Candidate Profile: Amie Murphy Runs For Falls Church School Board

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Amie Murphy, an attorney and mother of FCCPS students, is running for Falls Church School Board in the Nov. 7, 2023 general election.

There are three School Board seats up for grabs in 2023. Jerrod Anderson and Bethany Henderson are also running for School Board.

City of Falls Church voters will have three City Council seats on the ballot as well as three Falls Church School Board seats, Virginia Senate 37th District, Virginia House 13th District, Arlington County Commonwealth's Attorney and Arlington County Clerk of Court.

Early voting for the general election began Friday, Sept. 22. More information on how to vote is available from the City of Falls Church Voter Registration and Office of Elections.

Patch asked candidates for Falls Church School Board to fill out a candidate questionnaire with the same questions. Here are Murphy's responses:

Name

Amie S. Murphy

Office Sought

School Board

Campaign Website

www.amiemurphy.org

Age (as of Nov. 7 election)

46

Education

J.D., Fordham University School of Law; B.A., Allegheny College

Occupation

Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

Family

My husband Brian and I have two daughters, one in eighth grade at MEH and the other in tenth at Meridian.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I've been an attorney for the federal government for sixteen years, and Brian recently retired from federal service.

Previous public office positions or appointments

None

Why are you seeking this office?

My family moved to Falls Church from Pittsburgh, PA in 2016. Like many residents, we were drawn to the vibrant, welcoming community with a small-town feel, and of course, the exceptional schools. My husband Brian and I have two daughters attending FCCPS, one an eighth grader at MEH and the other a sophomore at Meridian. I attribute their success in school to their hard work combined with the efforts of our excellent teachers and staff who tailor their instruction, meet them where they are, and challenge them to push beyond their limits.

My number one priority is to make sure that all students in Falls Church have this opportunity and can reach their full potential, whether their next step is college or a career, through the resources offered by our schools. This, combined with my desire to deepen my connection to the community, made me want to run for this office.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?

I have really enjoyed getting to know the other candidates and am excited about the possibility of working with them. The three of us have taken different career paths and our kids are different ages. We represent a variety of backgrounds and, combined, interact on a regular basis with four out of five of the schools. I think that this would definitely be a strength to the Board because diversity of perspective fosters better, more creative problem-solving.

What do you see as the top issues facing (your city/district), and how do you address them in your campaign platform?

Standardized test scores indicate that learning loss due to the pandemic persists, so continuing to address that is critical. Studies have shown that a successful approach to addressing learning loss focuses on the whole child, which includes an emphasis on addressing mental wellness. We’ve seen an uptick in behavioral problems in our schools, and we need to get to the bottom of that. To ensure that students can thrive in school, at a minimum, we should renew our focus on helping them manage conflict, handle stress, navigate the pressures of social media, and treat others with respect and kindness.

Falls Church has also been impacted by the nationwide teacher shortage, so we need to ensure that we are offering competitive compensation and benefits to attract and retain top-notch educators.

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

I have sixteen years of public service committed to enforcing federal civil rights statutes. In connection with that, I’ve negotiated the resolution of numerous high-stakes cases, resulting in both monetary damages and comprehensive measures to prevent future violations such as training, adoption of detailed policies, and compliance monitoring. I’ve engaged government and community stakeholders, including unions, to achieve buy-in for reform measures, and worked with victims to help them tell their stories.

On a more personal level, I am part of a two-person team raising two teen daughters, two dogs, two gerbils, and one gecko. We tend to have bad luck with aquatic animals, so there are a few fish and African dwarf frogs fertilizing our lawn. Lastly, I am the proud daughter of a public school teacher who inspired me to pursue my passion and my interest in continuously improving education.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

As a non-tech person, I’m pretty proud of my website www.amiemurphy.org, which goes into more detail about my background and my position on various issues. It also has directions on how to contact me, and I would love for you to do that.