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Sandra Allen
Sandra Allen was a candidate for at-large representative on the Fairfax County Public Schools school board in Virginia. Allen was defeated in the at-large special election on August 29, 2017.
Biography
Allen was born in Bolivia and immigrated to the United States in her childhood. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Marymount University. Allen worked in budgeting and finance for the Department of Defense until she left to raise her two sons.[1]
Elections
2017
One of the 12 seats on the Fairfax County Public Schools school board in Virginia was up for at-large special election on August 29, 2017, due to the resignation of former board member Jeanette Hough, who left the position to join her husband on an overseas work assignment. Karen Keys-Gamarra won the election after defeating Sandra Allen, Chris Grisafe, and Michael Owens.[2][3][4]
Results
| Fairfax County Public Schools, At-large Special Election, 2-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Karen Keys-Gamarra |
63.90% | 41,526 |
| Chris Grisafe | 32.93% | 21,402 |
| Michael Owens | 2.07% | 1,346 |
| Sandra Allen | 1.10% | 714 |
| Total Votes | 64,988 | |
| Source: Fairfax County Office of Elections, "August 29, 2017 Special Election - Official Returns," accessed September 7, 2017 | ||
Funding
Allen reported no contributions or expenditures to the Virginia Department of Elections in the election.[5]
Campaign themes
2017
Allen participated in the following Q&A conducted by Inside Nova. The questions provided by Inside Nova appear bolded, and Allen's responses follow below.
What three things most need to be improved within the school system?
| “ |
1. Immediate changes must take place in school environment/culture. Improve customer service, how students and parents of low/minority are treated. Must create equality, same level of services regardless of income or ethnicity i.e. friendlier atmosphere. This change must take place to eliminate biases, which limits the ability of minority parents to advocate for student success. Bringing decision makers closer to families. Often wrong information is provided, issues are ignore creating a lag in timely and effectively correcting student’s record. Issues that can create truancy, mistrust in the school system. 2. Must have uniform positive discipline. No room for shaming a student or teacher. Maintaining professionalism and careful care of privacy. Young students take cues from adult reactions. Creating accountability can alleviate bullying mentality. 3. Dissemination of Information is necessary. Often low/minority parents don’t have access to technology. Even when they do, Web pages are complicated. Schools should find a way to help parents receive information in a timely manner. Interpersonal communication is important at all levels of education. It is said parent involvement is necessary for student success. If parents can’t participate then advocacy must be provided via PTAs i.e. Minority Achievement Representatives.[6] |
” |
| —Sandra Allen (2017)[7] | ||
Where should the school system focus in the future?
| “ | Through my quest in find solutions to Latino student dropout rate (900+), I learn that students at higher education are not meeting college requirements. They are taking remedial courses, however students taking AP are better prepared for college. Minority students are at greater risk of dropping out. Suggestion would be to partner with local Universities focusing on improvements in education. Also, better train teachers to meet diverse demand.[6] | ” |
| —Sandra Allen (2017)[7] | ||
Aside from just increasing salaries and benefits, what steps should be taken to boost teacher recruitment and retention?
| “ | Teachers leave for various reasons i.e. Fairfax is a transient area and lack of professional growth opportunities. Need to give teachers flexibility to bring in innovation. Think outside the box helps teach diverse students. It takes a special teachers to bring out a student’s full potential. I met two young US History teachers. They created a “School Exchange,” “Cultural Exchange” Program, must start using models that work. This type of innovation must be foster and encourage in FCPS. “Exchange of ideas” Reward innovation.[6] | ” |
| —Sandra Allen (2017)[7] | ||
What other priorities and initiatives would you focus on, and which programs would you consider putting on the chopping block?
| “ | Must rethink roles of SRO [school resource officers] at all schools. Negative impact i.e. school to jail pipeline, truancy. Schools should be learning institutions, center of excellence and critical thinking. SRO create extension of Juvenile Detention Centers. Children must be allowed to make mistakes without fear. Children need guidance not punishment.[6] | ” |
| —Sandra Allen (2017)[7] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Sandra Allen Fairfax County Public Schools school board. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Centre View, "Low-Turnout High-Stakes Special Election for School Board," July 31, 2017
- ↑ Inside Nova, "Court OKs School Board special election in Fairfax," June 15, 2017
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Judy Flaig," Election Manager, Fairfax County Office of Elections, July 5, 2017
- ↑ Fairfax County Office of Elections, "Precinct Status Report - August 29, 2017 Special Election," accessed August 29, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Campaign Finance Reports," accessed January 17, 2018
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Inside Nova, "Q&A: Fairfax School Board contenders sprint to the finish," August 22, 2017
| Fairfax County Public Schools elections in 2017 | |
| Fairfax County, Virginia | |
| Election date: | August 29, 2017 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Sandra Allen • Chris Grisafe • Karen Keys-Gamarra • Michael Owens |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
