One School Board seat, six candidates
The six Culpeper County School Board candidates vying for the vacant West Fairfax District seat include a youth ministry volunteer, a retired U.S. Army command sergeant major, an engineering manager, a retired engineering process and tools manager, an attorney and a farmer.
The candidates, who all live in the West Fairfax District, include: Jennifer Barbee, Jerry Beckett, John Rick Boswell, John Cerio, Monica Chernin and Robert Houck.The School Board will hold a special meeting July 20 at Central Office, 450 Radio Lane, to view applications and appoint a representative to fill the position until Dec. 31.
A special election will be held Nov. 3 to determine who will represent West Fairfax during the remaining two years of the term.
Candidates have until Aug. 21 to file with the Culpeper County Registrar’s office to be considered for the special November election.
Jimmy Lee announced his mid-term resignation during a School Board meeting in May. Lee’s term began January 2008 and was to conclude on Dec. 31, 2011.
Here’s a brief look at each candidate:
Jennifer Barbee
Age: 41
Family: Married to Willie; they have three children attending CCPS: Cheyennae, Danae and Jonathan
Education: Master’s degree in religious arts, leadership and organization from Logos Christian College and Graduate School in Jacksonville, Fla.; bachelor’s degree in science, biomedical engineering from Milwaukee School of Engineering and an associate’s degree in electronics technology with honors from Elgin Community College in Elgin, Ill.
Employment: Church administrator/youth director and volunteer for the New Life Anointed Ministries West and CEO/executive director for Young People Offering Up Themelves to Him Inc.
Why are you interested in serving on the School Board?
“I am very interested in serving because as a parent of three children in all three levels of education within the Culpeper County Public School System, I would like to be an integral part of seeing the mission, vision, beliefs, core values and goals of the Culpeper County School Board realized for every student in the system. As a parent, I want help (to) ensure that our School Board is not one that just hears what the parent has to say, but truly partners with them; to help their children not just graduate or pass to the next level, but achieve and excel.”
Jerry Beckett
Age: 65
Family: Married to Chieu-My; they have four daughters: Linh-My, Michele, Janine and Jennifer
Education: Earned an associate’s degree from El Paso Community College; attended California Southern Law School; and the National Veterans Training Institute
Employment: Retired command sergeant major for the U.S. Army, serving five tours in Vietnam as a light weapons infantry adviser; worker’s compensation specialist for the state of California Employment Development Department; department veterans outreach program representative
Why are you interested in serving on the School Board?
“As a concerned citizen, I am always interested in serving the local community in whatever capacity that enhances our community. I would like to be considered for the temporary appointment to our local School Board to again volunteer my services.”
John Rick Boswell
Age: 41
Family: Married to Holly; they have three children: Reed, Anna and Sam
Education: Master’s degree in telecommunications management from Keller Graduate School; master’s certificate in project management from Villanova University; and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from N.C. State
Employment: Engineering manager for Verizon in Culpeper
Why are you interested in serving on the School Board?
“As a parent, I realize how critical it is for children to have the best environment to learn. My business and community experience will benefit me on the School Board during these tight budgetary times. I am a hands-on person who does not like to sit back and complain and I like to get involved in the decision-making processes. I believe that with the addition of the new superintendent (Bobbi Johnson), this is a critical time for the School Board to work together with her to develop the best possible situation for our children to learn. A great public school system is not only crucial to the well being and future of our children, but it also affects so many other parts of our community, such as community values, employment, economic development and cultural enhancement.”
John Cerio
Age: 67
Family: Married to Kathy; they have two children and three grandchildren
Education: Attended Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, N.Y.
Employment: Retired manager for Raytheon and GE with 25 years of management experience and 40 years overall
Why are you interested in serving on the School Board?
“I am interested in serving on the School Board in order to help advance the education level of students in Culpeper. I believe we need (to) continue to confirm realistic budgets that ensure every school receives the appropriate assets, and provides proper compensation for all teachers.”
Monica Chernin
Age: 56
Family: Single parent of three grown children who attended and graduated from CCPS
Education: Earned a law degree from Washington and Lee University; master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Cornell University and a bachelor’s in literature and composition from Ithaca College.
