Bob Beard

My wife, Ellen, and I have twin sons who graduated successfully through ACPS from kindergarten at Ivy to Western Albemarle. They received a wonderful education and preparation for life. When former Board member Graham Paige decided to retire after 10 years, I was happy to get his endorsement for the job. As a freshman Board member, I want to give back to Albemarle County by bringing my experience as a parent, journalist, business owner, and community volunteer to the Board. We need to make sure that Albemarle schools keep improving and remain the very best in Central Virginia, and that every kid, no matter their circumstances, succeeds academically and graduates with the knowledge, perseverance, and skills to be a productive member of society.

I enjoy visiting our schools in the Samuel Miller District and meeting students, teachers and principals. I’ve found there is a real love and respect for our students and their potential in every school. I hope to work as hard as Mr. Paige did for Albemarle County and always listen to the concerns of our students, parents, staff and teachers. I’m a union member and an enthusiastic supporter of a new collective bargaining agreement with our teachers and support professionals. I look forward to giving them raises and much better benefits.

Academic success for all students is at the top of my list in decision-making. Will a decision help our students thrive in their academic journey? And thrive in what can be a tough mental health environment? If not, don’t do it. I also think we need to make decisions that help our teachers be more creative in the classroom. The School Board must always be good stewards of taxpayer funds and keep as much money as possible in the classroom.

My top priority right now is continuing to work on closing the achievement gap in our urban ring and Title I schools, a serious problem for decades. Our Black students, students with disabilities, English learners, and economically disadvantaged students deserve no less than our best efforts. We need to hold the Superintendent and, through him, our principals and teachers, accountable for lagging scores in reading, math and science. We also need to celebrate the many successes in schools that are tackling the problem head-on. At the same time, we need to pay attention to continued overcrowding in our high schools (especially with new housing developments and the new AstraZeneca plant) and keep working with the Board of Supervisors (who control capital spending) in planning for future expansion, including a possible fourth high school in northern Albemarle.

I hope this Board can collaborate, meet the moment, and be bold but prudent in our decision-making. I know we can attract and retain the best teachers in the nation with excellent pay, benefits and working conditions. I hope for the success of our new efforts in career and technical training. I know we will listen to the concerns of our students and families and act on them. I hope our work will lead to continuous improvement in ACPS, and our students will graduate knowing they got the best public education in Virginia.