2023 Candidate Profile: April Moore Chandler For Loudoun School Board

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — April Moore Chandler is running to represent the Algonkian district on the Loudoun County School Board. She is hoping to fill the seat being vacated by Atoosa Reaser.

Chandler is running against Viktoria Hunyadi in this November's general election.

Patch sent the following questionnaire to Chandler and Hunyadi to help voters make informed choices this Election Day.

Name

April Moore Chandler

Age

47

Town of Residence

Sterling

Position sought:

School Board Member, Algonkian District

Party affiliation

Independent by nature of the office, endorsed by the Loudoun County Democratic Committee

Family? Names, ages and any other pertinent details you wish to share

Husband, Paul, and two daughters aged 16 and 14.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Not currently. Early in our careers, I worked at a bipartisan government affairs firm and my husband, Paul worked on the Hill.

Education Level

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Occupation, including employer and years of experience

I currently work as the Algonkian District School Board Staff Aide. I chose to stay at home when my children were small, working as a Preschool Teacher at Trinity Preschool in Herndon and Galilee Christian School in Sterling for about seven years. I also worked as an LCPS long-term and short-term substitute from 2020 through Spring 2023 at schools across Sterling.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

https://aprilforalgonkian.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

Loudoun County Public Schools has experienced many challenges in recent years. I am running because I believe in the transformative power of public education, and I want to protect that opportunity for all of Loudoun County’s students. I am running to focus the decision-making process on the needs of students, to ensure an excellent, free public school education for every child by attracting and retaining outstanding educators, and to foster a safe and supportive school environment. I believe we must learn about and celebrate our diverse student population, and that introducing all of our students to the ideas of fairness and inclusion is critical to preparing them to be citizens of the world. I will always center my decisions on student needs, listen to families and staff, and advocate for an exceptional educational experience that remains welcoming for all our children.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Our school system, like many other schools across the Commonwealth and throughout the nation, is facing many significant issues, including pandemic learning loss, increased mental health challenges, higher teacher attrition rates, and threats of gun violence. At the same time, school boards have become a point of extreme disruption driven by political division. In this climate, we risk losing sight of the reason public schools exist: to serve the students and offer them an excellent education. Right now, our communities must choose leaders who will focus on the challenges our students face - leaders who can multitask, collaborate, provide good governance, and prioritize responsible financial stewardship. As a school board member, I will keep students at the center of every decision, listen to and communicate with parents and staff, and support evidence-based best practices for improving test scores, address learning loss, and keep our school buildings safe.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to recent issues (i.e. the pandemic)? What if anything would you have done differently?

During the worst public health crisis in a century, educators, local leaders, and medical professionals made the best decisions they could with the information available at the time. Instead of rehashing the decisions made several years ago, school board members should be focused on addressing what our students need now and find ways to provide our schools with the resources students need to overcome these challenges.

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

In recent years, there has been a move towards politicizing schools and school boards by focusing on flashpoint issues that grab headlines but do not solve problems. As a mom, an educator, and a candidate, I know this is not the best way to serve our students or our communities. I am eager to serve the Algonkian District and will work hard to do what is best for students and schools. I will stand against any effort to undermine or underfund public schools while focusing on ensuring good governance. School boards are elected to pass policies that serve students, teachers, parents, and the wider community. Good governance is the key to running a successful school division and building a solid foundation to make it possible for students to succeed.

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

Given that my opponent and I are both challengers, I would like to acknowledge that the current school board faced a variety of once-in-a-generation challenges in a climate overshadowed by rhetoric and political division. Algonkian District voters often share with me that they want our schools to be excellent and our division out of the news. The best thing we could do as a community is to choose leaders focused on collaboration, problem-solving, good governance, and fiscal responsibility. We need to turn down the temperature and focus on our students.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Students should be the center of every decision we make in our public schools. Every student has a right to attend public school. Every student should feel safe, seen, and respected in our public schools.

We must continue to work to make our schools safe. As a Moms Demand Action member since its inception, I will take a deep and meaningful look at the policies we have in place now to make sure they are working effectively and not traumatizing our students.

As a trained educator, I know that top-notch teachers and staff are the foundation of our schools. We must prioritize improving salaries and working conditions. Our teachers' working conditions are our children’s learning conditions.

We must encourage and support parent engagement, which is essential for the success of our students. Positive partnerships improve student outcomes when families connect with schools in productive and meaningful ways.

We must continue to address the disparity in facilities brought on by Loudoun’s rapid growth, especially as it relates to Algonkian’s aging infrastructure.

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

As a hands-on public school parent, volunteer, educator, and advocate for nearly two decades, I understand from experience what it takes to serve the Algonkian District. I have worked in our schools in many capacities, including volunteering as a parent, tutoring students, serving in multiple PTA roles, and substitute teaching. I have been a Moms Demand Action member since the organization's inception, working with other parents to keep our schools safe from gun violence. I worked as a long-term and short-term sub throughout Sterling during the pandemic. Earlier in my career, I worked in a bipartisan government affairs firm. As an early childhood educator and legal technology instructor, I have taught young children and adults. I currently serve as the Algonkian District School Board Staff Aide. I will work to unite our community, find common ground and pragmatic solutions to the challenges we face. As a leader, I am consistent and deliberate. I show up, build community, and innovate. I am ready to step into the job on Day One and continue to help lead our public schools forward.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say, 'It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.' Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes."— Mr. Rogers

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

Across the board, teachers, principals, and administrators want more parents engaged in our schools. Parents are critical to our school communities, and we rely on their engagement and involvement. Positive partnerships between families and educators support student development, learning, behavior, and health. Families of all students should be considered active participants in our school communities. It is essential to bring all parents and communities together around common sense policies that refocus our attention on student achievement.