Employment: Owns and manages a family and juvenile law office in Culpeper
Why are you interested in serving on the School Board?
“As a result of my professional work, my commitment to public service, and my interaction with the community at large, I believe I have a good sense of what drives this community and what impacts it as well.”
Robert ‘Bob’ Houck
Age: 61
Family: Married to Shirley
Education: Virginia State graduate classes in math education; earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Virginia Tech in 1969; associate’s degree in business from Bluefield College in 1967 and graduated from CCHS in 1965
Employment: Owner/operator of Shirob Farm, a beef cow/calf operation in Stevensburg; retired from Warrenton Farm Credit in 1998; vice president of finance
Why are you interested in serving on the School Board?
“This would be an opportunity for me to give service to Culpeper County and the residents of West Fairfax District. I strongly believe in public education and the importance of providing the best educational opportunities to the youth of Culpeper County. I believe that my business and civic experience and long residence in Culpeper County provide the necessary background for this position. I do not bring any agenda to this position except to provide the best educational opportunities for the students.”
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
I would have to disagree with you on Beckett getting support in an election cs2020. This would be a county wide election and not a town election. Yes he received votes in the last town election but I would feel comfortable saying that he would not receive nearly the amount of support that you believe.
We don’t have any actual numbers on students who have parents that are not legal. Citizenship is not a requirement to receive an education. Plyler vs Doe is something you need to study. Regardless of who is in office they don’t have the power to introduce, support or pass any ordinance or law that denies any child an education that they are afforded by our constitution. I can assure you that even those who are not citizens pay more in taxes than what they take. You mouth speaks only myths and not the truths.
You are part of the problem in our nation with your words only making illegal immigration matters worse. The majority are not like you as local, state and national elections have shown us. You just like to be the loud ones but lack the support you believe is on your side.
Mr. Beckett is not someone that Culpeper needs representation from. I guess you have missed him and his what I call disorderly behavior at town council meetings. If I recall he was the person who organized the Minutemen meeting and used dishonesty to use a local building for the meeting. Is that the representation you want cs2020? God help you and the community if your answer is yes.
I am a civil rights attorney and I can assure you that the rule of law is not only on my side but on the side of everyone. I agree with rjma. I would rather have them educated so that they can become a part of our workforce and contribute as taxpaying citizens. The Supreme Court said the same in their ruling. I run into people like you all the time cs2020 but they are not in high numbers. I say let them vent and speak about what they do not know. They haven’t a clue and only look at illegal immigration from one perspective.
What exactly is the “Northern Virginia” approach to education? You seem to imply that Beckett should be rejected out of hand because he is a one-issue candidate who will not be able to work with the sitting board. Is that what you’re saying?
Beckett or Houck would get public support if this was an election. People have seen enough of the “yuppies”, and their liberial, northern virginia approach. As sworn elected officials, present and future school board members should have concern and issue over the cost of education for those children who’s parents are not legal citizens thus paying their fair share of taxes. Its legally and fudamentally wrong!! Beckett will not play ball with this bunch of little elected officials.
sd writes: “As for the Board of Supervisors if you do not have children then you should not be able to run.“
This is about the sb not the bos. If you meant sb members should have kids, then I’d disagree. SB members are not supposed to just represent the interests of the kids and their parents, they’re supposed to represent the interests of the whole community. And educated kids ARE in the best interests of the whole community.
Chernin looks like a good candidate but I trust the sb to make the best decision. I’d like to know if Beckett would have difficulty educating the us citizens who have parents without proper residency status.
Looks like there are some good prospects. hopefully none of these are tied to the corrupt Culpeper back room that engineered this whole mess of the last year. Poor Jimmy Lee couldn’t take a single step without asking them.
Excuse me I meant to say a term limit on how long you can be on the board not necessary the person’s age we are looking for fresh ideas for our children sometimes that can come with the age as well.
Well here are my 2 cents and I have 2 children in the public schools which if i could afford the private school I would., As for the Board of Supervisors if you do not have children then you should not be able to run., that should be a requirement! There should also be an age requirement anyone over the age of 50 need not apply. What Culpeper needs is someone new and fresh to actually get something done in this town/County the good ole boy system has to go! Monica Chernin is about the only one that could possible shake things up in this county!
Advertisement