RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Richmond will have a new school board next year.
On top of picking a new mayor and city council this November, Richmond voters will also decide who will sit on the city’s school board as all nine district seats are on the ballot.
As Richmond Public Schools’ local governing body, the board votes on implementing school policies, how the district spends funding and has the authority to remove the superintendent.
Members are elected to serve four-year terms and leadership roles are chosen by the board. Changes are on the horizon as at least two incumbents are not running for another term and the 4th District’s former representative resigned from the board.
1st District
Matthew Percival tried to fill a vacancy in the 1st District seat in 2016, per the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and has filed paperwork with the state to run this year.
Current School Board Vice Chair Elizabeth Doerr is not running for another term to represent the 1st District and is supporting Percival, she confirmed to 8News.
2nd District
School Board member Mariah White, a longtime Richmond resident who graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, told 8News she has completed the requirements to run.
She retired as a major from the Virginia National Guard in 2014, per a campaign website when she ran in 2020, and earned two master’s degrees, including one in education from Strayer University.
3rd District
Ali M Faruk, an RPS parent, worked at Housing Opportunities Made Equal (H.O.M.E.) and Families Forward Virginia (FFV), per his campaign website. His campaign website says his key issues are “Community, Transparency, and Accountability.”
Charlene Riley, an RPS parent, told 8News she was running after raising her concerns about the policy shifts and response to the 2023 deadly shooting after the graduation of Huguenot High School.
4th District
Angela Fontaine is the founder of a coaching and consulting firm, according to her LinkedIn page. Fontaine has filed paperwork with the state to run for the now-vacant seat, which the board needs to fill on an interim basis.
She was one of the candidates who tried to fill the city council vacancy when Del. Mike Jones joined the House of Delegates, per the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
(The submission deadline for candidates for the interim appointment to fill the vacancy after Jonathan Young’s resignation has passed. The school board is expected to vote on who to pick on May 20. )
5th District
Current School Board Chair Stephanie Rizzi did not respond to an email on whether she’s running again for the 5th District seat this year.
6th District
School board member Dr. Shonda Harris-Muhammed is a longtime educator who has been a math teacher, math specialist, curriculum specialist, assistant principal and more, per her website. She has filed to run for a second term on the board.
She is the coordinator of Pupil Personnel and Hearing Officer for Southampton County Schools and founder and executive director of Northside Coalition for Children, Inc., according to her LinkedIn page.
7th District
School board member Cheryl Burke, a former RPS elementary school teacher and principal, has been on the city’s school board since being appointed as an interim representative in 2017.
Burke has a Master’s of Education in Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Administration and Supervision from the VCU School of Education.
8th District
Emmett Jafari, the owner of African American Tours of Richmond, has filed paperwork with the state to run for the 8th District board seat. Jafari has run or announced his candidacy for several elected offices in the city, per reporting from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, including Richmond Circuit Court clerk, Richmond City Sheriff and mayor.
Cruz Sherman has been an advocate for gun violence reduction and is a chaplain with the Richmond police, 8News has reported. South Richmond News first reported that Sherman, who has now filed paperwork with the state, would be joining the race.
He was a former Chesterfield County teacher and is the current CEO and president of Cruz Inc., per his LinkedIn page. Cruz Inc., according to its Facebook page, is a “Multi-media, Marketing and Networking Firm.”
Current 8th District School Board member Dawn Page confirmed to 8News she is not seeking re-election in 2024, writing in a statement:
“When we started this journey, I set out to make sure every student was provided quality educational opportunities. I believe we made significant strides in accomplishing that goal and there still remains more work to do. But after much soul searching, I have decided I will not seek re-election.”
9th District
Shavonda Dixon, the current 9th District representative, joined the board earlier this year when she filled the seat left vacant when Nicole Jones filled a vacancy on the city council. Dixon is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School with a master’s degree in Criminal Justice, per her campaign website.
Mary Gresham has worked for Richmond Public Schools for nearly 38 years, per her LinkedIn page, including 33 years as a teacher before becoming the district’s manager of custodial services. She announced her campaign on Facebook.
This story will be updated with new candidates, if anyone drops out or if there are any major developments.
