Candidate Profile: Lisa Stevens For Manassas City School Board

MANASSAS, VA — Lisa Stevens is one of several candidates hoping to fill three open at-large seats on the Manassas City School Board on Nov. 8.

Other candidates in the race for the city's school board include Sara Brescia, Mel Kent, Abraham "Alex" Iqbal, Jill Spall, and Samuel Gross.

Read more: General Election 2022: Dates, Races To Know In Manassas

Patch asked each of the candidates in the school board race to fill out the following questionnaire.

Name

Lisa Stevens

Party affiliation

Race is nonpartisan but endorsed by the Democratic Party.

Family? Names, ages, or any other details you'd like to share.

Husband-Maurie, 3 adult children, 1 juvenile child.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education Level

Master’s Degree of Science in Educational Psychology

Occupation, including employer and years of experience.

Special Education teacher in PWCS-8th year, prior-School Age Child Care Director at All Saints-18 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

School Board Member at Large MCPS

Campaign website

lsua4manassas.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To give back to the community that has given so much to my family and myself. Use my expertise and experience in education to advocate for employees, families, and students alike.

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

One of the most pressing issues facing our board is funding. All things we do as school board members to provide for our schools, students, and staff requires funding. School boards in the Commonwealth of Virginia are fully dependent on funding through local, state, and federal budgets. One of the biggest funding issues relates to the Standards of Quality (SOQ) allocated to the school division by the state. The Virginia legislature needs to work to provide for the actual cost of meeting SOQ requirements, not just the minimum assumed necessary by the state. We need full funding for SOQ, as the current funding only covers 60-66% of the cost to fund public education. In addition, the General Assembly needs to restore education funding to pre-economic recession levels, factoring inflation into the calculations.

In addition, the Commonwealth needs to provide adequate funding for legislation impacting public education as unfunded or underfunded mandates place undue financial burdens on localities. These financial burdens and limitations impact MCPS’ ability to fund all needed programs throughout the division. While the board is typically able to honor up to 95% of budget requests made annually, 5% go must be stricken from the budget. As the annual, proposed MCPS budget is needs based, any programs or positions that to unfunded are ones that were needed to ensure the best educational experiences and outcomes for our students.

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

The covid pandemic was unprecedented in modern education and hit every school division in every state, across the country, and around the world. There were no best practices to follow or prior experiences to look to when decisions were being made. MCPS school board members made the best decisions they could based on advice and input from the CDC, Virginia Department of Health, and the World Health Organization.

It is easy to use 20/20 hindsight to criticize decisions made but they were made in the interest of protecting not just students from illness but staff and families as well.

One of the critical differences between myself and my opponents is that I am proud of our division, employees, and students for the hard work they have been doing and continue to do every day. I am able to see the progress that is being made and am focused on finding solutions to the challenges our schools still face. My focus is not and has never been on complaining about perceived shortcomings but on working with all stakeholders to identify the causes of issues and finding ways to remedy them.

The other critical difference between myself and my opponents is that as a public school teacher myself, I have a strong working knowledge and understanding of what public education is, how it works, and what best practices are. I am in “the trenches” daily and can identify with the struggles and challenges faced by teachers and staff daily. I understand the needs of students and their families today and how to best support success for all stakeholders.

As a long time (28 years) resident of the City of Manassas, I have watched my community grow, change, and evolve over the years and I have embraced it all. I understand and believe fully that the diversity of our schools and City is a strength and embracing those differences is crucial to success.

Student engagement, growth, and school and student safety are all priorities that require our time, energy, and attention. They are essential to the successful operation of our schools.

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

I did not earn my Bachelor’s degree until I was 43 and my Master’s degree until I was 45. I earned by Bachelor’s degree working full time and raising three children. I found out I was pregnant with my fourth child two weeks into my Master’s degree program. I developed hyperemesis gravidarum but was able to earn my Master’s degree in 18 months and still work full time. I then changed careers and am now in my 8th year as a special education teacher.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Speak from your heart and people will listen.

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

My adult life has been and continues to be focused on the education and growth of our children. I have worked in education and/or childcare for more than 30 years. I have worked as a nanny, preschool teacher, school age child care supervisor, director, teacher, and now as a school board member. It is what I do, what a I know, and where my heart is. I am happiest when in the classroom and when advocating for our city’s youth.

See also:

• Candidate Profile: Mel Kent For Manassas City School Board
• Candidate Profile: Jill Spall For Manassas City School Board
• Candidate Profile: Samuel Gross For Manassas City School Board