Kirkland Expected to be Reappointed to School Board Today

Quick Facts About Rachel Kirkland

Age: 41

Work: Librarian, Weems Elementary School in Manassas.

Education: Bachelors of Arts in English, George Mason University,  Master’s of Information Science, University of Tennessee at Knoxville.  

Marital Status: Married to Jim Kirkland

Children: Two. Jimmy,9, and Jacob ,7,. Both are schooled in Manassas Park.

Originally from: Los Angles, but moved to Virginia in 1999. She moved to Manassas Park in 2002.

 The Manassas Park City Council is expected to reappoint Rachel Kirkland to the Manassas Park City Schools School Board today.

 Kirkland’s three-year term expired this year and she reapplied with for the position this spring. She was the only applicant. If approved, this will be her second term.

 The 41-year-old mother of two said she decided to seek a position on the school board after being a member of the school division’s Special Education Advisory Board for four years.

 The board is not only an advisory committee, but a support system and social outlet for parents like her who have children who are special education students, Kirkland said.

 Her eldest son Jimmy, now 9, has been in the school system since he was almost 3 when he was enrolled in the division’s early education program for children with disabilities.

 “He wasn’t formally diagnosed with anything other than a developmental delay, which is kind of a very broad label,” she said.  “Ultimately, what happen is he received the diagnoses of Autism when he was 4.”

 “While I’d done a lot of good work during my time on that committee, I felt like it was a good time to broaden my experience and be able to help, not just my own child, … but all the children in the school system.”

Though she was honored to be appointed to the school board, but her first term was not without challenges, she said.

 “By the time I got there, I was completely overwhelmed … I had so much to learn that first year, I think I barely spoke. And when I did, it was almost exclusively about special education,” Kirkland said. “I kind of wore that label, as time went on, I got to learn more about the school system.”

 Early on she was unsure of herself, but she received guidance from school board member Brenda Foster, chairman Michael Wine and then-board member Dana Williams, who is now the clerk to the body, Kirkland said.

 “They really kind of showed me the ropes,” Kirkland said. “I think I work with four amazing people on school board. I feel really privileged to contribute to such a successful system, with such a great staff in a city I care a lot about.”

 Three years of budget cycles on the school board have been extremely challenging and stressful because of the level of responsibility, she added.

 “I think the budgets will improve, but I don’t think it’s not going to be a challenge. I think we have to continue to work with the kids who are educated in this community. We really want the best educational experience for every child in Manassas Park,” she said. “I am really looking forward to seeing our new superintendent as he blossoms as a leader.”

 Kirkland said she encouraged the superintendent, Dr. Bruce McDade to talk to parks and recreation director Catherine Morretta about creating a high school swim team that would use the community center’s pool as its home arena.

The swim team is now up and running and is slated to begin competing in the fall.

 Kirkland is also a member of the Manassas Park Department of Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

 Everybody on the school board has children and being a parent certainly impacts what they do, she said.

When making decisions for the school division, she thinks not only about her children, but also about their classmates and friends.

“It’s bigger than just my own two children,” she said.