Russell on the Education Issues that Matter to Fairfax County
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Education
Education is deeply personal to Russell Brooks and his family. Russell earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and served on its Board of Trustees as a Recently Graduated Alumni Trustee. He later received dual masters degrees from Seton Hall University while simultaneously working at ABC Sports.
Russell has lived in Fairfax County for more than two decades and raised his family here. As a parent and longtime Fairfax resident, he understands the challenges parents, students, and and educators face. His two children graduated from Virginia high schools before heading off to prestigious universities. His son is a graduate of the University of Virginia..
Academics
Russell’s priorities are to ensure that parents are heard and respected on the matters that pertain to their children. At the top of his priorities is to promote academic excellence throughout the school system, and leave no school, no group of students behind!
Accountability
Another focus for Russell will be accountability and transparency. He will take extremely seriously the oversight responsibility entrusted to the FCPS School Board. On all policy matters regarding the school system, including budget, contracts, personnel, technology, school calendar, etc, the Fairfax County School Board members must hold FCPS, both the central administration and individual schools, to the highest levels of performance, transparency, and accountability if the Board is to retain the confidence of our County’s communities.
Diversity & Inclusion
Russell will also be a strong voice, an unwavering voice, to ensure FCPS remains committed to diversity, inclusion, and fairness. Elements of our community, including the Fairfax branch of the NAACP, have reported inadequate responses by FCPS to instances of racial harassment and other forms of maltreatment. This is unacceptable! FCPS can and must do better. However, it will only improve if there are individuals in positions of responsibility that are willing to hold everyone involved in the education of the County’s children accountable for doing better.
Career & Technical Education
Russell believes education opens the doors to opportunity for the young people of Fairfax County. Those doors come in many forms. One is Career and Technical Education. FCPS has made notable strides in catering to the obvious interest and enthusiasm students have shown for these programs. Among the examples are Chantilly Academy, whose programs focus on information technology and professional human services; Edison Academy, where students can specialize in industrial trades, construction, information technology, as well as human and health services; or Fairfax Academy, which serves as a hub for courses in communication, fine arts, digital media, and world languages.
The cost of college is high and unattractive to some due to the expense involved. Some students are most interested in other avenues to high-paying employment in today’s economy. FCPS should promote these possibilities to students and expand its offerings where possible. Russell will be a vocal and consistent advocate for these programs!
Civic Education
Russell Brooks is alarmed by the state of our democracy. Russell believes our democracy is central to what truly makes America great. To quote the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, “Civic education is more crucial today than ever before. In an era where social and political challenges are increasingly complex, the need for informed and engaged citizens has never been greater.”
In the face of our current challenges, Russell believes educators and individuals involved in education policy have an opportunity and a responsibility to help address the worrisome lack of knowledge about the foundations of our democracy and its institutions. Russell supports enhanced civic education as one means of addressing the fragile nature of our democracy. Civic education teaches people how government works and how to take part in society. It gives people the knowledge to vote, speak up for their rights, and help their neighborhoods.
Schools cannot solve everything that ails certain aspects of our society, schools and educators can do more, if prodded to do so and resourced appropriately. Russell will work with teachers, parents, and students to enhance civic education in a meaningful way.
