2024 General Election Candidate Profile: Ryan Reyna For Alexandria School Board

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As Alexandrians cast their ballots for president and Congress, the Nov. 5, 2024 general election in the City of Alexandria features local races as well. In the Alexandria School Board election, there are nine candidates running for nine seats, including Ryan Reyna.

There was no primary election for the non-partisan School Board race. The nine-member School Board has three representatives each from Districts A, B and C. There are three candidates in each of the Districts A, B and C, so none are opposed on the ballot. District A, where Reyna is running, includes neighborhoods like Old Town, Del Ray, Potomac Yard and Arlandria.

The City of Alexandria will have the mayor, all six City Council seats and all nine Alexandria School Board seats up for election in November. Federal elections on the ballot include president, Sen. Tim Kaine's U.S. Senate seat, and Rep. Don Beyer's eighth congressional district seat. The next state-level elections will be in 2025.

Early voting for the general election will begin on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 and continue through Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. More information on how to vote is available from the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration & Elections.

Patch asked candidates for mayor, Alexandria City Council and Alexandria School Board to fill out a candidate questionnaire with the same questions. Here are Ryan Reyna's responses:

Name

Ryan Reyna

Office Sought

School Board - District A

Campaign Website

www.ryanreyna.com

Age (As of Nov. 5 election)

41

Education

BA - University of Virginia; MPAff - LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin

Occupation

Education Consultant

Family

My wife and I have called Alexandria home since 2008. We have two girls that attend Mount Vernon Community School.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Both of my parents worked for 20+ years each in state and federal government roles. They are both now retired.

Previous public office positions or appointments

Chair of School Board's Budget Advisory Committee; Member of Alexandria Youth Employment & CTE Working Group (led by ACT for Alexandria)

Why are you seeking this office?

I am running for School Board because I want to ensure that schools are great for everyone in Alexandria. As our division transitions to the career academies model in ACHS, moves forward with collective bargaining and redistricting, and seeks to address overcrowding and safety issues, we are standing at the doorstep of immense opportunity. We need bold solutions to meet this moment. As a listener, collaborator, and problem solver, I’m ready to roll up my sleeves to work collectively to create solutions that will positively shape the future of our schools and our city for generations to come.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?

I believe all of the candidates running for School Board want the best for our youth in Alexandria and the adults that support them.

What do you see as the top issues facing your city, and how do you address them in your campaign platform?

1. Improve student outcomes - We need ensure we have the best educators in the region and use data to guide our educational strategies.
2. Support healthy, welcoming learning environments - We need to prioritize the mental and physical safety of our students and educators, which means more mentorship, extra-curriculars, and addressing overcapacity issues.
3. Strengthen community connections - We need to champion the diversity and build stronger bridges to all parts of the community. We need to make engagement a two-way street and bring about a more positive relationship with the Council.
4. Provide sound fiscal stewardship - We need a sustainable budget that prioritizes competitive teacher pay and money in classrooms, while also ensuring that the system has flexibility to meet the evolving needs and growth of our community.

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

I have nearly two decades of experience working across the country with school boards up to governors on best practices for helping students access and succeed on their paths to college and careers. I want to bring that expertise to shine a light on what more our system can do for our students’ future.