The Right Person in the Right Place at the Right Time

 This time last year Dr. Ricardy Anderson was in her award-winning school, smiling and greeting her students at the drop off every morning. As the principal of a K-5 public elementary school, later in the day she would go over the projected student population for fall, making decisions about numbers of teachers and staff that would be needed for the coming year; meet with a family and the instructional team for a child who needed a 504 (special needs support); look in on standards of learning testing; and before leaving check the budget for remaining funds that could be spent or should be carried over from this year’s allocation of funds. 

Such was her life as an educator working in a public school, engaged with children, families, and staff, and administering budgets in real time.

Today Ricardy is busy calling volunteers and voters as she runs for the open school board seat in Mason District. When Sandy Evans, the Mason District school board member decided to retire from the board, and Ricardy’s friends began to say, “You’d make a great school board member,” she realized here was the way she could use her extensive training and experience in education to make her next contribution to her community.  

The job of a school board member is one of the most important in our community. While our school board administers approximately half of the $4 billion Fairfax County budget and the school board is one of the largest employers in the state of Virginia, the job is not just about budgets. A great school board member must understand how those numbers affect the classroom and the children in it.

At the end of the day, the most important thing a school board member does is safeguard the quality of life and great becoming of our youngest and most vulnerable residents. It is about what happens in schools every day. It is about the children and young people. 

It is rare to find someone perfectly suited to such a complex set of tasks. On Tuesday, Dr. Anderson was counting out postcards for the campaign and taking care of a friend’s children after taking the friend to the hospital due to a concussion.  As the children came in and out of her dining room, Ricardy never seemed flustered or impatient with their needs or requests.  She cared for them compassionately and patiently as she simultaneously managed her campaign for one of the most complex jobs in our community. 

As the national education scene and some neighboring districts’ school governance continues to be mired in troubles, thank goodness Ricardy has stepped up to serve us and our families. We have someone we can rely on-- someone with a child-centered vision of excellence for our schools. Ricardy is the right person, at the right time, in the right place. 

Mason District FCDC members will have the opportunity to vote for Ricardy Anderson on April 24 at 7p.m. at Annandale High School.