Key Facts
Background
Arben Istrefi graduated from Seton Hall University with a bachelor’s degree in international relations and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer of CYDEO, a company that trains students with no IT experience to successful IT careers, and has served in leadership positions for a number of nonprofits, such as MOVE Chamber, where he is a board member. Istrefi was recently included on the 2023 Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 Honorees [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Key Issues
Communication
Istrefi wants to build trust across stakeholders, as well as listen to the concerns of students and others [1, 4].
Curriculum
Istrefi wants to always put the interests of students first [1].
Equity
Istrefi wants to support the most vulnerable students [1].
Parental Involvement
Istrefi wants to engage parents and families [1].
Teachers
Istrefi wants to empower educators [3, 4].
Endorsements
Loudoun Democrats; Harris Mahedavi, Loudoun County Public Schools School Board Vice-Chair; Sam Rasoul, Virginia State Delegate; Jennifer Wexton, United States Representative; Jamie Raskin, United States Representative; Atif Qarni, former VA Secretary of Education; David Reid, Virginia State Delegate; Ghazala Hashmi, Virginia State Senator; Suhas Subramanyam, Virginia State Delegate; Koran Saines, Sterling District Supervisor
Sources
1 Arben 4 Sterling
2 LinkedIn
3 Loudoun Now
4 Blue Ridge Leader
5 MOVE Chamber
6 VPAP
7 Loudoun Times-Mirror
8 Loudoun Democrats