Mount Vernon School Board Candidate Race

This post expresses the views and opinions of the author(s) and not necessarily that of Mount Vernon on the MoVe management or staff.

As a long-time education advocate, I am closely following the Mount Vernon School Board Candidate Race. I was approached to run for the open seat, but quickly decided not to do so. The work I do for the Mount Vernon Community is not exclusive to only the School Board, and serving in that position would actually hinder the good work I am currently able to do.

The ideal School Board candidate will be someone who can step into the role and continue the work that this community needs. I attended the Gum Springs Candidate Forum on April 25th, and listened closely to all three candidates. I heard a lot of political speak, and quite a bit of incorrect information. The bottom line remains that we need an informed representative who is willing to do the work and support our public school system.

My takeaway from that forum is there is only one candidate who can do this job without a steep learning curve, and that is Mateo Dunne. I have worked with Mateo on school issues in the past, and he is a tenacious, engaged parent. We worked on the West Potomac overcrowding issue together, the Meals Tax Initiative, and have attended multiple education committee meetings. We have both been active members of our respective PTA organizations. He has the necessary experience with the Fairfax County Public School system, in all its large and complex glory, which has served to ready him for this position. While no one can be fully prepared for the job of School Board Representative, I believe he is the best candidate for the job.

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Vicki Burnett-Miller Neighbor

10-17-2023 12:30pm

I respectfully disagree. I attended that same forum and the candidate formerly known as Matthew Stanton Dunne III was the only one who attacked his opponents which I found to be in extremely poor taste considering the nonpartisan platform. The commentator even had to cut him off and remind him to be respectful.

Dunne's platform aside, one of the main reasons I cannot vote for him is because he defended inappropriate behavior that resulted in a JROTC instructor's removal from a local high school.

(More on that soon!)

I personally think that Stori Zimmerman is the best candidate for the job given her teaching experience as she knows what's needed in the classroom for these children to thrive.