Valarie Jarvis, candidate for Durham school board

Name: Valarie Jarvis

Email: jarvis4education@gmail.com

Political Party: School Board is nonpartisan

Age: 44

Campaign website: https://www.betterboardbetterschools.com/valariejarvis

Occupation and employer: Registered nurse

Education: University of Virginia - Bachelor of Science

Have you run for elected office before? No.

Please list highlights of your civic involvement:

Chair- Long-Term Care and Behavioral Health Committee / Member of NC State Health Coordinating Council (SHCC) Trustee- Durham County Hospital Corporation Board of Trustees Deacon at Kings Park International Church Coach/ Commissioner / Executive Team- Oak Grove Athletic Association Member- Women with Vision, inc

Who are your top three campaign contributors? Various concerned Durham citizens

What are your top three priorities for Durham Public Schools?

Increasing academic proficiency, Teacher retention and recruitment and Student Safety

What does DPS do well? In what areas does it need to improve?

DPS prides itself on offering an inclusive environment that exposes pupils to various viewpoints. These ideologies provide multiple perspectives and opinions that facilitate comprehensive thought and awareness. I feel the greatest area of need is academic achievement and reading/math proficiency. While focusing on inclusion, equity, and diversity are vital to the well-being of an emerging adult, the lack of academic rigor stifles the ability to comprehend these tenets. Without strong critical thinking skills forged by strong communication, our students cannot accurately defend any ideological position or evaluate novel theories with sobriety and response. Academic weakness also creates an unfair disadvantage to high school graduates as they compete against the global marketplace. First and foremost, it is the role of a school to ensure that all graduates are ready for the workforce of post-secondary education.

What about your life experience makes you the best person for the school board?

As a parent who has adopted a child from the Durham Foster Care system, I understand the struggles of children who have experienced trauma and abuse at a young age and how it affects a child’s academic pursuit. My family has been a part of private, charter, modified and the public school system. I understand the pros and cons of each. I desire to utilize my experience of navigating the educational system by offering suggestions on how to make DPS more effective with the resources allocated to it. Furthermore as a geriatric nurse manager, I advocate for the whole person. I understand medical triage and setting priorities for patients who struggle with mental, physical, and environmental considerations. Additionally, my healthcare understanding and experience will be valuable as we continue to protect children from pandemic risks and effects.

How should the school board evaluate the superintendent and make that process more transparent to the community?

The superintendent should be evaluated by the success of the school system. The benchmarks, among other achievements, should primarily be based upon the attainment of academic achievement goals.

Should anti-racism education be taught in the schools and is DPS doing an adequate job teaching Black history?

Historical injustices are a valid part of American history. I believe comparing World History with our own American experience may prove that the sad realities of racism have plagued the entire planet since recorded history. Furthermore, the timeline of America’s progress and setbacks should be measured by our relatively young country to dynasties of a millennia - to celebrate our country’s achievements of race relations and also to recognize our faults. A school’s mission should be to encourage our young citizens to forge ahead in creating equality, justice and solidarity within our nation. DPS already focuses on Black history and I feel that it is vital to ensure that Black and brown children are able to see and find role models that look like them. I would encourage DPS to also celebrate local African Americans who made contributions to this city and recognize these great heroes whose names are on many of our Durham public school buildings.

What strategies would you advocate to raise the academic achievement of Black boys in the school system?

Our current educational model stifles the young, active, physical male. Six hours a day of sitting in a seat, keeping your hands to yourself, coloring within the lines, and only speaking once directed, creates frustration to many boys who want to do the complete opposite - stand up, run around, touch/tag/tackle, build and destroy, and even sometimes be rambunctious. I believe boys need enhanced outdoor, hands-on education that focuses on the ‘why’s’ of learning. Physics, math, and science should be taught more outside (when applicable) in simulated, real-world projects that create curiosity, not simply paper-pushing assignments. I strongly believe these measures would engage our boys and make them excited to learn. I would also like to craft unique school days where the class explores various trades, entrepreneurship opportunities, and emerging, unconventional industries.

How can DPS reverse enrollment losses and de facto segregation in its schools?

The goal of the Durham Public Schools system should be to create schools so diverse, academically proficient, and comprehensive that charter schools and private schools shrink in population. Plainly, the growth of these alternative schools are indictments of failure. In order to improve, we must perform self-evaluation and take demonstrative steps to increase the standards of learning. With the community’s help, we can restore an amazing public school system that is renowned in North Carolina and the Southeast.

How can DPS better support teachers and other staff and reduce turnover?

Teachers are our front-line, ground-zero truth-tellers. If listened to, they will voice their concerns and even offer remedies to enhance the classroom. Perhaps offering teacher enrichment opportunities, short- term sabbaticals might reduce burn-out. Administration needs to be sensitive to the teachers’ work day and avoid assigning them to additional tasks during their prep periods. I believe our school system has become top-heavy. We incentivize some of our best teachers to become administrators instead of creating pay structures that keep them in the classroom. I suggest contemplating a serious discussion about reallocating wages from non-academic management roles to classroom educators.

Describe one idea you would like the school board to consider even though it might not be universally popular.

I would like to see the school board advocate for increased academic expectations and expectations., return grading to the 7 point scale. I think summer school should be mandatory for any student receiving a 70 or lower in any class. I believe class disruptions/student misbehavior should be quickly addressed with immediate parental/guardian intervention.

How can DPS partner with charter schools or learn from their examples?

I feel it’s always good to review and look for best practices. The relationship between DPS and Durham charter schools should not be adversarial but cooperative to determine best practices, unconventional learning structures that have proven successful, and better ways to be manage resources.

This story was originally published April 26, 2022 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Valarie Jarvis, candidate for Durham school board."