Candidate Q&A: C. Jeff Bunn

What makes you the best candidate?

I have a sincere desire to serve our students and be part of providing them with the very best education. I have been a volunteer and substitute teacher in our schools; therefore, I have witnessed firsthand how essential education is for our children. I am committed to our city and our school system. As an advocate for our children, I will uphold the highest ideals consistent with our School Board policies and procedures.

What should be the school district's top priority now, and how can it be achieved?

The top priority of any school district must be student learning and achievement – that’s why schools exist. We are fortunate, indeed, to be in a city where education is a top priority and our school division has been extremely successful. We need to continue to set high expectations for all students in a safe, nurturing environment, providing teachers with the resources they need to ensure continued high achievement.

What do you think will be the school district's most pressing issue in 10 years, and how can the board prepare for it?

The key to the success of any organization is the quality of the people we hire – the teachers and others who care about children and who provide top-quality instruction and care for our students. In my life, many of the people who had the greatest impact were competent, caring educators. We must continue to recruit the very best and provide high-quality training for all teachers and staff.

The new board may hire a new superintendent in the coming years – what qualities will you seek in a new leader?

One of the keys to the success of Chesapeake Public Schools has been the consistency of quality and stability of leadership; we have had only four superintendents since the late 1940s. We need to identify someone who can continue to build on that quality, keeping the focus on instruction and student achievement. We need an individual who possesses strong communications skills, who works to provide what’s best for students and who ensures fiscal responsibility.

How effective are Virginia's Standards of Learning and the national No Child Left Behind initiatives in raising student achievement?

There are elements that are troubling, such as the amount of time that is required for testing and the lack of flexibility in some areas. However, the focus on improving student achievement is a positive one. Our teachers have done an outstanding job of teaching the standards. Our scores continue to rise as a result of the commitment of our teachers, hard working students, and strong support of our parents.

What can the school board do to address the longstanding achievement gap between different groups of students?

Our school division has recognized the existence of the gap and made a concentrated effort to close that gap. Initiatives such as lowering class size, balanced literacy, literacy across the curriculum and differentiated instruction not only have increased achievement for students, but also have closed the gap significantly. These efforts must continue until the achievement gap no longer exists.