Meet The Candidate: PreAnn Johnson For Alexandria School Board

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As voters begin casting early ballots for Alexandria's Nov. 2 general election, one of the races they will decide is the Alexandria School Board.

The school board is made up of three districts, each of which has three board members who serve a three-year term. Members who are elected in the Nov. 2 election will take office in 2022.Voters will either vote for Alexandria School Board District A, B or C depending on which district they live in. There are five candidates running for three seats in District A, seven candidates running for three seats in District B, and three candidates running for three seats in District C.

One of the District B candidates is PreeAnn Johnson, who had a 36-year career with Alexandria City Public Schools before retiring from her position as Polk Elementary principal.

Learn more about PreAnn Johnson and why she is running for Alexandria School Board District B in 2021:

Editor's note: below are the unedited views of the candidate.

Age (as of Election Day)

59

Position sought (mayor, city council, school board, etc.)

Alexandria City Public School Board

Party Affiliation

Non-partisan seat

Family

I am the 4th of six children of Dupree and Gloria Johnson. My dad was in the Air Force and my mother an educator. They continue to be proud of my accomplishments and are my greatest supporters. We have a very close family with many educators. I have three relative right here in ACPS, a First Grade Teacher, Art Teacher, and Guidance Counselor. Another is an Autism Teacher in Fairfax County. Needless to say, topics around all aspect of the education system come up often at family affairs. My greatest accomplishment by far is my daughter who attended ACPS schools from Kindergarten to graduation. She was the ACPS student representative to the School Board in 2020-2021. I am honored to follow in her footsteps.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

As mentioned before, I have relatives who work in ACPS and Fairfax County School Systems. I also have a sister who works for NIH in a somewhat political capacity. However, I am certainly the first to pursue a position as an elected official.

Education

I graduated from Friendly High School in Fort Washington, Maryland which is where my dad settled down after his last station at Andrews Air Force Base. I completed my undergraduate studies at St. Mary's College of Maryland before getting my Masters in Special Education: Emotional Disturbances, at American University. I also completed course work at Maryland University in pursuit of a PHD in Educational Leadership.

Occupation

36 Years of Service all in the Alexandria City Public Schools (Special Education Teacher, Student Services Coordinator, Assistant Principal at Elementary and High School level, and Elementary School Principal.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://www.preepreeontheboard.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

As a 36 year veteran of ACPS, I have a keen understanding of the schools and community. The challenges and the victories that we experienced this past year only strengthened my commitment to its success. I admire the thoughtfulness and community engagement that occurred during the pandemic. Everything was certainly not perfect, but we learned how to work together through difficult times. The ACPS community means the world to me and I definitely want to continue to use my skill and knowledge to ensure continued improvement.

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

Right now, the most important issue is the physical and mental health of students, teachers, and families. Having the kids in school is definitely the right choice; however with the variants and the lack of a vaccine for younger children, we still have to be vigilant about the health and safety of the school community. Other important issues include revisiting the partnership with the Alexandria Police Department, looking ahead at the pending construction in areas like George Mason, Minnie Howard and the Potomac Yard, and being purposeful with our decisions as it relates to the upcoming budget.

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

I have a keen understanding of the operations of school systems having been at every level in many capacities within the school system. Over the years I have built relationships and a level of respect and trust that will be an asset to the board.

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

As a challenger, I am not running based on a notion that the current board has in someway failed the community. I am proud of the work that the board has done during these trying times and would like to thank and commend them for their efforts. Having had first hand knowledge of those issues and concerns that made some community members feel let down, I am even more convinced that the experience and historical knowledge that I have as a former ACPS administrator will help to move the conversations in productive ways.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

The pandemic took us all by surprise and no one had truly planned ahead. Local officials including school leaders and the board had to gather information and make decisions while they themselves were personally dealing with the impact of COVID. As an administrator in the school system, we worked tirelessly from March 2020 to the present. There was praise and criticism on every issue and absolutely no way to meet the needs of everyone. So to the question of how local officials did, they did the best they knew how to do under the circumstances. I honestly can not say that I would have made different or better, nor is it productive to do so. As to the second part of the question, hindsight is 20/20 and we are all assessing what could have been done differently. In fact, it is vital that we go through this process of determining missteps and considering ways that we could have been more efficient. However, this process must be done blamelessly with the common goal of preparing the city and community to approach problems in ways that keep everyone safe and informed.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I started my lifelong career here in ACPS where I retired. I am still a member of the community and have so much to offer the community. Being a board member allows me to serve this community which I have grown to love. The staff, students and families of ACPS mean a lot to me. Being a board member is a way that I can give back and work together to build a brighter tomorrow for our students. I started here, I ended here, and I am staying here.

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

Having a been an active part of the leadership team during this past year is certainly evidence enough that I can handle the job. I know and understand the commitment and responsibility that comes with the position, and I am ready and willing to serve the community well. The fact that I have been able to gain and maintain the support of my school community as a building level administrator is also evidence that I can handle the job. I don't take the job lightly, and I am careful to continue to earn the respect and trust the community has by handling the job well.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

To be myself!

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

I believe that my experience, knowledge and expertise not only in education, but in ACPS specifically, makes me an excellent candidate for School Board. My genuine concern and dedication to this community and its children has been evidenced for 36 years. I only hope that I will be given the opportunity to use my gifts for many years to come as a School Board member.