Candidate Profile: Erika Ogedegbe For Loudoun School Board

LEESBURG, VA — Erika Ogedegbe currently represents the Leesburg district on the Loudoun County School Board. This November, she is running for reelection.

Ogedegbe is being challenged by Lauren Shernoff.

Patch sent the following questionnaire to Shernoff and Ogedegbe to better inform readers of the candidates before the general election on Nov. 7.

Candidate Name

Erika R. Ogedegbe

Age (as of Election Day)?

53

Town of Residence?

Leesburg

Position sought:

Loudoun County School Board - Leesburg District

Party affiliation

Democrat

Family? Names, ages and any other pertinent details you wish to share

My husband Nathaniel and I have lived in Leesburg for 20 years. Our three children have all attended LCPS Schools. Our oldest two are out of college and currently attending Medical and Law school. Our youngest son is in middle school. We chose Loudoun and Leesburg specifically for the schools and diverse community.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education Level

Bachelor's Degree.

Occupation, including employer and years of experience

Chief Data Architect, American University. I have 30 years of experience in higher education.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Loudoun County School Board - Leesburg District

Campaign website

https://erikaforloudoun.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am an LCPS mom of three with thirty years of experience in higher education. I’ve been honored to work with passionate people who care about equity and social justice; yet some people are actively working to take books off shelves, remove protections for marginalized and vulnerable students and limit what is taught and discussed in our classrooms. I believe in the power of great public schools, not just for individual students but for the strength of our entire community. As an experienced and collaborative leader, I will continue to work with others in the community to support creating safe and welcoming schools for our children.

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

Communication and trust. As the current school board member in Leesburg, I strive to be available and a resource to my constituents. I personally respond to all inquiries and take the time to follow up by phone or in person to discuss individual needs and concerns. I've also continued to hold in person meet and greets to have opportunities for two-way communication and discussion not possible in more formal settings. Finally, I'm working to ensure I do my part to share important information through multiple communication channels. As we meet face to face as individuals it is easier to see the common goals we share - excellent educational opportunities for our children.

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

I have 30 years of professional experience and have developed deeply collaborative leadership skills through my work implementing projects, facilitating process changes and delivering data and analytics solutions. Throughout my career, I have been able to effectively work with people with varied and sometimes opposing views and perspectives, found consensus centered in shared goals and gotten work done to further the mission of an educational institution.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As our children come of age in the 21st century, we need to prepare them for a rapidly changing world. As a public school district, we have the responsibility and imperative to educate all of our students by providing them with a solid academic foundation, allocating resources to support the academic and extracurricular programs, and ensuring that the safety needs of our students and staff are met. I am committed to ensuring that we have policies and practices in place that support all of our students so that they feel welcome, seen and safe.

Invest in teaching and learning to support the academic needs and educational journeys of each individual students.

Support the recruitment, retention and growth of LCPS staff.

Improve and enhance communication with parents and families.

Champion understanding, empathy, and appreciation for what it means to be citizens of the world.

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

The most exciting project I had the honor to lead was while I was at IBM working as a consultant and Technology Program Manager. Our team developed a virtual platform for the Army Education office to manage their tuition assistance program. This was hard work but incredibly rewarding, as we knew we were literally opening doors for soldiers to access their benefits and further their educational goals. We worked to understand the needs, business rules and priorities and we transformed how they got the job done. At times it wasn't clear how we would accomplish our goals but through collaboration, hard work and perseverance we did great work. I enjoy challenging and complex work and especially appreciate working with other people whose skills and experiences are different from my own.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

True and deep collaboration is key to success.

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

I stepped forward to serve in the midst of intense debate, nationally and locally, about what we teach in schools and ultimately how we exist in community with one another with respect and empathy. I am a proven leader who can work effectively with others in support of our school and community.