her work with Fairgrade and the Fairfax Education Coalition. She is knowledgeable and hardworking and works for change in a collaborative way. Her opponent, also active in local school affairs, has a more rigid approach to school issues and we fear would try to micromanage school operations.

The campaign for the Hunter Mill seat being vacated by Stuart D. Gibson features two good candidates, but Pat M. Hynes has the edge over Nancy A. Lipton, counselor and parent activist. Ms. Hynes, a former lawyer who found her true calling in teaching, would bring the important perspective of the classroom to the board. Among her priorities: narrowing the kindergarten readiness gap.

Nowhere is the race for school board more intense than in Dranesville District, where incumbent Jane K. Strauss is being challenged by Louise K. Epstein, parent advocate who helped found Fairgrade. The board would be the worse off if Ms. Strauss, an 18-year veteran with incomparable knowledge of the system and its needs, were not reelected. Not only has she proven, as the board’s current chair, to be a steady hand during difficult budget times, but she’s shown a sensitivity and commitment to the needs of all students. Ms. Epstein, by contrast, has a record of single-minded advocacy for gifted and talented students, even if it comes at others’ expense. Particularly alarming is her enthusiasm for doing away with a staffing formula that provides extra supports for at-risk students.

In Mount Vernon, incumbent Daniel G. Storck gets our endorsement over challenger Michele Nellenbach. On the board since 2004, Mr. Storck has a reputation as a careful listener with a businessman’s appreciation for data. He’s also not afraid to do battle for things he believes in, as evidenced by his fight to restore summer school. He would provide important continuity. Ms. Nellenbach’s campaign seems to be steeped more in slogans like “put your children first” than any real substance.

The Springfield seat is being vacated by Elizabeth Bradsher, and retired businessman John F. Wittman is the better candidate over parent activist Elizabeth L. Schultz. Mr. Wittman has been active in the schools, but it is his experience in budgeting and contracting that would be an important contribution to the board. He is thoughtful on the issues and would bring common sense to problems. Ms. Schultz, despite her protestations about not being a single-issue candidate, seems to care mostly about revisiting the battle to close Clifton Elementary School.

Incumbent Kathy L. Smith deserves reelection in Sully District over challenger Sheila P. Ratnam. Ms. Smith, a former elementary teacher on the board since 2002, is astute on educational issues, with a keen interest in providing a richer and more rigorous curriculum. Ms. Ratnam’s promise of more transparency would be a poor trade for Ms. Smith’s expertise and experience.

SLEEPinFairfax Candidate Questionnaire 2011

Ilryong Moon, School Board Member, At-Large

1. Are you in favor of later star times for high school students?

Yes. I believe that the optimal start time is 8:00 AM or later and, where feasible,
will work towards the goal of later start times. Peer school districts in Arlington
County, Alexandria and Loudoun County—to name a few—have successfully
implemented this change, and although the size of FCPS does present some
logistical complications in this consideration, we should be able to find a way to
do this for our students’ health, well-being and academic success.
2. Are you in favor of later start times for middle school students?

Yes.
3. Later secondary school start times would benefit adolescent physical health and
well being; safety; emotional and mental health; and academic achievement. The
consensus among professionals and a growing body of literature on this topic
leave little doubt in my mind that this is more than just a matter of belief.
4. Would you vote in favor of a new FCPS policy to require that high schools start
after 8:00 AM in the morning?

My decisions on matters before the board are informed through a range of
factors, such as the input of affected stakeholders and the community as well as
an analysis of the costs and benefits of new proposals. As stated above, I support
the goal of pushing back start times and would support a feasible proposal to
implement this objective. Just as neighboring school systems have accomplished
this change, I believe we should be able to find a way to do so that is practical,
supported by public, and educationally sound.
5. Would you put forth a motion to vote on such a policy?

As stated above, I would support a feasible proposal vetted by community and
stakeholders and a thorough analysis of benefits and costs.
6. Which non-transportation alternatives would you support to help students get
healthy amounts of sleep?

