CURRENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
ISIS CASTRO
Chairman
Mt. Vernon District
703-246-4787
e-mail: isis.castro@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
Educator and community activist. Consulted for the Dallas Independent School District. M.A. from New York University and B.A. from the City College of New York. Served on PTA boards at Stratford Landing Elementary, Sandburg Middle, and West Potomac High Schools. Served on several FCPS advisory committees such as those for foreign language textbook adoption, foreign language curriculum, and gifted and talented. Served on the board of directors for United Community Ministries and for Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services. Member of the Mount Vernon Coalition and the Mount Vernon School-Community Coalition. Board Service 2000-present.
CATHERINE A. BELTER
Vice Chairman
Springfield District
703-246-4772
e-mail: catherine.belter@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
Former reference librarian with Fairfax County Public Library. M.L.S. from the University of Maryland and B.A. from Good Counsel College. Former president of the Virginia PTA and the Fairfax Public Library Employees Association and vice president for legislative activity, National PTA. Consultant on the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education. Member of the League of Women Voters and the Fairfax Committee of 100. Served on Virginia Advisory Committee for the Education of the Gifted and FCPS Advisory Committee for Special Education. Coauthored "The Connection: A Citizen's Guide to Effective Involvement in Fairfax County Public Schools." Board service 2000-present.
CHRISTIAN N. BRAUNLICH
Lee District
703-246-4789
e-mail: christian.braunlich@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
B.A. in political science and history from Hofstra University. Member, Hayfield Elementary School, Edison High School, and Hayfield Secondary School PTAs. Odyssey of the Mind problem-solving coach, former Hayfield PTA board member, and former Tartan Village Community Association board member. Board service 1996-present.
MYCHELE B. BRICKNER
At-Large Member
703-246-4788
e-mail: mychele.brickner@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
B.S. in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh. Appointed to the Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure by the Virginia Board of Education and to the Education Advisory Committee of the Council on Information Management by then Virginia Governor George Allen. Serves on the board of the Fairfax Partnership for Youth and chairs the Treatment and Enforcement Task Force. Volunteered service to PTA committees, classrooms, youth sports, and her church. Board service 1996-present.
ROBERT E. FRYE
At-Large Member
703-246-4779
e-mail: robert.frye@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
Retired director of the Office of Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. M.P.A. from American University and B.S. from Howard University. Completed the executive education program of the Federal Executive Institute. Served as consultant for the National School Boards Association (NSBA). Son and daughter attended FCPS from kindergarten through 12th grade; now, UVA and Harvard graduates. Board chairman 1999 and 2000. Board service 1978-85, 1989-93, and 1996-present.
STUART D. GIBSON
Hunter Mill District
703-246-4786
e-mail: stuart.gibson@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
Senior trial attorney for the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Tax Division. Five-time recipient of the Tax Division's outstanding performance award. J.D., cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School and B.S. in journalism from Northwestern University. Former legislation chair for Fairfax County Council of PTAs and former copresident of the Lake Anne Elementary PTA. Member of Reston Optimists. An avid choral singer and father of two daughters, both of whom are FCPS graduates.Board service 1996-present.
ERNESTINE C. HEASTIE
Providence District
703-246-4783
e-mail: ernestine.heastie@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
Head Start teacher for 24 years in public schools. M.A.T. in early childhood education from Trinity College and B.A. from Howard University. Parent of two graduates of FCPS. School-related involvement includes Oakton High School Band Boosters and member of the Superintendent's Community Advisory Council. Past chairman of the Fairfax County Child Care Advisory Council, and steering committee member for the Fairfax Alliance for Human Services. School Board Vice Chairman 2001. Board service 1996-present.
KAYE KORY
Mason District
703-246-4785
e-mail: kaye.kory@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
Advocate for parent and community involvement in public schools for over 20 years; 16-year Mason District resident. Has been PTA president at Sleepy Hollow Elementary and Glasgow Middle Schools and PTA board member at Stuart High School. Served on the Fairfax County Council of PTAs and the Fairfax County Community Action Board. Program development and management positions include project analyst, Fairfax County Department of Community Action, and executive director, S. B. Moon Senior Center--South County Transportation. Two sons who are FCPS graduates and a daughter who is currently an FCPS student. Board service 1999-present.
KATHY L. SMITH
Sully District
703-246-3062
e-mail: kathy.l.smith@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
B.A. degree from Muhlenberg College; was an elementary school teacher; served as a member of the Superintendent's Accountability Advisory Council; former Vice President of the Fairfax County Council of PTAs; former PTA President of Chantilly High, Rocky Run Middle, and Poplar Tree Elementary Schools; mother of 3 children who are current FCPS students and one who graduated June 2002. Board service March 2002 to present.
JANE K. STRAUSS
Dranesville District
703-246-4780
e-mail: jane.strauss@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
Active in education for more than 25 years. Former elementary and preschool teacher. M.A.T. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and B.A. from George Washington University. Past president of the Franklin Sherman PTA and the Fairfax County Council of PTAs and past chair of the Council's education and budget committees. Served on the FCPS Career and Technical Preparation Task Force, the Fairfax Framework for Student Success, the Division Planning Committee, and the Area III Superintendent's Advisory Committee. Cochaired the 1993 Citizen's Bond Committee. Chair of the School Board budget committee 1996-99. School Board vice chair 2000 and chairman 2001. Mother of one current FCPS student and three FCPS graduates. Board service 1991-93, 1996-present.
RITA THOMPSON
At-Large Member
703-246-4774
e-mail: rita.thompson@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
National spokesperson for Concerned Women for America. Former director of public relations and communication, Office of the Springfield District Supervisor. J.D. from Georgetown University, M.A. in international law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School, and B.A. in political science from Regis College. Appointed by then-Governor Allen as Virginia's representative to Education Commission of States. Chair Emeritus of Republican Black Caucus for Virginia. Was parent volunteer at Orange Hunt Elementary and soccer coach for the Springfield Youth Club. Was on the PTA board at West Springfield High School. Board service 2000-present.
JUDITH (TESSIE) WILSON
Braddock District
703-246-4781
e-mail: tessie.wilson@fcps.edu
current term expires 12/31/03
Owner of CW Accounting Services. B.A. from American University. Fairfax County resident for 25 years. Member of Superintendent's Advisory Council, Middle School Language and Grammar Textbook Advisory Committee, and Task Force on Middle School Grading. Was vice president of Bonnie Brae PTA and cofounder of the Youth Council. Was treasurer of the Woodbury Woods Community Association and Fairfax County Republican Committee and was operations chairman for Braddock District Republican Committee. Past treasurer of Robinson PTSA and member of Steering Committee for Scholarship Fund of Fairfax. Mother of two FCPS graduates. Board service 2000-present.
MATTHEW T. WANSLEY
Student Representative
703-246-4784
e-mail: StudentRepresentative@fcps.edu
current term expires 6/30/03
Senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. President of the class of 2003. Active member of Student Government Association cabinet, Model United Nations Club, and French Honor Society. Runner for cross country and track teams. Senior editor of Fragments literary magazine and intern writer for the Connection newspapers. Grade point average over 4.0. Serving a second term as Student Representative.
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Fairfax County Public Schools