by John Reid

‘Raising the bar means “to set a high standard, and to raise expectations.”

For Diana Brown, it’s more than just a slogan, it’s a calling.

It is a calling which began in her native Honduras, developed in the Bronx, and has grown in Virginia, where she currently lives in Manassas. Through it all, learning in the public school system prepared her for this moment, as she is now campaigning for the Manassas City School Board. Recently, Diana spoke with the PW Perspective’s John Reid and talked about the necessity of running.

She talked about her experience in the education space. “I’ve been an educator for almost two decades,,” she said. “I started my career as a teacher assistant and then became a teacher. I also had some roles as an education specialist for K-12 and I was handling everything with both compliance and special education. After five years, I moved into assistant principalship.”

Recognition follows her wherever she goes. According to her bio, in 2019 –The Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals awarded Diana two very prestigious awards for her outstanding contributions to students and the community she serves, the Bell Award and the Regional Outstanding Assistant Principal Award. In 2021, National Association of Elementary School Principals also awarded her the Virginia’s National Outstanding Assistant Principal of the year.

“Most of my career was in Hampton Roads, specifically Virginia Beach,” she continued, “but I moved to Manassas for family reasons and started working at Fairfax County Public Schools.”

Teaching in diverse communities has given her the understanding of meeting the students’ needs, and in a city which houses 7700 students, with approximately 69.9% Hispanic, Diana believes the time is now for better representation in the leadership space.

“I know public schools is the foundation for prosperity and that sentiment carries through the Hispanic community in Manassas as well,” she said. “That lack of representation is one reason I’m running. We need someone at that table who can address the needs of the community.”

“I am working for all students, but the focus on the lack of representation is important. We need someone who is prepared to handle the complexities of the public school system, and the roles in which I’ve served have prepared me for the moment.”

So, how is life different from the political lens as opposed to the educational one? Diana talked about her reasoning being multi-purposed in raising the bar for literacy and math scores.

“Did I ever think I’d enter the political arena? No, but then I’ve seen the outcomes of literacy rates in Manassas, it compelled me to do something about it. I can be a voice for these families and speak in their language to their concerns.”

She credits her upbringing in helping her establish her goals to get this far.

“Coming from Honduras, we have a very strong spirit of resilience, so I’m entering this political arena with the courage and support of others, so I know I will be successful in getting my message across. I want to advance the level of support I’m giving my community,” she said.

“I see it as a means to an end by being at the table when decisions are made.”

Recently, the Manassas City School Board proposed a $153 million budget, with a goal of retaining teachers. It is a prioritized task for Diana, who has experience in being an advocate on the state level.

“Three or four years ago I was working with [former Virginia Governor Ralph] Northam, and I was one of the strongest advocates for raising teacher pay,” she said. “It was going to be cut from the budget, and I worked to make sure it stayed a priority.”

Going back to her experience in the classroom, she discussed what educators need on a legislative level to teach. “All teachers want is safety in the classroom, resources to do their job, and equitable pay.”

As with many Virginians, the challenge of attainable housing forces her to work in another county, while living elsewhere. It is why, she says, that teacher pay needs to be raised in Manassas City.

“I cannot live in the community where I work, because housing is very expensive,” she stated. “I’ve always lived in the community where I work, but home prices have risen, but teacher pay has not.”

She continues, “That has a direct impact on the influence they can have in the community with students and their parents. I will advocate for teachers to have access to workforce development to help them address students with mental health needs as well. It’s one of the biggest issues we face, and teachers need to be equipped to handle it, especially after the pandemic. I believe we must make it a priority.”

“There is also the mental health component from the pandemic. We didn’t transition them well enough. They were in front of a computer for two years, and the transition back to the classroom for them and teachers was overnight. Those students may have dealt with significant trauma from isolation. They may have had situations where parents worked two jobs, or dealt with divorce, and lack of tutoring.”

“I believe in our haste to come back to schools, we missed the mark, but we have a window to name these issues and provide the resources to the students.”

Besides the mental health crisis students face, Diana addresses another major issue. “Regarding Manassas City, we need to decrease the rate of absenteeism. We need them in the classroom to teach them. I remember as an assistant principal, I would look at the attendance rates, and I would never let it get past 5 percent. I would host monthly meetings and outreach to parents, because we never wanted it to go higher than 5 percent.”

