Schools

Herndon Resident Runs for At-Large School Board Seat

Advocate, parent works for students with intellectual disabilities; will seek endorsement from Fairfax County Republican Committee

Herndon resident Lisa Fagan will seek an endorsement from the Fairfax County Republican Committee for an at-large seat on the Fairfax County School Board.

Fagan currently works as an educational advocate for Special Education Connections, advising parents of children with intellectual disabilities on their educational rights and how to obtain the services they need.

The mother of three said her children all had Individual Education Plans (IEP), and she travels to schools throughout the region on a daily basis to help other children get the services they need.

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“You see things that really work and see things that don’t work,” she said of her experiences.

In addition to working in schools, Fagan has served as a member of the Fairfax County Public Schools Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities and the Fairfax County Disability Service Board, and as a peer reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education, among other organizations.

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People move to Fairfax County for the schools and the services they provide, Fagan said, but there is room for improvement in areas where the board may currently be missing the mark.

On Why She Is Running:

Fagan said through her job, she sees a different side of schools than what most people see, which made her think she could offer a different perspective on the board. She often hears the thoughts and concerns of parents and teachers in her line of work, and has seen that they don’t always get filtered up to the top, she said.

She said schools need more options for students who may not go straight to college after high school, and should help students develop alternate plans, whether it is employment, learning a trade or volunteering. She said too many young adults go from one dead-end job to another at 18 years old — there isn’t a lot of guidance for students who don’t want to continue onto college.

On Teachers:

Fagan said she also believes FCPS needs to make sure teachers are valued, whether it is done through compensation or other means.

On Budget:

FCPS also needs to make sure it is spending money wisely, Fagan said. If the county is developing programs for the classroom, they should make sure they are being implemented properly and are used to their full potential.

On Discipline:

Fagan said she doesn't think school-to-school transfers are necessarily bad. She said principals need to be able to have some discretion in disciplining students, and that  other counties will expel students for less.

“It’s not black or white,” she said.

Fagan said she is familiar with area schools through her own children and the children of her clients and believes issues should be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

The Fairfax County Republican Committee will give endorsements to school board candidates this month.


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