Endorsements
Patrick Hope
Delegate, Virginia House District 1
“I believe that Kathleen's insightful leadership is just what our school system needs to develop long-term plans for success. With so much recent turnover on the school board, we need someone who has experience with how the APS system works, and Kathleen is the right person for the job. The depth and breadth of her experience will contribute to thoughtful decision-making on day one. I am confident that her combination of deep compassion and prudent oversight will help APS students get to the better outcomes that they deserve.”
Barbara Favola
Senator, Virginia State Senate 40th District
“I enthusiastically endorse Kathleen Clark for one of the two school board seats eligible for the Democratic endorsement in the school board caucus. I know Kathleen will work hard to reduce the student achievement gap, allocate more resources to students facing learning challenges, and value our teachers. Kathleen is the person we need to ensure that every child in the Arlington public school system has the opportunity to succeed.”
Libby Garvey
Arlington County Board Chair
"Kathleen Clark should be one of your two votes for School Board this year. As a parent and activist, she is already familiar with how to get things done in our school system. Kathleen has demonstrated her commitment to tackle structural problems that our educational system faces, while maintaining a deep investment in each student's pathway to success. I think she will help develop a long-term vision for our collective hopes and aspirations, and this includes what we hope for in our educational system decades from now. Kathleen appreciates the benefits of long-range visioning and planning, and will be able to help set a course for APS future success."
Matt de Ferranti
Arlington County Board Member
“Kathleen Clark is a dedicated and committed leader of our schools. Her enthusiasm for helping families overcome obstacles and achieve academic success and her deep knowledge or how the school system works will enable her to serve Arlington well. She will focus on getting the best outcomes for all students, strike the right balance to thoughtfully invest in student success, and ask the right questions on school budgets, facilities, and instruction. Please join me in voting for Kathleen Clark in the School Board Caucus on May 5th, 8th, or 11th.”
Paul Ferguson
Former Chair, Arlington County Board
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Arlington
“Kathleen Clark and I both have similar stories of growing up in Arlington and wanting to serve the community that did so much for us. Kathleen brings knowledge of school related issues through her appointments to multiple school advisory committees, and has demonstrated her ability to combat the Youngkin agenda through her past advocacy. She is committed to strong environmental and green building policies. The totality of Kathleen’s experience and skills clearly make her the best choice in the upcoming Democratic Endorsement Process.”
Barbara Kanninen
Former Chair, Arlington School Board
“Kathleen Clark is a proven leader who will be ready to serve our APS community on Day One. She does her homework, engages constructively and believes in the full potential of every child. Please join me in supporting Kathleen in the Democratic School Board Caucus in May”
David Bell
Former Clerk of the Circuit Court of Arlington
Former Vice-Chair, Arlington Electoral Board
"Kathleen has been active and committed to Arlington Schools for years. She has an unmatched combination of professional and personal experience that will benefit the entire school system and all of our children. She is a native Arlingtonian and a solid , reasonable person. I am happy she is willing to serve and delighted to endorse her."
Peter Rousselot
Former Chair, Arlington County Democratic Committee
Photo by Michael Ventura
“Kathleen Clark has many years of proven leadership experience on a variety of committees advising Arlington Public Schools. She understands that a great educational system will support and meet each child's unique needs. As a lifelong Arlington resident, Kathleen knows the vital role APS plays in the Arlington community. We are fortunate that she has offered to use her professional skills, objective metrics, and good common sense to address the many daunting challenges APS faces.”
Alex Sakes
President, Penrose Neighborhood Association
“As a life-long Arlingtonian and Arlington Public Schools graduate, I couldn't be more inspired by Kathleen's unmatched record of advocacy of standing up for our most vulnerable student populations as President of Arlington's Special Education PTA and as Vice-Chair of APS' Strategic Plan Steering Committee. Kathleen is a battle-tested fighter who has spent years in the trenches doing invaluable work in pursuit of equity, academic achievement, fiscal transparency, and operational efficiency. Kathleen knows Arlington and Arlington knows Kathleen. I hope you will join me in ranking her as your top choice for Arlington County School Board this Spring."
Kip Malinosky
Former Chair, Arlington County Democratic Committee
“Kathleen Clark is already a dedicated, thoughtful, and all-around excellent leader for Arlington Public Schools. She is a parent of three APS students and has shown years of dedication to making our schools better for all students, parents, and teachers.. Kathleen advocates for our most vulnerable students--English Learners, neurodiverse, and twice exceptional students--by fighting to remove barriers to learning and advocating for education for the whole child. Her experience on Arlington Strategic Planning Committee demonstrates her remarkable ability to bring people of diverse perspectives together. Kathleen will be an outstanding school board member.”
Greg Eastman
APS Strategic Planning Steering Committee Member
“Kathleen for school board is an easy choice. I have worked with her on the Strategic Plan Steering Committee and I think she would be a natural as a school board member. She is dedicated, level-headed and works well with a wide variety of people. She takes the time to do her homework and fully understand the issues she is working on. She has also worked tirelessly for students, teachers, and schools in other capacities, including being the former President of Arlington Special Education PTA (SEPTA). She will no doubt continue to put students first while representing and being a voice for all.”
Bryan Coleman
Arlington County Transportation Commissioner
Community Leader
"It's my pleasure to endorse Kathleen for School Board because we need a leader with a proven commitment to uplifting the voices of our most vulnerable students to close the achievement gap, address the behavioral health crisis, and restore trust in APS.
Sierra Club
Virginia Chapter
“In addition to her environmental commitment, Clark impressed the Sierra Club with her advocacy skills, her deep community relationships, and her understanding of APS policies and practices.”
NoVA Labor
Northern Virginia AFL-CIO
More Endorsements
Parisa Dehghani-Tafti
Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church
Laura Saul Edwards
ARLnow Editor, Columnist, Opinion Section
Kathleen McSweeney
Community Activist
Mark Teel
Community Member
Maggie Slye
Chair, APS Strategic Planning Steering Committee
Early Childhood Advisory Committee