Maintaining High-Quality Services Priority For Tom Dannan: Candidate Questionnaire

BURKE, VA — Maintaining high-quality services for all students is a priority for school board candidate Tom Dannan.

"With funding limitations and our children’s future changing so rapidly, we need to not just maintain high standards, but also be creative in re-imagining how we can best prepare our kids for the world," he said. "To do this, I want to listen to people on the ground — teachers, staff, and families — to get ideas, feedback, and buy-in."

Dannan is facing Saundra Davis in the March 3 special election to fill the vacant Braddock District seat on the Fairfax County School board.

The school board seat became vacant on Dec. 16., when Rachna Sizemore Heizer was sworn in as the new Braddock District supervisor. She was elected to that post by defeating Republican Kenneth P. "Ken" Balbuena and Independent candidate Carey Chet Campbell in the Dec. 9 special election.

To help the public learn more about the candidates running in the March 3 special election, Patch has invited Dannan and Davis to fill out a questionnaire. The following are Dannan's responses.

Name

Tom Dannan

Position sought:

Braddock District Representative, Fairfax County School Board

Have you been endorsed by a recognized political party? If so, which one?

Yes, Fairfax County Democratic Committee

Age (as of Election Day)

41

Campaign Website

Tom Dannan

Family: Names, ages and any pertinent details you wish to share.

Wife, Michelle, and two children, ages 10 and 7. Both are current FCPS students

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes relatives who work in th government you're running for.

Some work in various consulting/contracting roles, but no one in elected office or politics. My uncle served on the city council in Scottsdale, AZ a few decades ago, but that's probably not really relevant

Education

B.A. in Policy Studies and a Master's in Public Administration, both from Syracuse University

Occupation

My wife and I have owned and operated a local kids' gym for the past 13 years. I have also worked as a Project Manager/Contractor for the past 14 years with multiple companies and Federal agencies. I’ve also volunteered as a Little League coach and PTA President.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

None

Why are you seeking elective office?

I’ve never run for office, but this moment is too important to stand by. We moved here because of the wonderful schools, and I’ve worked hard to be a part of that, including serving two years as PTA President. But FCPS is now at a crossroads--we're facing budget constraints, attacks on public education, and the prospect of AI and technology reshaping our children's futures. I firmly believe Braddock needs a board member that will listen to educators and families, and collaborate amongst the school board and with local elected officials to advocate for our schools. I will work hard to uphold the core values that define our community: academic excellence, inclusion, and opportunity.

The single most pressing education-related issue facing voters in the Braddock District is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Maintaining high-quality services for all kids. With funding limitations and our children’s future changing so rapidly, we need to not just maintain high standards, but also be creative in re-imagining how we can best prepare our kids for the world. To do this, I want to listen to people on the ground--teachers, staff, and families--to get ideas, feedback, and buy-in.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

I’m a problem-solver and I’m focused on bringing people together, in good faith, to address issues and find solutions. I’ve never run for office and this isn’t something I really imagined doing, but realizing the stakes we’re in–and the fact that my kids’ future is literally on the line–I can’t stand by when I know I can make a positive impact. I think it’s critical we work collaboratively and creatively to address these challenges. My mom was a union educator, and I’ve worked in classrooms here in the U.S. and around the world. My experience has taught me the importance of listening to people who are on the ground, doing the work, and working in partnership. My only agenda is to put our kids first.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

First, I want to be much more collaborative, especially around the budget process and operational changes. I believe in my core that it is critical that we listen to the people on the front line–teachers, staff, and families. We should take advantage of the fact that teachers and staff now have a seat at the table, through the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and we should welcome their meaningful engagement with every issue and decision.

Second, I want to make sure every child, teacher, and staff member is safe and welcome in our schools. That means helping build a culture of trust, kindness, and empathy, and we can do this by empowering efforts such as peer-to-peer groups, intergenerational community activities, and interfaith coalitions. It also means ensuring that we are upholding the FCPS Trust policy, which ensures that students who are immigrants can access FCPS benefits and services without fear.

Lastly, I want to be very purposeful about how we use technology in the classrooms, including AI. This means protecting the data and privacy of our kids, and ensuring that educational technology use is driven by data and research.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Wherever I've ended up, I've always found a way to make an impact.

When I finished my Peace Corps service, I was asked to manage a health clinic in South Sudan, taking over a volunteer-led effort that was on the verge of losing its main source of funding. I got to work building relationships with donors, government partners, and the local community, and after several years we had not only prevented the clinic from closing, but dramatically expanded our services and saved countless lives. I did this while battling incredible logistical constraints and health risks, including malaria and civil conflict.

As a small business owner, my wife and I took over an existing franchise that was severely in the red and weeks away from closing its doors. We’ve since built it into a very successful operation, and recently won “Franchise of the Year.” I’m also proud to say that we’ve become part of the community, donating thousands of dollars in services to local preschools, PTAs, and community organizations.

As PTA President at Terra Centre, I helped rebuild our PTA after COVID, increasing our membership by 46% and increasing our fundraising by 43% in my first year. We also improved our programming, enhanced our advocacy, and hosted community events like Bingo Night and our Spring Fun Fair.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Always consider how my actions will look in a historical context. When all the emotions of the day wear off, and our kids are looking back at this, how will our decisions look? For me, that also means being able to look our kids in the eye and tell them I did everything I could to set them up for a successful future.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm a policy person at my core — I have a firm dislike of politics and gamesmanship. I want to approach this work by looking at data and facts, in hand with input from educators and families. I'm committed to putting our kids first, and keeping them at the front of every decision we make.

How To Vote In The March 3 Special Election

Any registered voter in the Braddock District can cast a ballot in the March 3 special election. The early voting period runs through Feb. 28 at the following location:

• Fairfax County Government Center, Room 323, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax; Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

A second polling location in the Braddock District will be open Feb. 21-28:

• Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke 22015; Monday-Friday, Feb. 21-28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The deadline to register to vote, update your registration or apply to have your ballot mailed to you is Feb. 20. For more information, visit the Virginia Department of Elections website

Also See ...

• Academic Excellence, Fiscal Responsibility Priorities For Saundra Davis: Candidate Questionnaire
• Saundra Davis Runs As Independent In Braddock School Board Race
• Primary Results: Braddock District Democrats Pick School Board Candidate
• Democratic Candidates In School Board Race To Square Off In Firehouse Primary