New Leadership Chosen For Fairfax County School Board; New Chair Not Seeking Reelection

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County School Board Members Karen Tholen (Dranesville) and Karl Frisch (Providence) were elected to serve as the board's new chair and vice-chair, respectively, on Thursday.

The school board voted in its new leadership during its annual organizational meeting. Tholen and Krisch will serve one-year terms in their new roles.

“It is an exciting time for our school district and community. With a new strategic plan now in place and a hard-working superintendent at the helm, we look forward with optimism to a time to think big as we work to provide excellence, equity, and opportunity for every student,” Tholen said, in a statement. “We must work together to ensure our students have the best, cutting-edge educational experience possible. I am honored to serve as Board chair as we advance this important work in partnership with our families and the Board of Supervisors.”

A career educator, Tholen has represented the Dranesville District since Jan. 1, 2020. Prior to that she worked at all school levels and administrative offices in Fairfax County Public Schools. She managed the FCPS Get2Green program for eight years. In that role, she promoted environmental stewardship among FCPS students and staff members.

As a school board member, Tholen has been both chair and vice-chair of the board's budget committee and served as liaison to the Facilities Planning Advisory Council and the Successful Children and Youth Policy Team, as well as the Fairfax County Park Authority. She was also a member of the board's public engagement committee and was a representative on the Joint Environmental Task Force.

In 2021 Judge Richard Gardiner dismissed a petition filed in Fairfax County Circuit Court to recall Tholen. The petition was submitted by Open FCPS Coalition, a group of parents and residents concerned about virtual learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tholen announced in December 2022 that she would not seek re-election to the school board this November. As such, she will serve as the board chair through the remainder of her current term. The vice chair will assume chairman duties and serve out the rest of Tholen's term until a new chair is elected during the board's 2024 organizational meeting.

"I am grateful to my colleagues for the opportunity to serve as vice chair of the Board, working together with parents and staff as we advance the student-centered focus of our new strategic plan,” said Frisch. “I remain, as always, committed to doing everything I can to help our world-class educators deliver on the promise of excellence, equity, and opportunity — to help every student achieve their full, unique, and limitless potential.”

Representing the Providence District since Jan. 1, 2020, Frisch is the school board's first openly LGBTQ+ member.

Frisch has served as the board's federal legislative liaison and chaired the public engagement and governance committees. He has also been a member of the audit and public engagement committees and was a representative to the Joint Environmental Task Force.

Endorsed by the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, Frisch is currently seeking reelection in the Providence District. He faces Anthony Arthur Sabio, who has been endorsed by the Fairfax County Republican Committee, in the Nov. 7 election.

The rest of the 12-member board include Karen Keys-Gamarra (at-large), Abrar Omeish (at-large), Rachna Sizemore Heizer (at-large) Megan McLaughlin (Braddock District), Tammy Derenak Kaufax (Franconia District), Melanie Meren (Hunter Mill District), Ricardy Anderson (Mason District), Karen Corbett Sanders (Mount Vernon District), Laura Jane Cohen (Springfield District), and Stella Pekarsky (Sully District).