Martina A. "Tina" Hone
Office Sought: School Board At-Large
Age: 47
Residence: Pine Spring.
Education: BA, political science, University of Chicago; JD, University of California at Berkeley.
Occupation: Executive director, CQ Events, Congressional Quarterly.
Web site:http://www.tina4kids.com
E-mail address: tina4kids@gmail.com
Offices and positions held: Past member, Fairfax County Human Rights Commission,
Minority Student Achievement Oversight Advisory Committee to the Fairfax County School Board, Committee for School Bond Referendum; former co-chairman, Diversity Committee, Fairfax County Democratic Committee.
Why should voters elect you?
"Former Teach for America member with real classroom experience. Lawyer and public policy professional ready to resolve complex challenges. Multiracial/multi-ethnic background reflects Fairfax County's diversity."
What do you think is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?
"An academic achievement gap that threatens to divide the Fairfax County public school system into 'have' and 'have not' schools. There should not be a school in Fairfax County where a parent is reluctant to send a child. But, whether the perception is fair or not, such schools exist. Our schools are the heart of Fairfax County. If we do not address this problem, our entire community is at risk not just the children and families caught on the wrong side of the achievement gap."
What is your plan to address the traffic problems in Virginia?
As I drive around Fairfax County campaigning, I have been amazed and overwhelmed by traffic congestion. I believe traffic congestion is undermining family time and jeopardizing some students' academic success. Quality parental involvement is crucial to academic success. When parents come home stressed by our horrific traffic, that often negatively impacts the quality of parent-child interactions. Traffic congestion also directly impacts our schools. Indeed, it is one of the reasons cited for our inhumanely early bus and bell schedule for high schoolers and even some middle schoolers. I would look comprehensively at the school bell schedule, existing school boundaries and the number of school buses on the road to determine how these elements can be adjusted to ensure minimal traffic impact. I would also look for cost effective ways to adjust the bell schedule to accommodate later, healthier and more humane start times for our students.
Do you think current policies governing growth & development in your area are too restrictive, not restrictive enough or just right?
not restrictive enough
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