Stephen Johnston (I) – Candidate for Virginia Beach School Board Rose Hall
Stephen Johnston, running for Virginia Beach School Board in District 3 – Rose Hall
1. Why are you running for office?
To restore high standards and accountability in the school system.
2. Why should people vote for you?
I am an honest person, my word is my bond. I do not qualify my answers. If the question is do you support full day kindergarten, the answer is not “Yes, if we can afford it”, the answer is “Yes, and we will find a way to fund it”.
3. What’s your favorite thing about the area you want to represent?
I grew up in what is now the Rose Hall district. I have lived at the ocean front, in Chase Arbor apartments, and on Glenwood golf course. When time came to raise my family, the Rose Hall district is the perfect place for my family. Rose Hall is the heart of Virginia Beach; it touches all other districts, and offers everything that is great about Virginia Beach.
4. What is the biggest problem your area is facing, how will you fix it?
The biggest problem facing the school system in the Rose Hall district is the high number of children living in economically challenged households. The rose Hall district has the highest number of Title 1 schools (more than 50% of children receiving free or reduce lunch) than any other district in Virginia Beach. The Virginia Beach Public Schools cannot fix this problem, however we can take steps to mitigate the effects on the students. We can have before and after school programs. We can get the community involved with mentoring programs. We can get the local business community involved by providing role models. We can set higher standards and goals that the students can achieve. The Virginia Beach Public Schools can do so much to help these children, to make a difference in their lives so each of them can reach their full potential.
5. Describe Donald Trump in max 3 words?
Agent of Change
6. Describe Hillary Clinton in max 3 words?
Stay the Course
7. What do you do for a living? Why do you do it?
I am a project manager for an engineering firm. I like working there because the work differs from project to project, and it sometimes involves travel. One week I would be working on a restaurant, the next and industrial pump station then an office building or museum. I have designed the lighting and power systems for almost all of the libraries in Virginia Beach. Being a project manager is not just a desk job, I am in the field doing site inspections and working with contractors, inspectors and owners during construction. I have traveled up and down the East Coast from Keflavik, Iceland to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I love my job because of the challenges and verity of the work involved.
8. You’re going to be marooned on a tropical island for a week, you can only bring 1 thing -what is it?
The US Marine Corps Wilderness Survival Manuel.
9. What do you think of Colin Kaepernick?
He is a distraction for the team, and a constant reminder, that the 49’ers should not have traded Alex Smith.
10. Would you vote to fund light rail expansion in your area?
No
11. Will you respect the outcome of the election?
Yes
12. Favorite TV Show?
The Big Bang Theory
