Twitter: @brody4schools
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1. I'm in awe of the innocence and brainpower of children and want to reform the schools so they protect and educate those entrusted to their care.
2. Our schools are wasting tax dollars and harming our children. We must have a board that represents parents' rights and yields a good return on the taxpayers' investment.

1. The experimentation on our kids has to end, and fundamentals for a 21st century economy must be taught. I will help find/develop a superintendent, chief academic officer, and professionalized teaching force who can do that.
2. The schools waste tax dollars on ideological programs instead of investing in education. I will rationalize spending through a line-item audit and work with fellow board members to improve our underperforming schools while maintaining solid performance where we already have it so we don't have such a dichotomy between individual schools. There is no reason public school can't be as good as private education.

School choice takes many forms--from vouchers to charter schools to home school. I do support school choice, but it has to be done right. There are several examples of successful systems that can be used as models. One example is hybrid home school / public school learning, where home schoolers can attend for classes and sports as parents see fit without having to enroll full-time. Another is parent educational spending accounts, where tax dollars allocated to education are placed in an account (such as EBT and Medicaid) and parents can purchase the educational setting of their choice using those dollars. New York successfully implemented an in-school charter program that allowed kids to get quasi-private education in the same building housing the public school. So there are numerous types of solutions. Having children bussed for an hour to get to a school that has quality education shouldn't have to happen. It's incumbent upon the School Board to create a Fairfax County School system where parents don't have to flee their local school to have a safe and quality academic environment. That's a priority, but for those who prefer an alternative, as I state in my principles of education, "Education is a public good, but not only public education is a good."

That's simple: the parents are the first and primary educators of their children and hold authority over their children's education and well-being. The schools obviously must have institutional rules for orderly operation, but those cannot impinge on the family's right to medical and religious rights.

Inherently? No. Structurally, maybe. Politically, most certainly.

Inherently: The U.S. ended slavery, broadened the right to vote, made Jim Crow illegal, and attempted through Affirmative Action to promote minorities. Today, we have new movements largely falling under the heading of DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion) that try to bolster the leadership roles of minorities. There was even a representation clause in the U.S. Constitution to punish the South for slavery from the outset. It prevented states from counting slaves as a full individual so slave states had fewer members in the House of Representatives. So, no, the idea of "inherent" national racism is a false claim.

Structurally: Some ideologues have a racist mindset, and unfortunately they have the levers of power. They have instituted programs and teaching philosophies that create division in society and are cultivating students who cannot compete in a modern economy. This creates the very disparities that fuel the narrative of racism. My policies would eliminate those structural barriers in our schools so all our neighborhoods have access to high-quality teachers and curriculum.

Politically: There is a group of politicians, some unfortunately occupying our School Board, who believe in using race as a means of division and power. They foment discord and attempt to reduce one group of people in order to give the illusion of raising up another. This mentality must be removed from our schools, and no tax dollars should be spent on speakers, curriculum, programs, or initiatives that cater to it.

We are falling behind in the basics of education and student health as we spend crucial school-day resources on social engineering. Moreover, the most depraved people on the planet are influencing the falsely named "family life" education curriculum. Day one, I will move to make sex education an opt-in elective. Electing a majority sane board will guarantee that gets done. The next thing is to revamp the entire curriculum and school day to focus on fundamentals, which includes ample sunshine and outdoor play for elementary schoolers. As for DE&I, a quality curriculum includes everyone's perspectives based on fact. And SEL is not something that works, as has been shown since its inception. Much of the mental health decline we see in our schools has to do with the misery children feel at school. They are showing it in every way! What more could they do to impress upon us they hate being there. They are drugging, skipping, fighting, disrespecting and killing themselves. SEL is a failure. Basic order in the classroom, coordination with parents, professionalized teachers, and meaningful learning will yield much better results than SEL.

The first years in school are crucial--both for entering kindergartners and for immigrant students joining in upper grades. The solutions at these different levels vary based on age and prior learning habits, so one broad answer isn't suitable. But there are some basics. At all levels, functionality in reading, writing and speaking proper English is essential. Phonics is a proven success, with supplemental whole-word learning for speedier reading once phonics is mastered. Basic math with times tables to 12, money counting, checking account reconciling, budgeting, algebra and geometry as progressive learning in math is a minimum standard. The scientific method has largely been lost (as has logic) and needs to be restored, with hypotheses based on research, testing based on rational hypotheses, observations based on understanding of measurements, and conclusions/reformulations of hypotheses based on results. But more than "science," we need to offer coding classes, vocational technology classes in every school (not just academy locations), and STEM and vocational internships/collaborations with businesses. For immigrant children who enroll without English and study skills, there needs to be immediate remediation so they can fit into their age-appropriate grade level as soon as possible.

Safety deficiencies at our schools go way beyond boys showering with girls, which is an abomination. Classrooms throughout the county need to be equipped with door blocks in case of a shelter in place order. Exterior doors need to be alarmed so if left ajar an alert is sent to the office and the situation corrected immediately. And restrooms need to be monitored by personnel so assaults and drug use are eliminated. Metal detectors at the main entrance are a minimum standard. Entry for all visitors through the office is a must. And whenever students are showering, changing, toileting, or gathered in any location, staff must be on hand to monitor the premises in use.

The essence of Title IX, to promote women's opportunities in sports that don't pay for themselves, is in jeopardy--not because of funding but because women's sports now are open to men. The county needs to take a stand to keep biological males out of women's sports, as do the state and federal government.

Not yet. This is the first I have requested.