Maureen Siegmund is running to become the representative for the Garrisonville District on the Stafford County School Board.

Siegmund says she's right for the job as the Director of External Relations for Active Policy Solutions, a government affairs firm that provides government relations and advocacy support to clients specializing in sports, health, wellness, education, youth development, and civil rights policy.

Siegmund says that this, along with her work with the Board's Gifted Advisory Committee, where she has served as both chair and vice-chair, gives her extensive insight into the issues Stafford County is facing in its schools and the experience to read, understand, and consider the impacts of policy.

Siegmund and her husband Steve have called Stafford County home since 2005, after spending many weekends exploring the area as tourists. They lived in South Stafford until 2016 and then moved to Austin Ridge in the Garrisonville District.

• The couple has four children attending the 2021-2022 school year with an eighth-grader at Rodney Thompson Middle School, fifth and third graders at Anthony Burns Elementary School, and a toddler still at home.

Potomac Local News spoke with Siegmund about her goal to become a member of the school board and other issues related to Stafford County Schools.

What inspired you to run for the School Board?

I have been serving on a School Board advisory committee for five years. I've learned a lot and met many incredible people. However, I noticed that there were no School Board members with young children serving, and I think that perspective is something missing from the board's deliberations.

I realized that they often discussed policy implementation with how it would impact high schools. Still, the impact at the elementary and even the middle school level would be very different and sometimes not considered.

When I learned that my school board representative (Pamela Yeung) would not seek re-election, I decided to run to be that voice and offer that perspective. Through my involvement on the School Board's Gifted Advisory Committee, elementary and middle school PTOs, running a K-12 girls youth development troop, involvement in our church activities, Stafford Parks & Rec sports teams, Stafford Soccer, Izaak Walton League, and the Rouse Center, I have the opportunity to interact with families from across our county and look forward to incorporating that feedback into my contributions to the School Board.

PLN: What do you think Stafford School has done that's encouraging and what could be improved?

Siegmund: We entered Stafford County Public Schools after a private school could not meet our childrens' needs.

Coming into the system with one 'transfer' student and a new kindergartener, both requiring additional services, meant many meetings. We were met with patience and an abundance of answers.

We now have three children in the schools. Some require gifted services. Some have IEPs. SCPS's ability to differentiate each child's education to meet them where they are has been incredible, and having children that experience the spectrum of SPCS services provides me with an amazing perspective of both the excellence of what we offer as well as some areas that need improvement.

Where I think they could improve is opening the doors for parent feedback and questions. It's not that they discourage it, but I think most parents feel like there isn't even the option to ask questions.

When I started serving on the Committee, my friends started asking me lots of questions about how/why things were done. I'd encourage them to call the appropriate person to ask, and there was often this look of shock that they could.

Parents/Teachers/Administration are all on the same team. We all want the exact same thing: the best possible education for Stafford County children. The lines of communication need to be WIDE open. I also think the county could do a better job at pushing out information for parents who, like me, sometimes don't know about the full spectrum of what our school has to offer. It's hard to ask questions about or to participate in what can be life-changing opportunities if no one knows it's available.

PLN: Last year, students missed a lot of school time due to the pandemic. Do you think it was necessary to shut down the schools?

Siegmund: Yes, in March 2020, it was necessary to shut down the schools. I also understand that at the time that and other decisions were taken out of the hands of local school boards and prescribed at the state level.

With what we now know, I think providing parents the option of in-person or virtual school should be the policy moving forward. I think parents most often have the best perspective from which to make those kinds of choices for their kids.

Additionally, I think it is imperative that the School Board work closely with the Board of Supervisors, state delegates, and state senators to ensure they have the best possible information about our students' needs.

PLN: There are discussions about students wearing masks once they return to school. What are your thoughts on that?

Siegmund: I believe anyone who wants to wear a mask absolutely should. In most, if not all, ways, this county prides itself on seeking to accommodate students and their individual needs.

I support having a flexible policy that supports each student and their needs. Generally speaking, I believe that "one-size-fits-all' policies can fail to effectively address the needs of students, and we can do better. Our students deserve it.

Siegmund will be on the ballot on Nov. 2, running against Wanda Blackwell for the Garrisonville district seat of the Stafford County School Board.

• While School Board elections are considered to be non-partisan, Delegate Joshua Cole (D-28, Stafford, Fredericksburg) stood in support of Blackwell at her campaign kick-off in North Stafford in July.
• Early voting begins September 18 at the county government center at 1300 Courthouse Road.