Candidate Q&A: Sheri Bailey

What makes you the best candidate?

I believe public education is the only institution left in this great democracy that offers all citizens access to freedom, justice and equity. Helping audiences to understand what got officially started on July 4, 1776, is one of my primary motifs. Without shame or blame, my plays examine the legacies of slaveholding poets who were good presidents to messianic insurrectionist leaders, whose battles caused the deaths of innocents.

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

Public schools systems can no longer use 19th century tools in the 21st. Old-school attitudes must change with the times and I encourage public schools to be community centers with partnerships in every community area from government, military and businesses, to social services, arts groups and faith institutions.

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 above holistic approach will solve every problem currently being faced by public school systems. Such an approach will require a new kind of thinking, leading to understanding about the importance of simple things like encouraging student exchange and travel. It will encourage the development of new ideas like creating a permanent substitute pool, so when teachers need a break it’s not done from a crisis mode.

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

Teaching to the test does not help develop critical thinking skills. Putt-putt golf with history, science, geography or math facts at every hole combines fun and learning. Copying television’s “The Amazing Race,” we could have an “Underground Railroad Race” utilizing the fact that Hampton Roads was a major stop on the Underground Railroad. In addition to teamwork these teaching models also develop critical thinking skills.

What would you do to ensure that accredited schools in the division remain accredited? What do you think should be done at schools that have not yet achieved accreditation?

On Feb. 22, 2007, the General Assembly passed the following resolutions: 1) An Expression of Profound Regret for Slavery and 2) Juneteenth Freedom Day. Only Virginia recognized that an apology must be accepted to be complete. JuneteenthVA is about accepting and healing. Those associated with JuneteenthVA will increase their critical thinking skills, practical and creative skills. The result – fully and continuously accredited schools will become the norm.

What should the division do to ensure school campuses are safe?

Fix the 2nd amendment so that gun ownership is more closely regulated and gun makers, sellers and owners are held accountable. 2) Make community volunteerism integral in public school education. 3) Incorporate the teaching of non-violent conflict resolution skills in k-12 curriculum.