2020 Candidates

Cristina Diaz-Torres

Cristina Diaz-Torres is a teacher and education policy specialist who works every day with school districts and education organizations across the country to improve student outcomes with evidence-based systems and policies. She gets the data, knows instruction, and believes every student has a right to succeed. 

• A Collaborative Framework for Education Governance: Student outcomes improve when all stakeholders have a seat at the table - including parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders. Now, more than ever, students need leaders who are ready to rebuild our systems of education past this pandemic.
  
  
• Equity: Every decision must be made based on this promise - all students have a right to succeed no matter their race, gender, background, learning or physical ability, family situation, legal status, or zip code. Our budgets must tell an inclusive story that says every student has a right to be at grade level and graduate ready to thrive in higher education or the workforce.
  
  
• Improved & Transparent Data: Improve our systems for data collection, analysis, and sharing to be more transparent, to provide action-ready insights, and to be accessible to all stakeholders. APS must disavow data silos by connecting the dots that show inequities and inefficiencies wherever they are.
  
  
• Supporting our Educators: Support teacher-driven, evidence-based professional development and competitive compensation that allows our staff to live in the community where they work. Interest-Based Bargaining is a game-changer that empowers our educational professionals to support our students in every Arlington Classroom.

To read more, visit www.cristinaforarlington.com

My name is David Priddy. I am a native Arlingtonian brought up through Arlington County Public Schools. I graduated from James Madison University in 1996 with a degree in History. Most of my professional career has been in the elevator industry where I helped manage multimillion dollar budgets for branches in Santa Barbara, Burbank, and Northern Virginia. Currently, I have the honor of being a stay-at-home dad to my two wonderful sons who attend Fleet Elementary and TJ
Middle School.

I am running for School Board because I can add a voice and perspective that is not currently represented on the board. My business experience coupled with being the only candidate with both elementary school and middle school age children currently in APS uniquely positions me to represent the APS experience and to provide direction moving forward. I have had a front-row seat to four decades of positive changes, as well as to the remaining challenges that Arlington County Schools face. Currently I serve as President of Thomas Jefferson Middle School PTA and various other organizations/committees within
APS and the greater community.

My vision for being a member of the School Board is as follows: Achieve equity across APS, proper planning for future growth, and transparent communication. I’ll help continue building a stronger foundation for education in our county with a
detailed plan for my vision.

To learn more about the details of my candidacy, visit https://priddyforschoolboard.com

I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.