Candidate Profile: Mel Kent For Manassas City School Board

MANASSAS, VA — Mel Kent 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, Samuel Gross, Abraham "Alex" Iqbal, Jill Spall, and Lisa Stevens.

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

Melony M. "Mel" Kent

Party affiliation

Republican-endorsed Independent

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

My husband Stephen, my daughter Sylvie, our dog Kylo and our snake Arrow.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My husband works for a political polling firm in Alexandria (Echelon Insights).

Education level

High school.

Occupation, including employer and years of experience.

Currently a student pursuing a B.S. in Atmospheric Science. I have 15+ years of customer service experience.

Previous or current elected or appointed office.

N/A.

Campaign website

kent4manassas.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for school board for my daughter and for the rest of the kids in this city that fell behind due to extended closures from covid-19. While the current board did the best with the situation that they were handed, I believe that more can be done to bring all of our kids back up to the levels (and beyond) that they were pre-pandemic. With a laser-like focus on the core academics of math, reading, and writing, I believe we can elevate our schools and make sure all of our kids grow up with a quality education that will allow them to succeed and thrive later in life.

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

The pandemic put stress on our kids, our teachers, our parents, and our grandparents. The most important things that need to be addressed, in my opinion, are learning loss and teacher burnout. I intend to put the focus on how and where we can rebuild from that loss while supporting our teachers and making sure they are able to do their job.

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 pandemic was a learning experience for us all. We all did the best with what we were handed. I believe our current board could have listened to our community of working-class parents and allowed a return to in-person learning much sooner than they did, based on the science available at the time.

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

My family and I fell in love with this community in 2015. We made it Manassas City official in January of 2020. While I may be newer to the city, I am deeply invested in the success of this community, and I want to work with and grow with it to make Manassas City the best that it can be.

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

I feel that there is a lack of parent engagement with the current board, which leads to a lack of transparency. I believe more effort needs to be made to bring parents to the table, and I believe part of the problem is the disconnect between parents, the community at large, and school board members.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Center reading, writing, and mathematics in our schools. Foster an environment of transparency. Create more options for families when it comes to the education of their children.

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

I have 15+ years experience in customer service, two of which were spent at a grocery store during a global pandemic. I am a parent and an active member of the Manassas City community, and I believe my outside perspective will be a tool of growth for our board.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Be kind. You never know what others are going through, and a quick smile or compliment can be a bright moment in an otherwise dark day for someone.

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

When we moved into the City officially in 2020, I knew I wanted to be a part of the growth of the area. I currently serve on several volunteer boards and commissions, and I plan to continue that growth and learning. Every day is a chance to learn and grow, and I have fully embraced that in this place that I call home.

See also: Candidate Profile: Jill Spall For Manassas City School Board

See also: Candidate Profile: Samuel Gross For Manassas City School Board