FCCPS Board Receives Eight Letters of Interest for Vacant Spot

The Falls Church City School Board received eight “letters of interest” from city residents before Wednesday’s noon deadline.

The school board will meet in a special session Thursday at 7:30 a.m. to choose a new member from the eight candidates.

Here are the eight people vying for a spot on the FCCPS School Board:

Linda Becker

Justin Castillo

Shannon Ashpole Litton

Rena Marsh

Barbara Nooter

Karen Oliver

Cecily Shea

Keith Thackrey

A spot on the school board opened when former Board Chair resigned from his position in December. Riccards left the board to focus full-time on his position as CEO of ConnCAN, a statewide education advocacy group in Connecticut.

At their meeting last week, the board agreed to accept letters of interest from local residents to fill the position. Citizens interested had to be a qualified voter and bona fide resident of the City of Falls Church and couldn’t be a Falls Church City Public Schools employee.

The board also expected candidates to:

• have experience with and knowledge of the Falls Church City Public Schools;
• be a strong advocate for our schools and the importance of a world class education for every child;
• be collaborative, seeking out and listening to the perspectives of all members of the school community;
• understand and have experience with the FCCPS budgeting process; and
• have knowledge of educational best practices and research.

The meeting will be held in the Central Office Conference Room, 800 West Broad Street, Suite 203, in the morning.