Meet The Candidate: Jerrod Anderson For Falls Church School Board

FALLS CHURCH, VA — In addition to voting for statewide offices in Virginia, residents of the City of Falls Church will be voting for candidates to fill seats on the city council and school board.

As part of our 2021 election coverage, Patch has asked each of the candidates in Falls Church to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

This questionnaire was completed by Jerrod Anderson, a health statistician at the Department of Health and Human Services. Anderson is running for Falls Church City School Board.

Four seats are opening up on the school board in November due to a mix of resignations and incumbents passing on reelection.

In Virginia, school board positions are officially nonpartisan, meaning none of the candidates running for Falls Church City School Board will have party affiliations next to their names on the ballot.

In-person early voting began at Falls Church City Hall at 300 Park Avenue on Sept. 17. In-person voting will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also vote in person on two Saturdays: Oct. 23 and 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Nov. 2, election day, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Learn more about Anderson and why he is running for Falls Church City School Board in 2021:

Candidate

Jerrod Anderson

Age (as of Election Day)

36

Position sought (mayor, city council, school board, etc.)

School Board Member

Family

Meredith (36, on the city's housing commission), Orrick (6, bug lover), Huxley (4, ball of energy)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I work for the Department of Health and Human Services (and my campaign reflects my views and not those of my employer).

Education

PhD, Economics from UC Irvine

Occupation

Health Statistician

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://andersonforfccschoolboard.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

After being intimately involved in my son's schooling last year, as he returned to school, I wanted to find a place where I could serve best. In my experience in education, in economic development, and on a large national survey, I had to take into account the many concerns of different stakeholder groups to come to a single decision. I thought the board would be a good place to use that experience, which coupled with an emphasis on ensuring rigorous feedback and decision-making processes, will ensure Falls Church City Public Schools continue to provide a high-quality education to the children in this community.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

There is no need for a revolution in Falls Church City Public Schools, but in order to continue to provide an excellent education and improve upon it, we must set up processes that allow all community members to provide feedback on their experience with the school.

One thing that was mentioned in the equity audit in 2019 was that “FCCPS must do more to ensure that all voices are represented, not just the loudest and most fervent.” This sentiment is one that has been echoed over the past year, and it is something that FCCPS should take to heart.

We should not just listen to only the loudest, but it is not enough to say we should listen to those who are silent. We should give those who are seen as silent the opportunity to have their voices heard and to allow them to represent themselves in their own words.

Feedback should be systematically gathered from all groups: parents, students, staff, and community members. I think annual or semi-annual surveys (developed in conjunction with the relevant groups) should be provided to the various groups that are part of the school community with the goal of understanding the situation "on the ground."

These surveys coupled with less quantitative but more conversational modes of feedback (such as the board's new monthly office hours or reinstituting regular interaction between board members and staff, in addition to email and public comments) would ensure the board knows what the schools are doing really well and where opportunities for growth are.

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

I know the candidates mostly from their websites, though I have had conversations with each of them. Here are some things about me that may or may not be different from the other candidates (given my limited information):

• I've watched every board meeting since June 2020 and read each policy that came up for first and second reading.
• I submitted my name for consideration for both vacancies on the school board in the winter and spring.
• I am heavily focused on feedback and decision-making processes because I think improving those will pay dividends in perpetuity.
• When I discover I am wrong about something, I admit it and investigate to discover the origin of the error.
• If given the choice, I'd rather have a conversation with someone who disagreed with me because those conversations can be some of the most valuable learning experiences and can be opportunities for me to change my mind.
• I cannot think about policy decisions without thinking of opportunity costs.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

One issue I care deeply about is the special education children receive in Falls Church. This year, my wife and I were able to work with the schools to develop an IEP for my son. I am appreciative of the support we received from the schools. I know the process of providing the necessary services to the students who need them is not an automatic process, and I want to ensure the schools continue to have the necessary resources to identify and serve those students who need it.

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

In implementing educational technology (specifically, a web-based math tutorial program) in Memphis, I was able to work with teachers, school and district level administrators, and even parents (some of whom had very strong feelings about our program) to develop and (importantly) modify the requirements for teachers (in addition to managing the expectations of administrators and parents). We were able to provide teachers more flexibility in implementing the program, while also more effectively targeting the students who would benefit most from the program. It is this experience of working with multiple groups to come to a decision and providing effective means of feedback to make changes to those decisions that I would bring to the school board.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Intentions do not equal results." This emphasizes the importance of evaluating a decision based on the outcome rather than by just what was intended.

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

I care about ensuring that all students are included in the school community and that no student experiences school as an environment of exclusion.

RELATED: VA Election 2021: Early Voting Set To Begin In Falls Church