Key Facts
Background
Lawrence Webb graduated from Shenandoah University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and a graduation certificate in Public Management [2, 7]. Webb was formerly the assistant dean of admissions at Mary Washington University and is currently a coordinator of graduate admissions at Bowie State University [1, 2, 7].
He served as a Councilmember on the Council of the City of Falls Church and as a School Board Member on the Falls Church City School Board, becoming the first openly gay African-American elected official in the Commonwealth of Virginia [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7]. While serving as a member of the school board, Webb was selected twice to be the chair of the school board [1, 5, 6, 7].
He was appointed to the State Board for Correctional Education where he oversaw the school system across the Commonwealth in the Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice, rising to both vice chair and chair of the board. During his term, all high schools in the Department of Juvenile Justice received their state accreditation. Webb has also served on the board of Equality Virginia, which works to secure the rights of LGBTQ individuals [1, 7].
Key Issues
Budget
Webb wants to improve funding for college and career readiness programs to prepare all students for college or the workforce [1, 4].
Curriculum
Webb wants to partner with community organizations during the summer to reduce summer learning loss and help students recover from educational setbacks during COVID-19, especially in math and reading [1, 5].
LGBTQIA+
Webb wants to fight certain proposals by Gov. Glenn Youngkin which he argues take away the protections and rights of LGBTQ students. He believes that students should be allowed to use any facility that aligns with their gender identity [1, 4, 5].
Teachers
Webb wants to develop incentives to not only recruit new teachers but also to keep veteran teachers [1].
Miscellaneous
Webb wants to create environmentally sustainable practices through all new FCPS buildings being LEED gold certified and taking advantage of grants for electric buses to assist with greening the school bus fleet [1].
Endorsements
Adam Ebbin, State Senator; Scott Surovell, State Senator; Eileen Filler-Corn, Delegate; Paul Krizek, Delegate; Alphonso Lopez, Delegate; Mark Sickles, Delegate; Marcus Simon, Delegate; Rip Sullivan, Delegate; Kathy Tran, Delegate; Laura Jane Cohen, Fairfax County School Board Member; Karen Corbett Sanders, Fairfax County School Board Member; Sharon Bulova, Former Chairman of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Pat Hynes, Former Fairfax County School Board Member; Kris Amundson, Former Delegate and Fairfax County School Board Member; Laura Downs, Falls Church City School Board Chair; Hon. Greg Anderson, Former Falls Church City School Board Chairman; Shannon A. Litton, Former Falls Church City School Board Member and Chair; Robert Rigby, Co-President of FCPS Pride; Sean Perryman, Former Fairfax County NAACP President; FCPS Pride; LGBTQ+ Victory Fund; Blue Virginia
Sources
1 Lawrence Webb
2 LinkedIn
3 VPAP
4 Annandale Today
5 Connection Newspapers
6 Falls Church News Press
7 Shenandoah University