“Right now we have nationwide issues with absenteeism, it’s almost 30 percent,” she continued. “Even 27 percent in a place like Manassas is significant, and that impacts our results. Currently, our scores are 59% for reading and 53% for math. It’s a direct correlation to being in school.”

Diana makes a clarion call to the Manassas City community. “It starts with the commitment of everyone in the community to make that happen. It starts with the business owners, to families, to teachers, to the board. We have to come together as a united front, light up the city and create a revolution where everyone sends the same message that our students are important.”

“If we say that attendance matters, then show us.”

How has life been on the campaign trail for Diana? She lights up thinking about it, reflecting on her days as an educator.

“I gotta say it’s exciting! I compare it to getting a new school assignment. The transition has been very positive, and I’ve received a lot of support from my family. I want to build a legacy of community service and caring. Transitioning into this new endeavor is giving me an opportunity to outreach on a larger scale than I ever thought possible.”

She credits those teachers who encouraged her as she made the difficult transition to a new country, and culture.

“When I arrived in this country, I never saw myself here. To have achieved so much, that people have a vote of confidence in me to do the work, it’s a sign that I’m on the right path. It gives purpose and meaning to my life. Being a champion for teachers is something that always drives me.”

It’s because of those influences, she has excelled in all areas of education.

“Teaching is a joy, and I’m in my purpose magnificent for families today,” she said. “I have an opportunity to lead a group of teachers and students. To go this course, it cements my path. I’m excited to see what we can do in Manassas City.”

Another challenge is the current administration’s goal to alter diversity, equity, and inclusion standards in the curriculum, and Diana proposes a solution.

“I understand that at the state level, there may be different initiatives coming, and from VDOE. However, I think that the number one thing to do about that is to have people who represent your values at the table,” she said.

“Votes matter, and who sits there matters. If you don’t see someone who looks like you at that table, what you value may not be as elevated as they need to be. We as minorities and invested citizens need to ensure that whoever is making decisions, there needs to be someone there who understands and speaks for us. Currently in Manassas City, that is not the case.”

What has she learned from talking with parents?

“I’m hearing a lot of from parents want their students to be safe in schools,” she said. “One of the loudest requests is that children are included in the learning process, and have a sense of belonging.”

“They are also concerned about the literacy scores, and they have the access to higher education, leading to jobs after graduation. It will not change if we don’t do something about it.”

Running for school board is the next logical step for her, but she doesn’t see it as obtaining a spot at the table. “It’s not positional, it’s missional, not only because I’m an educator, but because the public school system also launched my kids to success. I am the product of a public school system in the Bronx that worked for me, the teachers who saw something in me when no one else did.”

“Back then, we didn’t have many resources,” she continues, “but there were teachers who encouraged me and I attended the Upper Bound program at Fordham University, where I took advanced placement courses. The fact that I was getting paid every two weeks helped me a lot, even in the late 1980s.”

Being placed in that position also gives her an understanding of the problems many students, especially Hispanic students, face in the community.

“It’s a burden a lot of students have with them now, where they have to work to make ends meet in the household. We need to have empathy for students, and open doors to make resources available. I so admire teachers who move the needle forward for them.”

What is her message for the Manassas City community?

“I want the families of Manassas to know I will communicate with them in a practical manner,” she said. “I speak through facts, and not through superfluous stories. If we aren’t doing well, I’ll be direct about it. It’s about elevating the voices of all students, from pre-K to 12th grade.”

“We need to have more student representation on the board, and I will help give them a space to speak out, because they are the ones who are impacted the most, so they should have those opportunities.”

She shares a view of a community-centered educational experience for Manassas:

“I like to think with outside the box ideas, and one of my visions for Manassas City is for businesses to invest in public schools,” she said. “Not just for students, but I want every business to have a sign saying they support them and the teachers.”

“There is a connection between businesses and schools, and if families are coming to your businesses, then you need to send the message that we support you, and we support your children’s education.”

The mother of three children and two grandchildren sees what public education has done in her family, and envisions what she would like to see happen in the future. “I am a grandmother, and that’s why I’m extending myself outside of my comfort zones. By the time my two grandchildren start in public schools, I want to make sure we’re in position to give them access to the resources they need.”

To find out more about Diana Brown’s campaign, visit her list of websites and social media accounts.