3 incumbents facing challengers in Newport News School Board races
Incumbent Douglas Brown is running against Andrew S. Hlavacek in the North District school board race.
Brown has served on the board since 2014 and works as a chief data scientist for InnovaSystems International, and previously worked as a professor of math at Thomas Nelson Community College. He wants to focus on improving STEM programs and wants to extend the learning day to allow for the students to get more work done. He also wants to implement a program that would provide meals for students three meals a day.
Hlavacek is a deputy in the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office and wants training programs for the security guards in how to de-escalate tense situations. He also wants to improve parental involvement and raise students’ writing, reading and math skills.
In the Central school board race, incumbent and current chair, Lisa R. Surles-Law, is running against Jordan M. Gray.
Surles-Law, who was elected to the board in 2018, is a science education administrator at the Jefferson Lab. She wants to put an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math programs. She also wants to improve school safety with programs like SpeakUp, an anonymous reporting program.
Gray previously ran as a Republican for the House District 93rd race in 2021 and lost to Del. Michael P. Mullin, D-Newport News. Gray is a middle school teacher and wants to focus on student safety and implement a weekend program for students not meeting grade-level requirements. He also wants to improve school safety by creating “secure access points” at school entrances.
Incumbent Terri L. Best is running against Marlon Pendergraft Sr. for the Newport News South District school board seat.
Best serves as vice chair of the board and wants to increase funding to help with teacher training in areas such as mental health. She also wants to raise awareness of mental health to normalize the topic and create a healthy learning environment.
Pendergraft is a lieutenant in the Newport News Fire Department and wants to focus on student safety with an emphasis on mental health and bully prevention. He wants to improve attendance to help increase funding. Pendergraft also wants to add mental health as a topic to the health curriculum.
The at-large board seat, held by Gary B. Hunter, is uncontested.
Early voting begins on Sept. 23 and ends Nov. 5. Election Day is Nov. 8.
Everett Eaton, 262-902-7896, everett.eaton@virginiamedia.com
