School Board member Joseph Guzman (Sugarland Run) has always been interested in the civic process. So, when it came time to run for re-election, the decision was easy.
"I couldn’t think of a better place to represent," he said. "And I look forward to serving another term."
As the representative of one of the oldest parts of the county, Guzman said he has fought to maintain quality schools that measure up to new ones being built in Ashburn and South Riding.
This includes the unveiling of the renovations at Sugarland Run Elementary School in September. The elementary school received major renovations to classrooms, offices and the gymnasium, in an effort to modernize the 30-year-old school.
"We did what we had to do and we are going to have a fine result," he said.
In addition to new classrooms and hallways, Guzman is also proud of the initiatives he helped to install over the years in classrooms across the county.
Guzman was a proponent of the expansion of summer school offerings for students who needed extra help, and for those, like Guzman’s daughter, who wanted to get ahead.
"My daughter took an English class this summer, just to get a head start," he said.
Guzman was a huge supporter of the Honorary School Board member program. The program offers one student per high school an opportunity to sit on the board for two meetings.
"It demystifies the process," he said. "It gives them an opportunity to learn what we do."
KATHY BLACKBURN is a mother of six Loudoun County Public School students. Her youngest daughter is a senior at Dominion High School.
Blackburn met Guzman at her church, Our Lady of Hope, and agreed to work on his campaign the first time ran for election.
"That’s how I met him," she said, "and I’ve been impressed with him ever since."
When Blackburn had a problem with one of her daughter’s teachers, she turned to Guzman for help.
"He’s easy to approach," she said. "I talked to him when I was concerned about a particular teacher at Dominion High School. I went through it with him. He’s a great listener."
Blackburn said she is also concerned about the direction of Loudoun County Public Schools.
"I’m a conservative," she said, "and Joe stands for what I believe in. He’s just a solid citizen."
One thing that impressed Blackburn when she met Guzman was that he has four children, three of which are enrolled in the public school system and one is on the way.
"I think that says a lot about him and the school system," she said. "He is very well educated. He knows how the academic world works."
WHEN IT CAME time to pass an operating budget last year, Guzman voted against it due to the rate of increase over the course of the years.
Guzman said it is the School Board’s job to review and discipline the budget.
"There is no rubber stamping going on," he said.
Over the last five years, the approved operating budgets continued to increase by at least 15 percent.
"Those aren’t cuts, those are increases," he said.
Guzman said it is his goal next year clear up any misconceptions about what a fully funded budget is.
"We have not suffered any," he said. "We have continued to expand enrichment. These adjustments, they have an accumulated effect that means significant money."
One thing he did, and continues to do, is push for the completion of an advanced technology academy.
"We are well on our way," he said, "That means more education possibilities for our district."
Guzman is also involved with the Step Up Now (SUN) Scholarship Foundation. SUN is a merit-based, competitive scholarship program that is open to Latino and Native American students at Minnie Howard and T.C. Williams high schools in Alexandria City Public Schools who maintain high grade point averages and are involved in their communities.
"SUN is about hope and caring. SUN demonstrates to Latino and Native American students that there is hope and the community cares," said Paul Peck, founder and chairman of the foundation. "I believe that learning is the key to success and SUN was set up to show that studying pays."
Peck said Guzman provides SUN scholars an example of an individual whose hard work has paid off.
"He went to college and someone helped him," Peck said. "This is a man who really cares about helping others."
During interviews with students, Peck said Guzman brings with him an understanding.
"He knows where they are coming from, and he knows the right questions to ask," Peck said. "He’s been there."
This is a program Guzman would like to see come to Loudoun County Public Schools.
"Almost every penny goes to the kids," Guzman said. "We would like to get this going here in the next year."
Another thing Guzman would like to push for if he is re-elected for a second term is a civic education curriculum at the high-school level.
"It is one of the most important things we can teach our children," he said. "Our future relies on how well we train our students to understand their government and to participate in it. And Loudoun’s a great place to do it. We have a good civic tradition."