GET TO KNOW SHANNON
As a dedicated public servant, I request your support for my candidacy for the School Board for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Since April 2024, I have been honored to serve as your School Board Representative, working tirelessly to deliver tangible results for our community. There are two years left in this term, and I must see the work that I have started to its completion.
My commitment to public service extends beyond the school board. I serve as the Vice Chair of the Commonwealth of Virginia's African American Advisory Board and on the Board of Directors for the Life Enrichment Center, a nonprofit focused on improving the reading levels of K-3 children. My experience as a former college professor and senior executive college administrator has equipped me to address the challenges facing our K-12 education system.
My candidacy for this position is driven by a singular goal: to prioritize the future of our children, not politics. I am committed to ensuring that our children receive the best education possible, free from the influence of political agendas.
Throughout my career, I've witnessed the transformative power of education and its critical role in shaping lives. The challenges our school division faces are fiscal and legislative. If elected, I will leverage my experience in finance and government to create effective policy and secure funding for our teachers, academics, student support programs, and infrastructure projects.
Finally, I bring a collegial spirit to our board. We are elected to serve the children and families of Virginia Beach, and we should do it with respect and civility in a spirit of unity. Together with my colleagues, we will continue to improve our top-ranking school division, ensuring every teacher feels valued and every child receives the high-quality education they deserve, setting them on a path to success both inside and outside the classroom.
Thank you for visiting and I hope I can earn your support!
"Putting Our Children's Futures First and Politics LAST!"
Shannon Kendrick
757-266-7716
Shannon IS AN ADVOCATE ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST
PRIORITY ISSUES
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
We must ensure that VBCPS resources are distributed equally to bridge the gap and help more children read at grade level. We should also ensure fair selection for entry into gifted programs, protect fine arts, give fair credit weighting for advanced courses, and provide equal attention to students not categorized as gifted or remedial. It's essential to take additional steps to support economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities so that they, too, can achieve academic excellence.
TEACHER RETENTION
Teachers don’t teach for the money; they teach to prepare our students for bright futures. It's essential to make our district more rewarding by reducing admin work, encouraging creativity in the classroom, improving professional development opportunities, and offering competitive salaries. VBCPS revenue depends on decisions made by higher levels of government, and I draw on my government experience to advocate for our school division's strategic objectives to enhance the teacher and staff experience.
IMPROVING SCHOOL BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
I am a fiscally responsible businesswoman with an MBA. I understand numbers, revenues, and expenses well. I aim to replace outdated school buildings in my district, like Bettie F. Williams Elementary, with the modern facilities our children deserve, all within budget and on schedule. I will work to fund capital improvements for existing facilities.
EQUITABLE DISCIPLINE
Our children deserve a learning environment where they can thrive. No parent should have to worry if their child is being fairly disciplined. By working with our division, I aim to provide the necessary resources for our students to receive the support they need, ultimately reducing disciplinary occurrences and the need for remedial school visits.
WORKFORCE READINESS
After graduating from high school, our children need to have options. The education and skills development provided by VBCPS should be in line with the current and future workforce opportunities in our region.I am working to create early career opportunities for graduates who prefer to earn a comfortable wage from trades and other high-skilled jobs, in addition to having the option of going to college. Our children and families should not have to face extreme debt to secure a solid career path.
COMMUNITY ACCESSIBILITY
Leading with transparency, accessibility, and accountability, I am committed to hearing from the constituents of my district. I am a servant leader who understands I am in office to best serve and represent no one other than YOU.
LEADERSHIP & CIVILITY
It’s not about politics; it’s about getting it right for our children’s success! I vow to maintain a collegial spirit and respect for my colleagues, focused on solving challenges for the families and VBCPS Division we serve.
Our school division is committed to maintaining its top-ranking status. We need a collaborative servant-leader who can solve fiscal challenges, prepare our children for the workforce, distribute resources efficiently, and align funding and policymaking at all levels of government to advance our school district’s current and future priorities.
I am that leader and I need your support to continue serving YOU.