I would support:
- Adding information about child and teen sleep needs to the FCPS health
curriculum, including the negative impact of inadequate sleep on
physical, mental and academic health.
- Changing policy to allow an opt-out of first blocks for students who
present a plan to earn enough credits for graduation.
- Offering an alternative schedule to allow students to replace first period
with a late class, an “eighth-period,” if feasible.

Allowing high school students to take on-line courses in place of one or
more first block classes.
- Identifying and evaluating best practices, i.e., successful approaches used
to change bell schedules in other school systems.
7. How would you proceed on the issue of school start times?

With the ultimate goal of changing start times to be not before 8:00 AM, I will
first explore giving students flexible scheduling options for the first period. Such
options may include on-line classes which can be taken at any time of the day
or even an opt-out. Opting out of the first period will require a policy change
by the School Board. We also need to make sure that we have sufficient staffing
at on-line campus to provide students an on-line option for the first period.
Furthermore, even though I do not believe that we need a waiver from the State
Board of Education to provide such options, we will want to seek a confirmation
from the State Board of Education.

With regards to extracurricular activities and other logistically complicated
aspects of pushing back the start time for all schools or all high schools, I
will ensure that any proposal I support will be embraced by community
stakeholders, be cost-effective, and bring much benefits to our students.

8. Have you seen the documentary Race to Nowhere? Tell us your thoughts on the
film’s message as it relates to FCPS.

Yes. All stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, administrators and policy
makers) need to work together to reduce the level of competitiveness and
pressure on students. The amount of homework needs to be carefully monitored
and controlled. We also need to engage college admissions offices to help reduce
such culture as it is directly related to the ever-increasing competitiveness of
college admissions.

Fairfax County School Board Survey
Fall 2011

1. Background questions:

a. What is your motivation to become a board member?

Response: While the reasons that initially drew me to seek this office remain
today, the experience I have gained over my three terms on the school is now
the primary motivation for running for re-election. I am currently in a position to
perform this service in a way few others in the county can, positioning me to make
a materially significant impact for the better on the futures of education in Fairfax.

The next school board will have at least six new members who will have much to
learn. New board members will realize that governing a school system is much
more than a few campaign slogans or sound bites or even an issue-advocacy. It
requires not only the sound knowledge of the school system and its many different
parts, but also the personal qualities that can contribute to working with each
other as a collective body to lead the 12th largest system in the country to keep
its excellence and high standards. In the coming term, I will be able to serve in a
valuable leadership role while new members adjust to responsibilities and learn
about the complex business facing the board.

When I first ran for school board, I was in a different position entirely. At that time,
no foreign-born person had been elected to public office in this county. I had
concerns about the way many ethnic communities here succumbed to the allure
of insularity, and also about the troubling discrepancy between the diversity of this
county and of its governing officials. Public education had a life-changing effect on
me, and I am a believer in what it can do, so I wanted to ensure the future security
of our schools for all our future students. I was in a position to do something
that no one had done before—an exhilarating exercise in citizenship and civic
engagement—and I hope that I have helped to pave the way for others to follow in
my footsteps.

b. What particular skills or experience qualify you to serve?

Response: I am a deliberative and analytical thinker with extensive knowledge of
the school system, but my primary qualification is my twelve years of successful
service. During this time, I have learned a great deal about how to effectively
govern a school system of this size, standard and constitution. Ours is a vast
and diverse county that needs deliberative leaders who listen first. Any given
matter that comes before the board will invariably affect many different kinds
of stakeholders. Finding the effective solution to any problem begins with first
bringing folks to the table and simply listening. Doing so, as well as looking to
data-driven solutions, is an essential element of the good leadership practices I

Fairfax County School Board Survey
Fall 2011

have learned and will continue to employ in the coming years.
c. How long have you lived in Fairfax County?

2. What do you see as the greatest challenge to education facing FCPS?

Response: Budget cutbacks. I am proud of the accomplishments that I have
helped our schools make in spite of declining budgets. Academic achievement has
been increasing every year for everyone, not just high-achievers. The minority
achievement gap has been narrowing. We have expanded full-day kindergarten
countywide. Businesses continue moving into our county in large part because of its
schools. Insisting on efficiency, we left as much for the classroom as possible—and it
has paid off.

