Melanie Meren Running In Hunter Mill District School Board Race

RESTON, VA — Melanie Meren is a 45-year-old, married mother of two, who works as an education policy professional. She's also running for reelection in the Hunter Mill District School Board race.

Endorsed by the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, Meren is running against Harry Jackson, who has been endorsed by the Fairfax County Republican Committee.

Related: Harry Jackson Running In Hunter Mill District School Board Race

The first absentee ballots for the General Election will be mailed on Friday, Sept. 22, which is also when early voting begins. Early voting will continue through Nov. 4, which is three days before Election Day. More information about about how to register to vote, vote early, request an absentee ballot and find your polling place in Fairfax County is available online.

Patch invited each of the candidates running in the 11th District race to fill out a questionnaire about their campaigns. Patch does not edit the responses of candidates to its election questionnaire. The following are Meren's responses.

Name

Melanie Meren

Position sought

Fairfax County School Board, Hunter Mill District Representative

Age (at the time of election)

45

Campaign Website

www.MelanieMeren.com

Family: Names, ages and any pertinent detail you wish to share.

Husband, and two children who are both FCPS students.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No, only me.

Education

Masters Degree in Public Policy, Duke University; Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, State University of New York at Albany

Occupation - Please include years of experience

Education Policy Professional, serving as the elected School Board Member representing the Hunter Mill district of Fairfax County Public Schools, since January 2020. After earning my Masters in Public Policy from Duke University in 2002, I began my dream job at the U.S. Department of Education, when the No Child Left Behind education law began. I worked in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, specializing in early childhood literacy and programs for students served by Title I - those facing the most disadvantages. My over 20-year-career since has focused on sustaining the promise of successful public education in America.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Fairfax County School Board, Hunter Mill District Representative

Why are you seeking elective office?

Students, families, staff, and residents deserve to be represented by an experienced public servant, who works to provide access to opportunities for all students to fulfill their destinies for success; strengthens policy about the use of public resources; and fosters trust, civility, and respect during a turbulent time in American democracy.

The Board sets policy based on community values, and holds the Superintendent accountable for implementation. As a professional in public policy-making and communications, I have the skills to perform this job with integrity and results.

Nine weeks after I began serving in 2020, the global pandemic changed everything about the job I was sworn to do. Decisions about public health - truly, matters of life and death - were put “squarely into the laps of school boards” in Virginia, per directions from the Governor. It was difficult to address the platform I had campaigned upon in 2019. Yet, the relationships I built from working together to survive COVID are an asset I carry forward to the benefit of constituents. Continuing the work remains my passion.

The single most pressing issue facing the Hunter Mill District is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing voters is fortifying access for all children to a quality public education in America.

Public education is in a crisis of losing teachers and operational staff. This problem stems from public opinion and treatment of educators; inadequate teacher preparation programs in colleges to meet the needs of today’s learners; and working conditions in public schools that include limited compensation due to arcane revenue formulas, the pressure to meet state standards, and magnified public claims of a lack of trust despite the majority of families being pleased with their experience.

The divisive, damaging, and extremist language regarding our public schools harms hiring and retention. This language has no place in public discourse and does nothing to support students. We must work together as a community to fully fund schools and attract and retain great teachers.

Strategies I’m already seeking and will continue working on for Fairfax include: 1) competitive compensation; 2) decreasing class size; 3) revamping the standardized testing framework and schedule; and 4) improving safety in schools and communities.

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

I believe that strong schools make a strong community. I’ve held a lifelong track record of promoting public education. I engage and empower parents, families, students, and the community to work together to build up our public schools. Please see my You Tube channel and official FCPS newsletters for evidence of my efforts to advocate for and with Fairfax residents.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

If elected, the following are issues I seek to further address:

1. Class Sizes. Large class sizes inhibit authentic relationships among students and staff. Students need to feel seen, heard, and affirmed to open their hearts and minds to learning. Teachers must not be overwhelmed.
2. Security & Safety. The lack of gun control puts children and adults in constant stress and fear. FCPS is forced to use precious public dollars meant for instruction for safety instead. Other agencies must step up so schools can fulfill their mission.
3. Testing. Revamp the standardized testing approach that limits teachers’ and students’ time and focus.
4. Career preparedness. Increase access to meaningful academic instruction for all, especially those with identified special needs. Furthermore, establish a uniform grading policy, expand career development programs, and prepare our neurodivergent students for work.
5. Revenue generation. Access other revenue streams to ease pressure on Fairfax homeowners who bear the brunt of paying for our schools - unlike elsewhere in Virginia.

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

In addition to navigating the school division through the global COVID pandemic without any reported deaths due to COVID contracted in our schools, in my first term on the School Board I helped bring these results to FCPS:

• Equitable Access to Literacy instructional plan;
• Outdoor learning in all schools via $6 million in state funds;
• Studies about instruction of advanced academics, twice-exceptional (“2e”) learners, and special education;
• The 2021 National Superintendent of the Year, in 2022;
• Workforce retention via compensation increases;
• Policies to support librarians; promote equity and safety; and mitigate climate change

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

We continue to hear increasingly divisive, damaging, and extremist language in local elections and in the work of our public schools. This language and these efforts are cynical attempts to divide our community, pit teachers against parents, and sow division. We need to work together as a community to fully fund our schools, attract and retain great teachers and staff, engage parents, and focus on academic achievement for children’s lifelong success.

Our students, families, employees, and residents need professional people on the School Board who can do the work of keeping the Superintendent accountable for over $3 Billion in taxpayer funds. I have done this work already with integrity and am ready to continue. I have the experience to hold the line against extremist, polarizing individuals, and ideologies. I remain committed to building our community.