J. Warren Geurin is the Sterling representative t the Loudoun county School Board.
Name: J. Warren Geurin.
Town/Neighborhood: Sterling Park.
Years in the Community: 30.
Occupation/Position: Sterling District School Board member, elected in 1999, re-elected in 2003. Chairman of School Board committee on curriculum and instruction, member of School Board finance, construction and site acquisition committee and School Board personnel committee.
Achievements: The completion of the Park View High School renovation in 2003, the current renovations and classroom additions to Sterling Middle School, and the construction and opening of Forest Grove Elementary School in 2002 are accomplishments that have revitalized education in Sterling Park.
The Park View renovations were on time and on budget, and students there now have the largest high-school library in the county, six new classrooms, new guidance offices and renovated laboratories. The Sterling Middle School renovations included fire suppression sprinkler system, upgrades throughout the building, new auditorium seating, lighting and acoustical systems and six new classrooms.
Building Forest Grove allowed us to lower class sizes at Guilford, Rolling Ridge, Sterling and Sully Ñ where we created All-day kindergarten for at-risk children. We have improved the quality of education for all our neighborhoods and improved academic performance at these older schools.
Most recent accomplishment was School Board's award of a contract for renovations and additions to Rolling Ridge Elementary School. Work will begin this summer on a new music room, new art room, new computer lab, new gymnasium and seven new classrooms. This truly represents a major milestone in my four-year odyssey to provide educational equity and facility improvements for this school, which was built in 1975.
Family: Married to Susan K. Geurin, who is a fourth-grade teacher at Forest Grove Elementary School. Daughter, Jennifer Ferrell of Sterling Park; son, Jeffrey Geurin, of South Riding.
What do you like or dislike about your community?:
I like the way parents involve themselves positively in their child's school through volunteering and PTA membership. More and more parents are becoming active partners with teachers and administrators in improving education.
Favorite local restaurant/place: Zeffirelli in Herndon; Joe's Restaurant, Carlos Pizzeria in Sterling Park.
Sports Interests/Activities/Hobbies: U.S. soccer, Sterling Youth Soccer Association.
Community Ties: I have lived in Sterling Park for 30 years. Former secretary and director, Sterling Youth Soccer Association board of directors; former president, St. Joseph's Catholic Church pastoral advisory council; member, Park View Patriots Club; member Park View PTSO; member, Sterling Middle School PTA; member, Guilford PTA; member, Forest Grove PTA; member, Rolling Ridge PTA; member Sterling Elementary PTA; member, Sully PTO.
Community Concerns: Continuing to improve student achievement is our top educational challenge. Although each of the seven schools that serve my constituents are fully accredited, some of our students face exceedingly difficult challenges.
Demographic changes in my community make it an imperative to focus spending on classrooms and instruction. Our minority student population is rising, unlike elsewhere, and we need to expand our English as a Second Language programs and really reach out to all of our population.
We cannot afford to lose our focus on all our students, their families and our community. We should continue to put the interests of our school students, and moms and dad first.
Continuing to fight for better schools and building a better educational environment will mean higher taxpayer spending. Treating hard-earned taxpayer dollars with respect means we have to justify the need for every cent. Continuing our facility modernizations, to keep our school buildings on a equitable level with those in newer communities.
What community "hidden treasure" should more people know about?: The level of commitment to quality education that is shown by parents and teachers is a real treasure. In our classrooms it is not hidden at all by our teachers Ñ it shines clearly every school day. The Connection Newspapers have done a good job of finding and reporting on these hidden treasures. Keep up the good work.
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