School Board candidate Jacqueline Gaston wants educational equity

Jacqueline Gaston wants to bring her more than 25 years of educational experience to the School Board Coles District. She wants to improve teacher retention and educational equity.

Name: Jacqueline Gaston

Party: Independent

Town: Manassas

Running for: Prince William County School Board — Coles District

Website: jg4pwcsboard.org, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

Work: Career and Transition Teacher

Education: University of Connecticut B.S. in Human Development and Family Relations, Central Connecticut State University Special Education Teaching Certificate Post Graduate, George Mason University Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.

Community Involvement: For the last 10 years, Jacqueline Gaston has worked to protect public values, foster change and make a difference in the community.  She strongly believes that civic engagement is critical to strengthening our public education system. At Yorkshire Elementary, a very diverse Title 1 school, she served on the Parent Teacher Organization for 7 years, 3 of those years as their PTO President, as well as on the School Advisory Council, School Counselling Committee and as a parent volunteer.  They worked to develop strong relationships with students, families and staff in order to create a safe and enjoyable academic environment where all students are supported academically, emotionally, and culturally.

Gaston served on the PWCS Principal’s Interview Panel for the Yorkshire Elementary School Principal selection. During this time she also worked closely with Marty Nohe, Coles District Supervisor, to create the Yorkshire Civic Association with the goal of bringing together residents, community businesses, schools and local government officials interested in neighborhood improvement.

While at Parkside Middle School, she served as the School Advisory Committee (SAC) Secretary for 4 years and currently as their President for the 2018-2019 academic year.  Their goal is to promote communication between PKMS staff and the community in order to work together for instructional program planning purposes and strategic planning.  Gaston participated in the Comprehensive Review of PWCS Special Education Pre-K – Grade 12 programs in 2018, as well as attended the Superintendents Advisory Council on Instruction Best Practices Conference at Ashland Elementary School for the 2016-2017 school year and again on February 14, 2019 at Forest Park High School.

At PKMS her children participated in the Cambridge Program, World Language Program, Global Perspectives, the Music Program, Athletics, Special Education Program and their award winning VEX Robotics and Botball Program. During these elementary school and middle school years, Gaston taught Religious Education for All Saints Catholic Church and coached soccer for Northern Virginia Soccer Association.

Since Fall 2017, she has served on the Principal’s Advisory Council at Osbourn Park High School. The Principal’s Advisory Council (PAC) involves open chair time where topics and questions can be discussed directly with the Principal. Agenda items are also discussed as part of the school’s strategic plan. She and her family continue to support the OPHS BioTechnology Program, OPHS Music Boosters, OPHS Athletic Boosters, OPHS PTSO and as of next year the NJROTC Program.  All three boys will be at OPHS as of Fall 2019.

In the Fall 2018, she attended the Superintendent’s Business Breakfast hosted by Dr. Walts and attended the CTE Career Connections Event at the Edward Kelly Center. She was invited to the PWCS 2019 Outstanding Educators Reception at Colgan HS and the PWCS Best Practices Conference at Forest Park High School on February 14th.

Questions and Answers

PL: What are the top three major issues facing the district you wish to represent? 

Gaston: Advocating for more educational resources, educational equity and opportunity, and closing achievement gaps.

PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues?

Gaston: Improving teacher retention in particular in under performing schools, enhancing educational resources to close the achievement gaps, and promoting equity for the entire school system so all students can achieve and have the same opportunities.

PL: From your perspective, what is the job description of the office you’re seeking?

Gaston: A school board member is a leader and champion for education in their community. Together the school board should establish a community of lifelong learners, responsible citizens and create champions of global success. They should promote a sense of community with high expectations and high academic achievements for all students.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Gaston: Twenty five years of educational experience and training, community advocacy and understanding of the educational community.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government?

Gaston: My goal is transparency with my constituents through communicating with the Coles Community about their specific needs. I want them to be comfortable coming to me with questions and concerns, and not worry that I am pushing some hidden political agenda. I want to be their voice on the school board who represents our community’s diverse needs in PWCS decisions.

PL: Have you ever made any mistakes in your public life? How have they affected you?

Gaston: No.

PL: Our readers want leaders in local government. Why should they vote for you?

Gaston: I have worked in education for twenty five years with a boots on the ground approach. I want to bring my extensive school system experience and education to PWCS. I am the change we need in the Coles District and the voice we deserve. I am passionate and committed to working hard for PWCS.  I am not a career politician by any means, but I do believe wholeheartedly in the sanctity of public education and providing a world class education for all students. I am dedicated to learning all aspects of PWCS to better serve our community. You can look forward to my continued work PWCS. The best is yet to come.