Salem gets to know VBCPS Chairwoman Carolyn Rye

Carolyn Rye has served on the Virginia Beach City Public School’s School Board since 2014; however, despite the many jobs she must do as a School Board member, she is still a real person just like us. The goal of this interview was to get to know Ms. Rye beyond her political persona.

To do this, curious students from all grades have come together to send their best questions to Rye for a collective “interview” by the school. 

Below are the responses from Rye to questions not commonly asked. Every question has the name of the student who asked it above and the Chairwoman’s answer below. 

Thank you for your time Mrs. Rye!

Senior Erica Munisar asks…

We want to know more about you as a person. What are your hobbies? Do you have a favorite food? Favorite TV show or movie?

“My hobbies include travel (domestic and international), gardening, playing tennis, and reading. Favorite foods: pasta, cheese, chocolate (especially truffles)! I am a Law & Order SVU junkie, and long-time fan of The Voice and Dancing w/the Stars. I relish historical drama film and television– including the present Netflix Crown series, and PBS Masterpiece shows Downton Abbey, Victoria and the present Atlantic Crossing. Then there are historical documentaries in general, and filmmaker Ken Burns television specials in particular; I don’t think I’ve missed one of them through the decades.”

Science Teacher Cindy Kube asks…

Do students have a voice in the School Board’s decision making process? If so, how can they make their voices heard?

“It is important for students to know there are many opportunities for such engagement. The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Group serves the purpose of student voice on a representative scale. Each high school is represented by two to three students, and the group engages in bi-monthly meetings with the Superintendent.  New opportunities for board member engagement with these students remains a goal moving forward.

In addition to the division’s occasional student surveys, there are times when the Superintendent will reach out to particular students for input on select matters, such as internal COVID 2020 task force participation. On a similar note, students may be appointed to serve on advisory committees appointed by the School Board, where appropriate. 

Finally, students have access to the same means of communication to School Board members as the general population, including email outreach to individual members or the collective board, phone calls, personal letters, and signing up to speak at meetings. Our School Board meets generally on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, beginning at 4:00 p.m. All workshops and Formal Meetings can be watched live through multiple means and are recorded for archived viewing as well.  As an example, workshop and Formal Meetings in May will include the most recent staff updates on high school graduations, plan updates for the 2021-22 school year (including pre-enrollment family feedback), and new General Assembly legislation on public employee collective bargaining.”

Sophomore Anya Kohler asks…

What is it like having a personal life with the job you have, do you have time for yourself and family?

“Whether gainfully employed or retired, empty-nesters or parent/guardians of minor-aged children, each board member finds ways to balance their professional, personal and School Board lives and duties. Upon election to the School Board in 2014, I made it a point to step away from much of my other volunteer work to focus on the new task at hand while still carving out time for family, friends, and me.  That said, just like your teachers, there is no question that family time and social and private “me” time have been severely compromised in this pandemic environment, compounded by my role as School Board Chair. The Chair responsibility of responding to board emails soared, as volume surged for much of this past year. Ever-changing COVID metrics and agency guidelines with regard to school closures and re-openings presented a constant challenge for me and my colleagues, with School Board meetings doubling or tripling in length as a result.  In the midst of all this, other important work of the division had to continue as well (and still does).”

Junior Ava Slutsky asks…

What do you think is the most important aspect of working in the school system?

“A commitment to the mission, vision, core values and goals of Virginia Beach City Public Schools are paramount to me in my role as a School Board member.  This includes advocating for the needs of this division, celebrating accomplishments with pride, recognizing in all ways possible the dedication of staff, students and families who make such achievement possible, and a constant commitment to do better (both collectively and personally).  Integrity, respect, collaboration, accountability and accessibility are traits I strive for daily in my present role.  Steady leadership in this pandemic environment has been, and remains, a personal pledge and ongoing challenge.”

Junior Cailee Nichols asks…

When you started your position, was there a goal you had in mind? Did you reach it?

“At the time of my election in 2014, Virginia Beach City Public Schools ranked in the top 50 school divisions in the country in enrollment size. My immediate personal goals were to uphold my oath of office and use all available means (professional development and otherwise)  to be a prepared and informed member. “Every Child” was my focus from the start; our ongoing division equity initiatives speak to this. As for specific issues, progress has been made in some of the areas I originally championed  (e.g., employee compensation; school counselor allocations; special education supports), with more work to be done.  Full-day Kindergarten across the division was a goal I strongly championed seven years ago and helped guide to fruition.”

Senior Emma Smith and freshman Mackenna Wyckoff ask…

What sparked your interest in working for VBCPS?

“The combination of my family education legacy and my “eclectic” professional and volunteer background sparked my interest to seek election to Virginia Beach School Board in 2014. I am the proud daughter of two lifelong educators (mother, secondary math; father, high school science and varsity/college football coach). My father, in fact, was a School Board candidate in our small New Jersey town four decades earlier.  I graduated William & Mary with secondary teaching credentials, but wound up pursuing a decade-long business management career due to a shortage of teaching jobs in New Jersey at the time. As a full-time mom with MBA degree in hand, I directed my focus to school PTA, church, and college alumni association volunteer service, overlapped with private math tutoring and classroom substitute teaching (long-term and otherwise). I decided that School Board was the perfect pot to stir my combined business and education background, coupled with my years of governance leadership experience in these non-profit sectors. I often rely on these past experiences in my School Board actions and interactions.”

Junior Natasinh Phath asks…

What is your favorite thing to do around Virginia Beach and why?

“Visits to schools continue to rank at the top of my list in my school board member role. Just as so many of your classmates were anxious to return to in-person instruction, so, too, am I excited and uplifted about our green light from administration to resume our school visitations after a 14-month “pause.” Representing the school division at community gatherings and forums is another role I assume with great honor. On a personal note, walks on the beach, waterside dining (ocean/bay/inlets), museums, and cultural events (theaters, etc.) are among my favorite local activities.”

Senior Jennele Tano asks…

What is the School Board doing to prioritize mental health for teachers and students and what do you plan to focus on especially after the trauma of the pandemic?

“The mental health of our VBCPS community remains a major focus and concern of this division, evidenced in part by Goal #2 of our five-year division strategic plan, Compass to 2025 (Student Well-Being).  VBCPS has understood from the start the potential of this pandemic to impact student mental health in new ways and at new levels. The FAQ section of our COVID division website has included for some time a list of immediate crisis support resources and a reminder of the role of counselors. Speaking to that, the Proposed Operating Budget approved by the School Board and presented to City Council for ultimate approval includes 13 additional School Counselor positions and ten more Behavior Intervention Teachers and Specialists. In this same vein, Human Resources continues to develop initiatives and resources for teachers and support staff.  In addition, I am pleased to share that the Department of Teaching and Learning has developed a Mental Health Task Force of parents, teachers, community mental health service providers, community stakeholders, school administrators, counselors , central office administrators, and two School Board members. This body is engaging in activities to assess the current state of mental health along with the available services and resources for students, staff and families. In addition, members have begun working to establish priorities and make recommendations to improve the mental health and well-being of our community.”

“Great questions! Thank you, Sun Devil community– and early congratulations to your Salem High School Class of 2021!”

We are so grateful for Mrs. Rye for giving us a glimpse into what it is like to be the School Board chair as well as who she is as a person.

The SunDevil Times has reached out to a number of government officials. You can read our interview with Congresswoman Elaine Luria here, and Mayor Bobby Dyer here. Check back for more articles like this soon.