Stella Y. Edwards: 1. Needs in Chesterfield schools are varied. Not all schools are serving children equally.
2. The loss of $80 million and 500 positions in the last few years has taken a toll on schools, teachers and children. Adequate compensation and classroom financial support and staffing need to be restored.
3. Involving parents in schools is challenging but it needs to happen.
Stella Y. Edwards: 1. An assessment, either in-house or external, of our schools will allow us to make informed decisions on equalizing education opportunities.
2. The public likely does not understand the seriousness of the eliminated school financial support. I will work at the local and state level to engage the community in taking an active role in support for schools that is critical to our students being able to compete in a global economy.
3. Some school systems have been successful in engaging parents and encouraging them to participate fully in the education of their children. I am familiar with these practices and would strive to make them a reality in Chesterfield.
Stella Y. Edwards: I left my military career when my children were born so I could devote myself to them and their education. I am proud that each of my two children has completed college and beyond in a profession and the military. I was involved in PTA and in their schools for 20 years. By substituting in Chesterfield schools at all levels, I have been in our classrooms. I have a degree in special education. My experience in the military and on the School Budget Committee gave me opportunity to learn how to manage multi-million dollar assets of equipment, personnel, how to work with government leaders and diverse people from around the world while stationed in Germany and Korea. I know how to get things done in a bureaucracy. And, I am well-informed, through my participation, about Chesterfield schools.
Stella Y. Edwards: I am not for school boards having taxing authority, and I recognize that money will not solve all public school issues. However, based on my work as a volunteer citizen on the school’s budget advisory committee, and working with military budgets and large bureaucracy, I have experienced the hard choices of trying to balance cuts and needed programs and services. I recognize that we must be prudent, accountable and make wise use of our tax dollars.
Stella Y. Edwards: Community awareness and the opportunity to be involved in difficult school decisions will be among my efforts. The Chester Middle School decision is an example of how parents need to become involved in understanding difficult options that involve school facilities, especially redistricting. Growth is an ongoing challenge for Chesterfield that has not always been dealt with in the best way. I will encourage the use of improved growth predictors that will better prepare us for locating schools and preparing for the growth. The use of trailers, while sometimes a reasonable solution, has been relied on far too long.
Carrie Coyner: 1) Diversity of needs
2) Communication between leaders, staff, parents, and the community
3) Fiscal/economic constraints
Carrie Coyner: I will offer fresh insight on how to strengthen our school system through service leadership. I possess the skill set necessary to lead our school board through this very tenuous financial time. It is important that we elect someone who not only has a passion about educating our students for the twenty-first century, but also possesses a keen business sense and the ability to work with diverse stakeholders from across the community.
Carrie Coyner: I have a unique combination of experience with children, fiscal expertise, legal knowledge and familiarity with the Chesterfield school system to really have a positive impact on our schools. I have demonstrated my ability to address tough issues and to do so in a manner that is efficient and fiscally responsible while also being compassionate. I am the candidate in the Bermuda District who has the true pulse of our district because of my service right here in our community.
Carrie Coyner: We cannot look to our citizens for additional funding when so many folks are unemployed, have experienced a reduction in pay, and are living on fixed incomes while the cost of living continues to rise.
Carrie Coyner: I will ensure that our dollars are spent in the classroom first – focusing on the academic needs of our children to better prepare them for success in college and the workplace. I would encourage the citizen budget advisory committee to review the current and future school budgets to look for ways to utilize our dollars more effectively. I will also be an advocate for increased parental and community participation in our schools through greater outreach in the community, business partnerships and volunteer efforts by civic organizations. I will hold regular meetings within the community to encourage discussions about issues facing our schools and our community.
Campaign Address:
Friends of Stella Edwards for School Board
709 Spring Valley Road
South Chesterfield, VA 23834
Campaign phone:
(804) 691-2122
Campaign Email:
edwardsschoolboard@comcast.net
Phone (direct):
(804) 691-2122
Incumbent?:
No
Age:
55
Career:
Stella Y. Edwards is mother, wife, teacher, community education specialist, education activist, BLOG Developer, Radio co-host, and former United States Army Officer. Mrs. Edwards earned a Bachelor Degree in Special Education from Southern University in Baton Rouge; graduate of the Combined Arms and Service Staff School in Leavenworth Kansas; National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Trainer in Building Successful Partnerships; graduate of the National PTA’s Emerging Minority Leaders Training, the Virginia Education Association’s Emerging Leaders Training, Midwest Academy Organizing for Change Institute, and the Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia.
