An Open Letter to Norfolk
"Today, as I consider the state of Norfolk Public Schools, I see a system that has lost its bearings. Nearly one-third of school-aged children in Norfolk are not attending Norfolk Public Schools. Yes, the population in Norfolk has steadily decreased since 2000. However, the rate of decreasing enrollment is FASTER than the rates of decrease in the population, the number of households with children under 18, and the number of school age children. Norfolk families are actively choosing to remove their school age children out of Norfolk Public Schools."
About Shawn Wilkerson
Shawn is a retired Navy Officer and Norfolk Public Schools parent. After retiring as a Surface Warfare Officer, he began working as a System Engineer, where he manages the maintenance system, configuration, and quality standards for over 100 communications sites. Shawn is also the Scoutmaster for Norfolk’s Troop 1, the oldest continuously chartered Scouting Troop in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He and his wife, Jene’, have been married for over 20 years and have three children in Norfolk Public Schools (Maury, Granby, and the Academy at Rosemont). Jene' has been a PTA officer for the past nine years, including serving as PTA (PTSA) President for five years at two different Norfolk schools.
With three children currently in Norfolk Public Schools, Shawn and his family are deeply invested in the success of our Norfolk community and the educational system. As the Scoutmaster for Troop 1, he has spent years leading Norfolk's youth by example. He is approaches every challenge with a clear vision and a commitment to leave every endeavor better than he began. While some may view the Ward 2 School Board seat as a simple political hand-off between friends aligned with the status quo, or a career milestone to pile onto a resume, Shawn views the school board through the lens of placing families first, maintaining accountability and providing transparency to Norfolk’s families.
Shawn is seeking election to the Norfolk School Board to finally give all Ward 2 families a seat at the table and provide a real voice from the perspective of those who are actually affected by School Board decisions. Shawn will replace the board’s posture of "non-interference" with clear and professional operational oversight. He is the only candidate proposing a full administrative audit of every school board program to fully align all resources toward the goal of education. Shawn has pledged to oversee an aggressive parental outreach and establish a PTA in every Norfolk Public School within his first year on the school board.
The Norfolk School Board requires leadership with experience in leading and planning around complex systems and processes. Shawn learned to lead on the decks of Navy warships and sharpened his ability to collaborate while serving on military planning teams at the highest levels. Shawn is prepared and ready to represent Ward 2 families.
Campaign Pillars
Families First
The primary responsibility for the education of children resides within the family. School Board members must keep this in mind when making decisions which affect Norfolk families.
Accountability
Everyone has a role in the educational process for our children and we must all be accountable. This includes every board member, every administrator, every teacher, every parent and every student.
Transparency
Parents should not have to file FOIA requests to understand how their children are being taught or how their taxes are being spent. I will advocate for "open-book" as the board's default framework.
Families First
Accountability
Transparency
Family Flight from Norfolk Schools
100% PTA for Norfolk Schools
Campaign Articles
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PDF Articles:
My Contract With You
Excellence Without Excuses
Brilliant at the Basics
Character Development as an Educational Outcome
