Meet The Candidate: Tate Gould For Falls Church School Board

FALLS CHURCH, VA — In addition to voting for statewide office in Virginia, along with candidates for House of Delegates, 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 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 Tate Gould, who is running for Falls Church City School Board. Gould started his career as a high school math teacher and now serves as CEO of AnLar, an education policy and data firm.

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 Gould and why he is running for reelection to the Falls Church City School Board in 2021:

Age (as of Election Day)

46

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

School Board

Family

Married to Laura and we have two kids in FCCPS

Education

Ph.D. in education policy from University of North Carolina
Master’s in education policy from Harvard Graduate School of Education
Bachelor’s with majors in both education and mathematics from University of North Carolina

Occupation

Founder, CEO for education policy and data firm
US Dept of Education, Deputy Director
National Center of Education Statistics, Senior Program Director
Hunt Institute for Education Policy, Policy Analyst
UNC, Teacher Instructor
Wake County, High School Math Teacher

Campaign website

www.tategould.org

Why are you seeking elective office?

The way we, as a community, respond to these tumultuous times matters. I would like to be part of the team of dedicated civil servants and volunteers who help our community recover and refocus in a way that promotes listening, reflection, and balance within our community. Drawing from over 25 years of experience in education, I hope to serve on the School Board and cultivate a culture that is accountable to the community, our incredible staff, and most importantly, the students we serve.

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

In terms of the issue facing our district, FCCPS must continue focusing on identifying and addressing losses from the COVID-19 pandemic — academic as well as social/emotional. Efforts such as hiring new counselors and restructuring the counseling team have improved the identification of impacted students and the resources available for them. I would like to prioritize continuing to focus on evidence-based recovery strategies such as onsite school-based tutors, specialized remediation curriculum, and increased in-class support. These low-cost/high-impact methods provide support for all students who are struggling to catch up. With respect to the School Board, working through frustrations that emerged during the pandemic and re-establishing trust between the School Board and the community is of paramount importance. I will dedicate myself to listen and put in the work with my fellow six members, so we connect the conversations, listen to the concerns, and be responsive to the community.

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

Like all other candidates, I love the City of Falls Church and want the best for our school community. I would like to highlight three aspects of my candidacy: 1) I have extensive experience in education, from my time as a classroom teacher to work on education policy. I understand the role a school board can and should play in the success of its schools; 2) I will listen and work across divisions to bring people together by allowing healthy debate and disagreement while seeking the best possible outcome for our community; and 3) I understand the importance of providing fiscal oversight, one of the main functions of the School Board who is responsible for nearly half of our City’s budget, from my experience in the federal government overseeing billions of dollars in grants to my current work serving as the CEO of AnLar.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

The COVID-19 pandemic caused an extraordinary disruption to our schools, unlike anything in the past 100 years. Our local school officials faced many tensions, having to sift through findings and wait for local, state, or national interpretations of the latest findings and regulations while managing the varied expectations of the community, faculty, and students. Looking ahead, we need to formally reflect upon what went well and what didn’t and use those insights to shape our future. Drawing from an IB learner profile traits, we need to be open-minded. Should I have the opportunity to serve on the School Board, I would work to strengthen communications efforts between the School Board and community, and ensure that our School Board reflects upon our challenges in a facilitated and productive manner.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I have expertise in two aspects of education that will affect our school district in the near term: collective bargaining and math curriculum reform. I have studied the aspects of positive collective bargaining agreements, what works well for communities, and how various perspectives can be taken into consideration. That expertise can serve both our teachers and our community quite useful as we work toward the possibility of teacher unions. Since the 1990s, I have also worked on math curriculum reforms as a National Board Certified Teacher, math curriculum specialist, math curriculum researcher, and through involvement with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. There will be many other policy issues that arise, and I hope to leverage my previous education experiences, bringing lessons learned from other school districts to our community.

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

I have worked with governors and state superintendents on their education policy on both sides of the aisle. To achieve this level of trust and respect, especially when we may not have always agreed on all policies, demanded that we work to do what was best for children. I will bring that same commitment to Falls Church. My other accomplishment was winning a 4th place ribbon in a very stressful Pinewood Derby competition in 3rd grade.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Too often, people attempt to listen in order to determine their reply, rather than trying to understand what the person is saying.

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

Check out tategould.org for more about my background and perspectives. Please reach out to me at tate@tategould.org. I’d love to hear your thoughts and answer your questions. I am self-funding my campaign to keep things local and maintain independence, so this is entirely a grassroots effort. I appreciate your interest and support!

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