Mrs. Edwards recently worked with JustChildren Program Legal Aid Justice Center to provide training to parents and community groups in the states’ lowest educationally performing school district, in developing skills to become informed and skilled advocates, campaigning for the human rights of the most vulnerable young people and making sure they receive the educational services and support they need to graduate, move to college or careers and lead productive lives. Mrs. Edwards works from the belief that children deserve their human right to high quality education. She provides guidance and technical aid in community-led campaigns to improve school climate, address improvements in graduate rates, affecting families and school communications, and monitoring accountability of leader’s efforts to affect academic achievement for all children.
Mrs. Edwards currently serves as the President of Chesterfield County Council of PTAs/PTSAs, and works to train citizens on civic engagement, parent/family involvement in education and productive means of monitoring local school division’s education reforms to ensure students academic success and equality in educational opportunities. Mrs. Edwards serves with the leadership of local organizations on issues of home/school communications, equality in advanced education programs, and budget issues in the local school division. Mrs. Edwards has served as Member Representative on the National PTA Board of Directors, currently serves on the Legislation Committee, and the Virginia PTA for seventeen years in various capacities: Executive Committee, Legislation Chair, Education Chair, Capitol Committee Chair, Nominations Committee Chair, Budget Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and Bylaws Committee. She also represents the Virginia PTA on the Virginia Department of Education’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Committee of Practitioners and previously served as representative on the Career and Technical Education Program Committee. Mrs. Edwards’ statewide involvement includes, member representative on the Virginia Education Coalition, Safe Routes to School Network, Virginia, 400th Anniversary of America, Moderator of the Virginia Education Forum, and Program Committee for the Virginia Women’s Missionary Union.
Moreover, Mrs. Edwards’ local involvement has extended throughout her community. She has served on numerous committees and boards, including member of the Program Review for the Richmond-based Mathematics & Science Center, Past-President of the Responsible Growth Alliance of Chesterfield, Inc., active member of the School Improvement Planning Committees, Chesterfield County Public School Division Calendar Review Committee, Growth Task Force, Citizens for Chesterfield County School Bond Referendums, School Board Budget Committee, School Board Policy Review Committee, Instructional Time Review Committee, Task Force for School Boundary Change Process, Chesterfield Education Association’s Board of Directors, Director for Vacation Bible School, Director of the Women Transportation Engineer Summer Institute, and Coordinator and Moderator of the Chesterfield Candidates Forums.
Mrs. Edwards has served as a speaker on education issues at the U.S. House of Representatives press conference, before the National Ministries Conference, National Legislators Education Summit, Virginia General Assembly, Virginia Board of Education, the U S House of Representatives, Virginia’s Career and Technical Education’s Summer Professional Development Institute, local governmental boards, local schools boards, local community groups and places of worship.
Mrs. Edwards is published in the Christian Citizen National Ministries magazine, ABCUSA, Parent Teacher Association: A Blessed Opportunity through Partnerships, Vol.3, 2006; is featured in the Richmond Times Dispatch Newspaper for Community Volunteerism as well as the Richmond Parent Magazine, for parent involvement in public schools.
Mrs. Edwards has earned various awards and recognitions for her work in support of the health, education and welfare of all children, and military service to her country.
Lastly, Mrs. Edwards is married to Herman A. Edwards. They have two children, Kimberly Y. Edwards, a graduate of the University of Virginia, and Lieutenant Jonathan A. Edwards, a graduate of Virginia State University. The Edwards’ live in Chesterfield County, Virginia.
Campaign Address:
P.O. Box 58, Chesterfield, VA 23832
Campaign phone:
(804) 748-3600
Campaign Email:
carrie.coyner@gmail.com
Phone (direct):
(804) 748-3600
Incumbent?:
No
Career:
I am the owner of RudyCoyner, Attorneys at Law, located in Chesterfield County, Virginia. I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in U.S. Government and Spanish Language. I earned my juris doctorate from the University of Richmond.
I have served on the Board of Management for the Chester YMCA, and I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce.
I am an active member at Chester United Methodist Church, and I have been volunteering with children and families in our community over the last ten years.
Biographical Information
