Daniel R. Cavazos is a candidate for the Williamsburg James City County School Board – Roberts District. His name will appear on the ballot on November 7, 2023.
Cavazos is running against Max W. Blalock, Jr.
The first day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office for this election is Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Click here to see who is on your ballot.
10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race, with a request for a bio and a list of questions to answer. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.
Candidate Name: Daniel R. Cavazos
Age: 70
Race: Williamsburg James City County School Board – Roberts District
Website: N/A
Biography: I have not held public office. However, I have served as a Board member of four entities; Saint Mary’s star of the Sea School, Hampton VA; Mary Immaculate Hospital/Bon Secour Healthcare System, Newport News VA; Surgical Suites of Coastal Virginia, Williamsburg VA and the Regional Health Planning Agency, Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond and served on the University of Texas Presidential Committee on Women and Minority Affairs.
Education: Undergraduate degree from the University of Texas, Austin; Doctor of Medicine, The Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Bethesda, MD.; Fellow, American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for this important position because I want to be a leader in the collaborative process between educators and parents to “Educate the Future of America.” Education is critical for a community to prosper, and I am committed to ensuring that our children reach their full potential.
Students should be taught core values in the early years such as integrity, honesty, and respect. Civics in middle school helps students understand what it means to be informed and engaged as citizens. High school graduates need to be able to critically think, a skill necessary for higher education as well as future employment.
I have three immediate goals:
- Advocate for student success: I will work indefatigably to improve reading and math scores and to narrow the achievement gap among students.
- Promote a safe environment for students and faculty.
- Fiscal transparency: as a physician partner in an independent orthopedic practice, I understand the importance of managing the county’s finances prudently. I am responsible to taxpayers that their dollars are spent efficiently and effectively.
My background as a physician, educator, father, and veteran with my experience on professional boards, including a private school board make me uniquely qualified to serve the WJCC community.
What is the most important issue facing the school system and what is your position on it?
The fundamental skill of reading is essential to success in our society. Unfortunately, the 2022 SOL reading scores for the WJCC 3rd grade students averaged 77%. The Asian and the Caucasian population of students passed the test at an average of 86.5% and the minority student populations, Black and Hispanic passed the reading portion of the SOL examination at an average of 60.5%, These levels of proficiency are unacceptable. Despite the District’s efforts, the level of reading proficiency measured by the SOL scores has not improved
over the past 20 years with a few exceptions. It is time to apply new ideas with a commitment to improving the literacy rate of these two populations of WJCC students.
What is your stance on the possible separation of the Williamsburg James City County Public Schools partnership?
It would be reasonable to offer an opinion on this topic after the city of Williamsburg has received the opinion of their hired consultant. The James City County Board of Supervisors has already offered their opinion to allow the separation.
How do you feel about the politicization of public education?
The curriculum of a public-school education must consist only of material relevant to the subject. It must be free of opinions and political statements. WJCC Policy-INB provides specific regulations for protection to express one’s opinions. The principle of” childhood innocence” must be protected.
How will you still value constituents and politicians with whom you disagree?
As a school board member, I would not engage in distributive bargaining or zero sum negotiations; one side wins and the other side loses. Rather, future negotiations should be in the form of integrative bargaining where both sides engage in problem solving sessions trying to reach mutually beneficial alternatives; trying to resolve the conflict to the benefit of both parties.
