Candidate Profile: Megan Lockwood For Loudoun School Board

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Megan Lockwood is running to represent the Catoctin District on the Loudoun County School Board.

Lockwood is running against Karen "Kari" LaBell for the seat being vacated by John Beatty.

Patch sent the following questionnaire to Lockwood and LaBell to help voters make informed choices on Election Day.

Name

Megan E. Lockwood

Age

43

Town of Residence:

Purcellville

Position sought:

Loudoun County School Board - Catoctin District

Party affiliation

Democrat

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

My husband and I have 4 children and a daughter-in-law. Our oldest is an LCPS graduate, followed by a 10th grader, 7th grader and 1st grader.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education Level

30+ college credits, degree still in progress

Occupation, including employer and years of experience

Site based substitute with LCPS. I'm in my 2nd year with LCPS, but I have a decade of related school and teaching experience, as well as my prior career as a book keeper and office administrator.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

lockwood4loudoun.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I’ve been an LCPS parent for 15 years, and with a 1st grader, we still have a long way to go with this school district. As both an educator and parent, every decision the school board makes greatly affects my family, as well as yours. I am dedicated to making sure that our children receive the best education to prepare them for a successful future as responsible citizens of Virginia, the nation, and the world.

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

Communication and transparency. As a school board member I plan to facilitate improved, honest communication between school and home. Parents, students and staff all need to feel safe and heard in order to be successful in the home/school partnership. I will work to bring our community together through open communication and rebuild trust that has been lost in our school system and policy processes.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to recent issues (i.e. the pandemic)? What if anything would you have done differently?

The pandemic was not a local event, but a global trauma. It is impossible to look backward and make judgements with the benefit of hindsight that wasn't available at the time. I believe our local officials did the best they could to protect the public health with the information they had at the time.

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

I am in the storm with my fellow parents. I want the best for my children, my students, and my coworkers, and I believe we can achieve it and still teach our children to be responsible, compassionate and well-educated citizens. Other candidates have chosen to focus on the past, negativity and divisive culture wars that are bringing our community to an ugly level of discourse. I believe the path to success for our students lies in innovation, being willing to listen and compromise, and working together.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I believe the current Catoctin member has not been actively involved enough in our community. I also do not agree with how the board at the time handled the assault cases or their overdependence on closed session meetings.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As a school board member I plan to ensure we are recruiting and retaining the best possible staff with competitive compensation and benefits, examine the budget to make sure we are using our financial resources equitably and wisely, support our educators in addressing Covid learning loss, and make sure that every student is safe and fully included in their school community while receiving a world-class education.

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

Aside from my experience as a parent and teacher, my experience in the professional business world as both a bookkeeper and executive assistant required a high degree of trust, confidentiality, and responsibility. I was routinely given additional responsibility and promotion opportunities based on the performance of my duties and management of subordinates. I have been a life-long learner who always looks for opportunities to use my lived experience for the betterment of my community.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

It does not cost anything to be kind.

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

I am a moderate Democrat who was raised Republican. I believe I have a fair, balanced viewpoint and I am willing to be flexible and listen. I believe the fractures in our community are endangering the mental health and academic progress of our children, and that the best outcomes happen when we work together.