But, our schools cannot sustain the cuts and continue to improve forever. Budgets
reflect priorities. Our legislators need to ensure education is a top priority. For our
part, we must continue to slim down our administration so as to free up scarce
resources for our students until the time when funding levels are restored and we can
set about buying back some of the cost saving measures put in place over the past
few years, such as the increase in class size.

3. Parents of children with autism complain about the inconsistency and uneven quality
of the education their children receive in Fairfax County schools.

a. Do you support the need for better oversight of school autism staff by the coaches
in the area of IEP implementation and data collection? Why or why not?

Response: Currently, an ABA coach’s role is to provide support to teachers in
the implementation of educational and behavioral plans and it does not include
oversight responsibilities. I believe that the coaches should remain in their
instructional role as that increases their ability to strengthen the skills of teachers
on a day-to-day basis. The addition of oversight responsibilities would diminish the
amount of time spent in direct classroom support and professional development
of staff. Teacher skills are better developed in a trusting rather than oversight
environment. Teachers should feel comfortable asking questions to and seeking
guidance from the coaches and the oversight responsibilities on the part of the
coaches could be in conflict with the role of support and training.

b. What else can reasonably be done by FCPS to improve the consistency of
education received by ASD children throughout the County?

Response: We should continue increasing training for school-based and central
administrative staff to develop their skills in identifying the desired teacher
behaviors needed in classrooms. Targeted training in areas of inconsistency could

Fairfax County School Board Survey
Fall 2011

be also provided by central staff.

4. FCPS has long focused their attention, energy, and funding to establishing the
PAC and elementary autism programs. The success of the programs at this level
can be seen across the county. The implementation of ABA coaches for PAC and
elementary autism programs in fall 2004, and in fall 2005 for secondary schools,
added a new dimension, providing much needed, high quality assistance to autism
teachers on a weekly basis. POAC-NoVA now asks that that same focus be trained
upon autism programs on the secondary level, which have long held a back seat.

a. Would you support an increase in the number of ABA coaches at the secondary
level, so that they can provide much needed support to both special needs and
general education teachers in team taught classes? If so, how would you propose to
accomplish this? If not, why not?

Response: I was happy to support as a board member the implementation of ABA
coaches for PAC and elementary autism programs in fall 2004 and secondary
schools in fall 2005. We have been closely examining the strengths and areas
of needs in our programs and have adjusted our programs accordingly. The
reorganization of the Department of Special Services has also brought an
opportunity to create K-12 focus, a departure from the previous split of PK-
elementary and secondary programs. Due to recent budget cuts, class size has
increased in all our programs. As a budget priority, I want to restore class size,
which will benefit all students, and when we consider restoring class size, I also want
to explore ways to increase the number of ABA coaches.

b. If not, what alternative solution would you propose?

Response: ABA coaches had previously been utilized primarily at the elementary
level. However, the resources have been redeployed to reflect needs of all students
(K-12) with autism. A crisis resource teacher has been added and more targeted
training and deployment have been made for better use of coaches, including
locating them within schools instead of central office, thus increasing their efficiency.
We need to continue providing training to increase the skill levels, including skills to
provide appropriate and differentiated instruction, of all our teachers in order to build
the capacity of teachers.

5. With the county predicting we have several more lean years ahead in the budgeting
process, how do you see FCPS maintaining its status as a world-leader in education
for all kids?

Response: Over the past few years, FCPS has weathered the economic storm well,

Fairfax County School Board Survey
Fall 2011

and we need to stick with what has worked: putting our core priorities first. No dollar
that could otherwise be directed into the classroom should be spent in administration
if it does not need to be. In particular, we need to look to new technologies and their
abilities to increase the efficacy and efficiency of operations and instructions.

