Key Facts
Background
Robyn A. Lady graduated from William & Mary with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and from the University of Virginia with a master’s degree in education. Lady is retired after working for over 25 years in FCPS, most recently as the director of student services at Chantilly High School for 15 years.She holds a leadership certificate from George Mason University for counselor education and has been awarded the FCPS Director of Student Services of the Year Award and the Virginia College Admissions Counselor of the Year award, among others. She owns a small college admissions coaching business, has been the past President of the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling, and currently serves as a board member for the National Association for College Admission Counseling [1, 2, 3, 5].
Key Issues
Budget
Lady supports wielding fiduciary responsibility with taxpayer money in the matters of decision making. She also wants to invest in sustainability alternatives to conserve money that could be used for student success [1].
Communication
Lady wants to engage with school staff and the community, particularly parents and their students, to solve local school issues through choosing local community members to represent Dranesville on the school board’s advocacy committees [1].
Curriculum
Lady wants to improve early childhood education and ensure all students can read by third grade and all eighth graders have taken algebra or a more advanced math course. She wants to support staffing ratios that accommodate various fluency levels for English as a Second Language students. Lady advocates for students to take advanced courses and for the review of homework to make sure that students are benefitting from assignments, as well as helping older students move through the college admissions process or other non-college options. Lady wants to make sure grading policies—particularly for advanced and special education students—are preparing students for their next level of schooling. She supports continuing closing the COVID-19 learning gap and career exploration through middle and high school electives [1, 3].
Mental Health
Lady wants to support the mental health of staff and students, especially focusing on the relation between student achievement and social/emotional health [1].
Miscellaneous
Lady wants to alleviate school overcrowding, particularly near the Tysons Silver Line. She also wants to keep other levels of government from overreaching into the public school system [1].
School Safety
Lady wants to create a safe, inclusive school environment, including investing in more ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs) counselors and prevention training [1, 3].
Teachers
Lady wants to fully fund competitive salaries and benefits for all staff, particularly teachers, to retain a strong workforce, particularly for teachers and bus drivers. She also wants to improve new teachers’ onboarding process and ongoing mentorship [1].
Endorsements
Fairfax County Democratic Committee; Victory Fund; FCPS Pride; Elaine Tholen, Fairfax County Public Schools School Board Chair and Dranesville District Representative; John Foust, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman; David Bulova, Virginia State Delegate; Barbara Favola, Virginia State Senator
Sources
1 Robyn Lady
2 LinkedIn
3 LPAC
4 Fairfax Democrats
5 Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling
6 VPAP