2022 Candidate Profile: Bethany Sutton For Arlington School Board

ARLINGTON, VA — Bethany Sutton, chair of the Arlington Public Schools Advisory Council on Teaching and Learning, is seeking election to the Arlington School Board in the Nov. 8 general election.

Sutton is running against James "Vell" Rives for the school board seat. The candidates are seeking to fill the seat held by Barbara Kanninen, who currently serves as chair of the Arlington School Board but opted against running for a third four-year term on the board.

During her more than 20 years of living in Arlington, Sutton also served as vice president of the Randolph Elementary School PTA Board. She currently serves as the Randolph Elementary School Food Pantry coordinator, a member of the Columbia Pike Partnership Community Advisory Council and a member of the Arlington County Food Security Task Force.

In-person early voting in Arlington County began Friday, Sept. 23 and will continue through Saturday, Nov. 5. Election Day voting will happen from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Patch asked the two candidates for Arlington School Board for their answers to the same questions. Here are Sutton's responses:

Name

Bethany Zecher Sutton

Campaign website

www.bethany4aps.org

Age (as of Election Day)

52

Family

I am married to Ben Sutton, and we’ve lived in Arlington for 21 years. We have two children in APS — an 11th grader at HB Woodlawn Secondary Program and an 8th grader at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Both attended Randolph Elementary School in Douglas Park from kindergarten through 5th grade.

Education

My educational background includes a graduate certificate in Leadership Coaching from the Georgetown University Center for Transformational Leadership, a master’s degree in history from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Mary Washington.

Occupation

Currently, I work as a leadership coach and consultant, specializing in leadership development for women in higher education. My professional background includes nearly 25 years of experience in higher education, with expertise in strategic planning, staff and leadership development, non-profit management, program planning and implementation, and fundraising. I served for 17 years in the President’s Office at the American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), a national higher education non-profit organization with a focus on improving the quality of undergraduate education in the US.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

• Randolph Elementary School PTA Board (vice president, 2018-20; president, 2015-2018; vice president, 2013-2015; co-representative to CCPTA in 2013-14)
• APS Advisory Council on Teaching and Learning (chair, 2021-present; vice chair, 2020-21; representative, 2018-2020)
• Randolph Elementary School Food Pantry Coordinator (2020-present)
• Columbia Pike Partnership Community Advisory Council member (2021-present)
• Arlington County Food Security Task Force member (2021-present)
• APS Distance Learning Task Force member (2020-21)
• South Arlington Working Group member (2015)

The single most pressing issue facing Arlington Public Schools is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I want to ensure that all students achieve excellent — and equitable — learning outcomes in APS. Student learning is at the heart of everything we do, and not all students are achieving academically on par with their peers. We can elevate learning for all students while providing necessary supports for those students who need them, addressing gaps that exist among diverse groups, including students of color, students with disabilities, and English Learners.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

I have significant breadth and depth of experience in community leadership and within our school system. I have provided both high-level leadership of the largest and most complex advisory committee in APS and hands-on work feeding families during the pandemic. My professional background in higher education gives me a unique perspective on student learning. Further, I bring a strong commitment to valuing diversity and advancing equity and inclusion across our system.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

In addition to excellence in student learning, I seek to support the health and wellbeing of all members of our community, including teachers and staff; promote an inclusive and positive climate that helps everyone feel that they belong and are supported in our schools; and pursue thoughtful planning and sound fiscal judgment, including budgeting to support teachers and staff with competitive salaries and partnering with the county to collaborate in support of our enrollment, facilities, and other infrastructure issues.

What are your views of the Youngkin administration’s 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for all Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools?

I am deeply concerned about the impact of the Governor’s proposed new policy targeting our LGBTQ+ youth. As a School Board member, I will be committed to continuing and improving APS’s efforts to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for all students.

Sadly, LGBTQ+ students are much more likely than their peers not to earn a high school diploma — an unacceptable outcome for a school system. The drivers for that outcome include conditions that we work to mitigate for every other student, including homelessness, bullying, harassment, hostile environments, exclusion and lack of support. All students benefit from policies and practices that promote dignity and a strong sense of belonging.

While I believe that parents should be partners with our schools in the education of our children, I do not support state-level policies that elevate “parents’ rights” above the professional role that teachers and staff play in educating children. It is critical that our community come together in support of the mental and emotional health of LGBTQ+ students. Policies such as that proposed by the Virginia Governor are in direct opposition to providing that support. (APS has information available to support empowering members of the community to help themselves or others who may be in distress or crisis.)

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My professional experience includes 17 years’ service to a non-profit higher education association in which I served as Secretary to the Board, working with college and university presidents on organizational policies and governance. I served for 7 years on the board of the PTA at a Title I elementary school in Arlington where I advocated for facilities improvements, supported collaborations with other schools, did fundraising and community outreach, and built advocacy for the needs of low-income families. I’ve participated in short-term efforts focused on particular issues, such as finding a site to build a new elementary school and in longer-term efforts to advance systemic change, such as the county-wide task force on food security. For four years, I have served on the Advisory Council on Teaching and Learning and am beginning my 2nd year serving as chair of that group, which includes 60 members and 14 subcommittees.

Why should voters trust you?

I believe we have excellent schools in Arlington and want us to continue to do so. I am open and honest about my values and commitments. I am running for the School Board because I believe in strong leadership and good governance. I’m not mad about a particular problem or focused on a single issue. I want to work on the full range of responsibilities of the School Board with integrity and thoughtfulness.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

My father told me that having children was the most fun I would ever have in life.

RELATED:

• General Election 2022: Key Dates To Know In Arlington
• 2022 Candidate Profile: James 'Vell' Rives For Arlington School Board