Candidate Profile: Brett J. Higginbotham (York County School Board, District 2)

Brett J. Higginbotham is a candidate for the York County School Board, District 2. His name will appear on the ballot on November 7, 2023.

Higginbotham is an incumbent running against challenger Zoran Pajevic.

10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race with specific questions. The responses below came directly from the candidate and are unedited. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.

Name: Brett J. Higginbotham

Age: 42

Race: York County School Board, District 2

Website: Facebook: Brett Higginbotham for York County School Board

Biography: I graduated from Virginia Tech in 2003 with a degree in Music Education. I completed a Masters in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education in 2022. I have taught middle and high school in Montgomery County, Newport News, and Poquoson, Virginia for the past 20 years. I am currently an assistant principal at Poquoson High School. I was appointed to the vacant District 2 school board seat in March of 2019. I ran and won the 2019 general election for the same seat and have dutifully served the past 4 years. During that time I have served as Vice-Chair (2020) and Chair (2021). During my time on the board, I have helped return students to classrooms within a week after the Grafton Complex fire, lead the division through virtual and in person learning during Covid, develop the new strategic plan, and increase wages and maintain a robust benefits package for all employees. I live in York County with my wife, Beth, who is a school counseling director, and two sons, Micah and Joel. I continue to be an advocate for students and public education and am a sought after guest clinician and adjudicator for bands throughout the state of Virginia.

Why are you running for this office?  

I am running for re-election for the District 2 seat on the York County School Board because I want to use the experience and knowledge I have in the education field to provide the best educational opportunities for all students. I will continue to work to make York County School Division a destination school division for students, families, and employees through hiring quality staff to provide for the needs of every child in the division, developing fiscally responsible budgets, and transparent decision making and policies. 

What is the most important issue facing the school system and what is your position on it?

The most important issue is to staff buildings with high quality employees for the students and families in YCSD. There is no doubt that a teacher shortage has affected public schools. We need to continue to find ways to provide livable wages and benefits for all staff, whether salary employee or hourly wage earners. In the past 3 years, I have successfully advocated for increasing all employees wages between 20-26%. This has helped to staff buildings and has brought in licensed teachers and experienced workers from outside the division, reducing our vacant positions. Once staff are hired, we need to continue to develop and retain those individuals so they grow in their job performance and provide the best educational environment for students to be successful. When employees feel valued, they will value their work, and everyone will benefit. 

How do you feel about the politicization of public education?

Unfortunately, the political landscape the last few years has created a divide within public education. Rather than political rhetoric, the educational focus should be on what is in the best interest of all students. All decision making and discussion needs to keep the students’ best interest in mind. If this happens, the students will have all their needs met and will be more successful. The families, stakeholders, and local community should work collaboratively with the schools to provide what is needed for each student to reach their potential. If everyone involved has the students’ best interest at heart, the students will have their needs met and engagement, attendance, and learning will increase. 

Will you still value constituents and or fellow politicians with whom you disagree?

People can disagree and still remain polite and cordial to one another. Just as all students need to feel valued and supported, everyone’s thoughts, opinions, and beliefs are valid and should be heard. No one should be silenced simply because they do not agree with someone else. Listening to one another, treating others with respect and dignity, and working towards a common goal will only benefit the students and staff in the schools.