VIRGINIA BEACH — School Board Chairperson Carolyn Rye, who was first elected to represent the Lynnhaven District seat in 2014, says she will seek reelection to the board in the new District 8.
Rye, who worked in business as a corporate trainer and management consultant and became an educator and math tutor, faces at least one challenge this year from a retired naval aviator who, among other military assignments, served as the commanding officer of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
David Culpepper, who is now a commercial pilot and lives in Little Neck, has filed to run, in part, because of concerns that grew from an issue that likely will be central in various School Board campaigns this year – the district response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“The one that got my attention was how long the board chose to keep students out of school and keep them wearing masks,” Culpepper said on Wednesday, June 15. “It just got to the point where it was obviously punitive for no sensible reason.”
No other candidates had filed in the districts as of Thursday, June 16, when this edition of The Independent News went to press, according to the city voter registration and elections department.
This past week, Rye confirmed during an interview that she is seeking office under the new district voting system, though she was still completing campaign paperwork that is due Tuesday, June 21.
“We followed the science, the superintendent had created the medical panel and we honored the mandates of who was in office,” said Rye, who had been selected chairperson by her peers only weeks before the pandemic became a public health crisis. Ultimately, Covid-19 became a divisive force in local education and politics.
Culpepper hails from Texas. He was part of a military family and moved around before he attended and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. He holds a master of arts degree from the U.S. Naval War College.
Culpepper flew F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets during his career, and he said he also was a “Top Gun” instructor. He commanded a squadron based overseas and served as the commanding officer of U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay.
Culpepper was stationed in Norfolk and Virginia Beach over the years, and he and his family made their home in Virginia Beach.
“Of all the places I’ve lived all over the world, we picked here,” he said.
He has a daughter in high school in city schools, and, as a parent, he paid attention to how the School Board operated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, he said he disagreed with how the current board responded to concerns raised by parents.
“I guess the biggest thing is I don’t like the direction the School Board is heading with taking parent’s opinions,” he said, adding that officials need to listen to parents and address concerns.
He said three pillars of his campaign are respecting parents, making responsible decisions about spending tax dollars and focusing on core educational priorities, what he called “back to the basics for academics.”
Culpepper said his philosophy is “students first, parents always.”
He has had concerns about other ongoing issues, such as the availability of inappropriate books in school libraries.
Culpepper said it is important for the board to be accountable to the people. “The board should be very certain it is spending money carefully and transparently,” he said.
This is his first run for office.
Rye, a New Jersey native who has lived here since 1998, is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and holds an MBA from Silberman College of Business at Fairleigh Dickinson University. In Virginia Beach, she worked as a substitute teacher from 2000 to 2014 and was active with PTAs at four schools, twice as PTA president. She is the parent of two graduates from city schools who are succeeding in their adult lives, and she wants to keep serving to give back and “move the division forward.”
Rye said priorities include employee pay, mental health and working on district policies. She said the district is working to address compensation, including a third-party study and a committee to improve employee input processes. She also noted work on recommendations by a mental health task force.
“There’s good stuff happening there,” Rye said. “I want to continue to support that.”
“The equity policy that was passed raises up all students,” she added. “There’s much work there that’s being done to establish a plan, which would be an offshoot of that.”
Rye said that when she first ran for office “every child was my focus – and the collaboration respect and accountability. That hasn’t changed for me.” She said she takes engagement with parents seriously and is proud of board leadership’s relationship with City Council. School safety “remains paramount,” and she said the schools have had a number of achievements while navigating challenges such as the pandemic.
“The number of offerings of options at the high school level is second to none,” Rye said. “The academies and specialty programs cover the gamut for students with different skillsets and academic interests.”
She said she supports Dr. Aaron Spence, the superintendent of schools.
“It starts with that vision,” Rye said. “I feel this division, led by the superintendent, has that vision.”
© 2022 Pungo Publishing Co., LLC
In 8th grade they can’t read a book about a transgender person, but in 9th grade they read Romeo and Juliet about girls forced into marriage with older men before they are 12 years of age, rape, street gangs, drugs and poison, a double suicide and vengeful murder. Okay.