Meet The Candidate: Cristina Diaz-Torres For School Board

ARLINGTON, VA — In addition to voting for the president and vice president, one member of the U.S. Senate, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the 8th congressional district, the Arlington County Board and School Board, two amendments to the Constitution of Virginia, and five bond questions for Arlington County.

Cristina Diaz-Torres, 29, has seven years as an educator and is currently manager of product design and delivery at Education First Consulting. She is running for a seat on the Arlington County School Board.

As part of its coverage of the 2020 election, Patch has asked each of the candidates in Arlington to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

Candidate

Cristina Diaz-Torres

Age (as of Election Day)

29

Town/City of Residence

Arlington, VA

Office Sought

Arlington County School Board

Party Affiliation

Democratic Party

Family

N/A

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

Education

B.A. from New York University and M.Ed. in Secondary Math Curriculum and Instruction from University of Nevada Las Vegas

Occupation

I have 7+ years in the education sector, first as a high school math teacher. I am now the Manager of Product Design and Delivery at Education First Consulting

Campaign website

www.cristinaforarlington.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

The single most pressing issue facing Arlington County is ensuring our students are able to successfully learn this year, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue is ensuring our students are able to successfully learn this year and that we set up our system to thrive past this pandemic. In the immediate term, we need to give our teachers the training and resources needed so that they can give students an excellent education no matter the format of instruction. As an educator myself, my focus will always be on ensuring our students graduate ready for success in whatever path they may choose.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

Yes. As a woman of color, I strongly support the Black Lives Matter movement. I believe that all people deserve the right to live in their community without fear of harassment, retribution, or systemic persecution on behalf of the criminal justice system. I am proud to stand with my other BIPOC brothers and sisters to fight for a more just nation at the local, state, and national levels.

What are your thoughts on the campaign to "defund" the police?

The Arlington School Board does not hold jurisdiction over ACPD funding. However, I do support the removal of SROs from schools in their current format and function and believe that SRO funding should be shifted towards additional mental health and counseling services. SROs were first introduced to America's schools in the 1950s as a measure for policing (primarily) BIPOC students. In the 70 years that have since passed, districts have accumulated little evidence showing SROs actively detract from extreme situations like school shootings. A 2018 Washington Post review of more than 200 school shootings found only one example where a school resource officer intercepted an active shooter. Instead, there is a growing body of evidence that clearly demonstrates that the presence of SROs 1 makes BIPOC students feel less safe, 2) frequently leads to an increase in student arrests for discipline issues (previously addressed by in school like disorderly conduct, 3) increase exclusionary discipline practices, and 4) increased disparities in disciplinary outcomes along lines of race and ability.

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

N/A

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

I am a former teacher and an education policy specialist running for Arlington School Board because I believe that every student has a right to succeed—no matter their background, race, ability, family context, or legal status. As the only candidate with experience as a classroom teacher, a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and experience helping districts design policies that benefit our students, I know what it takes to design systems that are coherent, community-responsive, and fiscally responsible. Every day I help school districts and state education agencies design systems that are equitable from the start.

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

N/A

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

My platform is built on three pillars—equity, educators, and data—that are essential if we honestly want to change outcomes for students in Arlington. Without an uncompromising equity lens for decision-making, we will continue to design systems that perpetuate oppression for our students. Without well-trained, culturally competent teachers, we cannot adequately address student needs. Without transparent, accurate, disaggregated data about student achievement, we cannot have an honest conversation about inequity in APS. These pillars already guide my professional work. I am running for school board to bring that expertise and perspective to my community.

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

I began my career in the classroom—first as a part-time preschool teacher at a Headstart in NYC; later on, I taught math in an EL-dense Title 1 high school in Las Vegas. I saw firsthand how education policy and politics can play out in the classroom to the detriment of students furthest from opportunity. As hard as I worked to improve my student’s outcomes, I knew countless students would be left behind if the system of education wasn’t reformed to be equitable by design. Now, I work every day with education organizations across the country to improve student outcomes by designing evidence-based systems that are equitable, efficient, and community-appropriate. I aspire to bring that perspective as an educator and expertise as a policy specialist to the Arlington School Board.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Simply put, a school system that is equitable for all students and prepares them for success in whatever path they decide to pursue.

Why should voters trust you?

Voters should trust me because I have the experience in the classroom, deep understanding of data, and the steadfast focus on equity needed to improve our system.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I have been a member of the APS Budget Advisory Council for three years. This experience has given me a deep understanding of the way we have historically spent our resources in APS as well as insight as to where we might find efficiencies. Arlingtonians generally believe in investing in strong public schools, but as a public servant it will be my role to ensure that we're getting the greatest return on that investment as demonstrated by our student's achievement.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Growth happens when you're uncomfortable.