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Veteran educators squaring off

Spotsylvania School Board Battlefield District candidates talk about the issues

BY KAREN BOLIPATA

Date published: 10/22/2007

BY KAREN BOLIPATA

Two veteran educators are running for the Spotsylvania County School Board's Battlefield District seat, a position Charles Cowsert is leaving to try for the Board of Supervisors.

Nathaniel Young, 67, is a former Fredericksburg School Board member and high school teacher. Linda Wieland, 52, taught in Spotsylvania for 30 years.

Young, pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Woodford, said parents should be more involved with their children's education to improve academic achievement.

"The parents need to be made aware of the fact that they're basically responsible for their child's education, not the school system," Young said. "They need to work in partnership with the school system."

Schools should have a friendlier environment for parents and provide workshops or programs, he added. To encourage participation, some meetings could be held in the community, perhaps in centers or churches.

The honor roll should include all students with a 3.0 grade-point average, regardless of C's on their report cards. Currently, the county disqualifies students with C's.

The Fredericksburg School Board changed their honor-roll policy during Young's nine-year tenure.

"I think it's more inclusive," he said.

Wieland said joining the board would be a natural transition from a long teaching career.

"I have, for 30 years, fought for the kids in doing what's best for them," she said. "If I'm elected to the School Board, I will continue to do that because that's what the school business is all about."

She said she's concerned about the emphasis placed on standardized testing. As a parent and former teacher, she has been on both sides of the issue.

Her son feels he is being tested too much, Wieland said, yet she has administered the tests.

"I think we need to take good hard looks at what kinds of assessments we're doing with the children--are they all necessary?" she said. And the 100-percent-pass rate of No Child Left Behind in 2014 won't happen, she said.

"In a realistic society, not everybody is going to, no matter how hard we try," Wieland said. "But our job as educators is to channel those children, in my mind, to areas where they can succeed."

Both candidates want to expand the county's vocational training program.

NAME: Linda D. Wieland ADDRESS: Fairview Manor POLITICAL PARTY: Independent POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: N/A AGE: 52 FAMILY: Husband, Werner, and two children OCCUPATION: Retired in July after 30 years of teaching in Spotsylvania County EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory and Henry College, 1977 COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Active in Christ Episcopal Church. Past director of Vacation Bible School, director of Altar Guild, Worship Commission HONORS, AWARDS WON: Teacher of the Year 1999 (Smith Station Elementary); Who's Who in American Teachers THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: In all decisions involving schools, do what is in the best interest of the children; provide educators with time and tools necessary to educate and excite our children; foster open communication between the schools, School Board and the community NAME: Nathaniel Young ADDRESS: Crown Grant POLITICAL PARTY: Independent POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Member of the Fredericksburg School Board, 1984-1993; vice chairman, 1989, chairman, 1990-1993 AGE: 67 FAMILY: Wife, Carolyn, three children OCCUPATION: Pastor, Beulah Baptist; retired educator EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from South Carolina State University, 1962; certificate in operation research, The American University, 1978; attended University of Michigan, Mary Washington College, Liberty University--School of Lifelong Learning, where he studied Christian Counseling, 1978-1980; and the Fredericksburg Bible Institute and Seminary, where he received the following degrees; associate of bible studies, 1989, associate of theology, 1990, bachelor of theology, 1993, master of theology, 1993, doctor of theology, 1994, and doctor of religious education, 1996 COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Math and computer-science teacher at Spotsylvania High School (six years); crisis counselor at Spotsylvania Middle School (12 years); retired crisis counselor from Courtland High School. Current pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Woodford (five years) HONORS, AWARDS WON: Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities; Beta Kappa Chi, National Scientific Honor Society; Sickle Cell Award for Dedicated Service; Tau Rho Chapter Omega Man of the Year; former member, board of directors, American Red Cross Fredericksburg Chapter; life member Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.; Mattaponi Baptist Association of Virginia; African-American Minister Association; Baptist General Convention Of Virginia; Tri County Baptist Minister Conference; Hampton Ministers Conference; Spotsylvania County Afro-American (Retired) Teachers Association THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: Improve parental involvement; expanding our vocational programs; improve academic achievements of all students

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Date published: 10/22/2007