2023 Candidate Profile: Kristin Ball Runs For Mason Seat On School Board

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Kristin Ball, a former professor, is running to serve as the Mason District member on the Fairfax County School Board.

The School Board races are non-partisan, but candidates have party endorsements. Ball, one of the Fairfax Republicans-endorsed candidates for School Board, is running against the Fairfax Democrats-endorsed incumbent Ricardy Anderson.

The Nov. 7, 2023 general election ballot in Fairfax County will also include countywide races for the at-large seats on the School Board, Board of Supervisors chairman and district representatives, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney, Fairfax County Sheriff, and Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District.

Early voting for the general election began on Friday, Sept. 22. More information on how to vote is available from the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

Patch asked candidates running for the Mason District on the Fairfax County School Board to fill out a candidate questionnaire with the same questions. Here are Ball's responses:

Name

Kristin Ball

Office Sought

FCPS School Board, Mason District

Campaign Website

www.electKristinBall.com

Age (as of Nov. 7 election)

52

Education

Ph.D.

Occupation

Former Professor

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Previous public office positions or appointments

None

Why are you seeking this office?

I have spent my life immersed in education. For 27 years I was a college professor and I saw the critical thinking and writing skills of students decline while emotional issues increased, especially in the past 5-10 years. Post-pandemic test scores in grades 3-12 have decreased year after year. Something is wrong in our schools, and I’m running to fix it. I’m also the mother to a 7-year-old son. His education is of utmost importance to me. I want our public schools to return to the days where academic excellence is the focus, not politics, so I know that my son (and all children in Fairfax County) will receive an excellent public education. Our schools are failing our kids. If kids cannot read, then they cannot be successful adults.

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

As a parent and a candidate for School Board, I do not see the position of a School Board member as a political position. The focus should be making sure that the students in Fairfax County strive for and achieve academic excellence. With a $3.5 Billion budget, our students should be receiving the best education in the state and the country. They are not.

The entire current School Board (including my opponent) has spent the past four years rubber-stamping every politically charged issue that has been brought before the school board, and our students are suffering academically as a result. The School Board kept the schools closed when other schools across the country opened under safety guidelines. They do nothing to curb bullying and violence in the schools. And they ignore parental and guardian concerns about model policies.

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

First, SOL scores among students in Mason District have continued to decline since the pandemic. We need to address the causes of the learning loss and implement ways to fix it. Over the past two years, schools have begun using active learning techniques in science classes. As a result, the science scores on SOL tests have improved. We need to do the same for reading and math.

Second, students cannot learn in an environment where they do not feel safe. One of the main concerns I hear from parents is that their children are being bullied and assaulted in school, and the attacker(s) is not punished. Without punishment, there is no deterrent to continued bad behavior. Students need to learn to respect each other regardless of gender, race, and ethnicity.

Third, students with special needs are being overlooked. The county is not spending money on the resources necessary to help them, like hiring dyslexia specialists. The Department of Special Services needs staff dedicated to curriculum development for students with special needs. Without that staff, teachers are overburdened with creating that individualized curriculum. Overburdened and underpaid teachers do not stay in the school system.

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

As a former college professor, I have the background in education that is important to the work of the School Board. Additionally, during my time in higher education, I served as department chair where I managed the budget and assessed faculty and staff. Those are important responsibilities of School Board members.

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

Currently my young son is in a small private school to ensure that he has a solid foundation in reading and math before entering public school. The main reason I am running for School Board is because I want to bring back excellence to Fairfax County Public Schools. My son will enter public school next year and I want him and ALL the children of Fairfax County to receive the best education a $3.5 Billion budget can deliver. We need to do a complete audit of the $3.5 Billion FCPS budget. For example, too much money is being given to administrative positions when schools lack adequate teaching faculty. With a $3.5 Billion budget, there should not be a teacher shortage, parents should not be paying out of pocket for tutoring, and teachers should not be paying out of pocket for classroom supplies.