Our school board needs a strong and independent audit function. I have already
put in place measures to support and fully fund an independent audit of the school
system that would report directly to the board. Going forward, I hope to see this
function fully implemented. Resources for education are precious. They must be
managed with the greatest care, so we will be able to put enough into the classroom
to sustain the performance trajectory this county has come to demand and deserve.

6. What is the number one accomplishment you hope to achieve in the upcoming
term if you are re-elected to the school board?

Response: FCPS is heading in the right direction, but the next few years present
unique challenges. I will feel I have done my job when we make it to the other side
without sacrificing the continuous improvement we have come to expect for our
students. Selecting a new superintendent is not an easy job, and it is the most
important single decision the next school board will make. It is critically important to
find a person with the appropriate skill set, disposition and background to be a good
fit for a school system such as our own, and there will be only be a small pool of
people with the right experience to choose from. Having been through this process
twice before, I will be able to guide board members and help them with the lessons
and experience I have gathered. Additionally, we need to work with the Board of
Supervisors and our legislators in Richmond to see to it that our funding levels are
adequate so as to continue to allow our schools to flourish.

Submitted by Ilryong Moon, School Board At-Large

Date: September 30, 2011

Please hang with us while we update some of the content on the webpage. This process should be concluded early this week, but until then you may see links doing funny things or other mistakes. If after then it looks like I’ve missed something, please bring it to my attention at Andy@moon4schools.com.

In the meantime, flip over to the Press & Media section for some new reading material. Superintendent Dale’s announcement of his retirement has unleashed a flurry of articles in the Post and other local media. I’ve posted a few articles, blog posts and an editorial from the Washington Post discussing Dale’s tenure and how his retirement affects what this race is about. 

Superintendents have a very difficult job and it’s very nearly impossible for them to keep everyone happy.  I think it’s important to focus on the great success all students and schools have experienced throughout this past term. Test scores have consistently been on the rise, and people in Fairfax love their excellent schools. The next school board will be faced with the very important task of creating a vision for the next decade that a new superintendent will be able to implement to keep our schools moving in the right direction, and residents of this county will be well served if candidates are asked to discuss that vision and what they would look for in a new superintendent.

Andy

By Valerie Strauss  |  11:58 AM ET, 09/23/2011

FAIRFAX COUNTY Schools Superintendent Jack D. Dale’s announcement that he will not seek another term should refocus debate in the county’s School Board elections. Instead of dwelling on past controversies — Was it right to close Clifton Elementary? Were discipline policies overly strict? How about grading? — the conversation needs to shift to the future and how the school system can best meet the challenges of the coming decade.

Mr. Dale’s decision to retire when his term ends in June 2013 comes amid unusually spirited campaigns for control of the board. Half of the board’s 12 members are not seeking reelection Nov. 8; the three at-large seats and six of the nine district seats are being contested. Board races generally fly under the political radar — overshadowed by state or county government races — but the large number of open seats have made them, as The Post’s Fredrick Kunkle reported, this year’s marquee event in Fairfax politics.

Mr. Dale’s tenure, since 2004, as head of the largest school system in Virginia and the Washington area has been largely a success. The 175,000-student system, long seen as among the nation’s best, witnessed steady growth in student achievement, a decline in the dropout rate and a narrowing of the achievement gap in which African American and Latino students lag behind white and Asian students. Among his signature accomplishments was launching the priority schools initiative, which provides additional support to those schools that need it most as they aim to reach student achievement goals.

Yet a series of high-profile controversies — over school district boundaries, student discipline and budget cuts — have made Mr. Dale a lightning rod in the elections. Indeed, to listen to some of the campaign rhetoric, one would think Mr. Dale’s name was on the ballot and the job of a school board was to run day-to-day school operations.

By taking himself out of the equation, Mr. Dale rightly puts the emphasis on the key questions the candidates should be asked. Among them, he told The Post, are “Do you believe all kids can learn? Do you believe we should address the needs of our most needy students equally as well as the needs of our most gifted students so they both can be successful?” How the candidates answer those questions will frame the new board’s most important task: replacing Mr. Dale.