Key Facts
Background
Melanie Meren graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and from Duke University with a Master’s in Public Policy [1, 3, 4, 6]. Meren has lived in Fairfax County since 2005 with her husband and 2 children who attend Fairfax County Schools [1, 3, 4, 7, 9]. She is the current representative on the Fairfax County School Board from the Hunter Mill District and is the liaison from the school board to the Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee and the Fairfax Community Criminal Justice Board [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].
Meren also runs MKM LLC, a small business which creates effective work systems and clear communication that works with numerous agencies such as the National Parks Conservation Association and the Department of Education [1, 3, 6, 9]. While working for the Department of Education, she managed a 15 million dollar annual grant to assist early childhood educators of students most in need [1, 6, 7]. She also attended a year-long program at the prestigious Sorensen Institute For Political Leadership [1, 4, 6]. In 2015, she helped lead the #IamFCPS grassroots campaign to stop budget cuts to schools in Fairfax County [1, 3, 4, 6, 9]. Under VPAP, Meren is reported to be a Democrat [2].
Key Issues
Accessibility
Meren believes that the curriculum should accommodate the different strengths and needs of the students to ensure an appropriate public education for all students, including those who have disabilities and those who need advanced academic opportunities.
Budget
Meren believes that fiscal responsibility needs precise planning and measures of accountability to ensure a return on investment.
Curriculum
Meren believes that essential parts of learning are critical thinking skills, physical activity, and emotional health and should be included in the curriculum. She also believes that a strong early childhood education must be available to all families and students. Meren believes that schools must reduce the amount of trailers and establish outdoor learning spaces.
Mental Health
Meren believes that every public school should have mental health professionals to help students and staff.
School Safety
Meren believes that no student should fear for their safety and every parent should have peace of mind when their children are in school.
Teachers
Meren believes that Fairfax County must offer competitive compensation and benefits, vital instructional resources, and realistic expectations on teachers’ time to attract and retain excellent teachers. Meren believes that forging a teacher-student bond is critical and can be achieved through reducing class sizes.
Miscellaneous
Meren believes that Fairfax County must attract staff who represent Fairfax County: diverse in thoughts, experiences, and appearances.
Endorsements
Fairfax County Democratic Committee
Sources
1 Melanie Meren
2 VPAP
3 MKM Strategies
4 Fairfax County Public Schools
5 Ballotpedia
6 Linkedln
7 Reston Now – FCPS School Board…
8 Reston Now – After Debate Fairfax…
9 Fairfax Times