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Falls Church City School Board Vice Chair Kathleen Tysse is seeking another term in the Nov. 4, 2025, citywide election, arguing that her experience could help the division navigate leadership changes, economic uncertainty and growing student needs.

Tysse, 45, is one of five women competing for four seats. The field also includes board members Lori Silverman and Anne Sherwood, along with challengers MaryKate Hughes and Sharon Mergler. Board Chair Dr. Tate Gould is not seeking reelection.

Tysse also expressed interest in succeeding Gould as chair. She said she would want to be considered when the seven-member board selects its leadership in January, though she emphasized that voters must first decide the election.

A former elementary school teacher with a master’s degree in education from the University of Virginia, Tysse has four children enrolled in the city’s public schools. She said her first term—particularly her two years as vice chair—gave her a deeper understanding of the school system and convinced her that she still has more to contribute.

Before deciding to run again, Tysse said she considered the demands on her family and reflected on whether another term was the right choice. She ultimately concluded that she could put the lessons of her first four years to work as the board enters a new chapter.

Experience inside and outside the classroom

Tysse describes herself as a lifelong reader, the daughter of an educator and a strong supporter of public education and literacy. She met her husband at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology 31 years ago. After traveling and living abroad, they returned to Northern Virginia to raise their family near relatives.

Her education and community experience extends beyond the School Board. Tysse previously served as president of the Falls Church Elementary PTA and participated in the Superintendent’s Advisory Council, the FCCPS Gifted Education Advisory Committee, the Mary Riley Styles Public Library Board of Trustees and the city’s Gun Legislation Advisory Working Group. She was also a Recreation and Parks Advisory Board liaison to Falls Church City Public Schools.

As a board member, she has acted as a liaison to the Health and Wellness Advisory Committee and the Special Education Advisory Committee. She also served as a classroom parent for each of her four children during elementary school.

Tysse said that background taught her to listen closely, examine evidence and consider how policy decisions affect people with different experiences. She sees her leadership history—including her time as PTA president and School Board vice chair—as a distinction in the five-candidate race.

That experience, she said, could provide continuity as new members join the board and Superintendent Dr. Dade settles into the position.

Her campaign has received endorsements from the Falls Church News-Press, the Falls Church Education Association and the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund.

Parental leave and collective bargaining

Among the board’s recent accomplishments, Tysse highlighted the adoption of a parental-leave policy for school employees. The issue was a priority during her previous campaign, and she said Falls Church was among the first school divisions in Virginia to offer the benefit.

She wants the board to monitor the policy and consider whether it can be expanded.

Tysse also pointed to the introduction of collective bargaining in Falls Church as a major achievement. She said the process required careful planning to create a workable system for employees and the division.

The appointment of Dr. Dade as superintendent was another defining undertaking, she said. The board sought to recognize departing Superintendent Dr. Noonan while conducting what Tysse described as a rigorous search for his successor. She views another term as an opportunity to help bridge the two administrations.

Budget uncertainty looms over next term

If reelected, Tysse expects school finances to be one of the board’s largest challenges. Economic conditions remain unpredictable, she said, while development in Falls Church makes enrollment projections increasingly difficult.

Tysse wants the board to work closely with city government on responsible, transparent budgets. Having participated in four budget cycles, she believes her knowledge of the process and relationships with city officials would help the schools through a period that may demand tighter spending.

Personnel would remain the central priority. Tysse noted that most of the school budget supports employees and said honoring the collective bargaining agreement must be paramount.

Although the school division generally has enough space to accommodate enrollment growth, she said some capital projects will require attention to keep every building at the expected standard.

Expanding support for different learners

Tysse said her experiences as both a teacher and a parent shape her rejection of a one-size-fits-all approach to education. Her four children have different strengths and needs, she said, just as every student in a classroom arrives with an individual history and set of circumstances.

That perspective informs her interest in services for students learning English, students with disabilities, advanced learners and students identified as both gifted and in need of special-education support.

Tysse said those student populations are growing, increasing the need for a wider range of programs. She believes the division has recognized the trend but must continue improving how it serves those students.

DEI, artificial intelligence and school safety

Tysse remains firmly supportive of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Having lived in four countries on three continents and taught students from varied backgrounds, she said she sees inclusion as essential to creating schools that welcome everyone.

She cited the schools’ participation in the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate program as one example of that work.

Artificial intelligence is also becoming a major policy issue for the board. Tysse said an ad hoc committee was being assembled to guide its work, with the goal of developing an AI policy by spring. The board must study both the educational value of the technology and the safeguards needed to address its risks, she said.

On campus security, Tysse pointed to her years with Moms Demand Action, her work on the city’s firearms group around 2020 and her lobbying in Richmond. She supports securing school facilities while avoiding measures that create unnecessary fear among students.

Tysse cited improvements to both entrances at Oak Street and said secondary schools use mental-health screenings, student surveys and anonymous reporting forms. She said the board reviews safety every year to remain vigilant.

Phone restrictions stop short of a full ban

Student cellphone use has become another prominent issue. Tysse shares concerns about screen dependence and divided attention but supported a measured first-year policy instead of a complete high school ban.

Before drafting the rules, the board held a public discussion with school leaders and four town halls—one each for students, employees and parents, plus a Spanish-language session.

Tysse said feedback from teachers and staff played an important role in her vote. Although opinions were not unanimous, she said employees generally favored allowing students to use phones during designated portions of the day while keeping them away during instruction.

She believes the policy has reduced classroom distractions and changed expectations around phone use, though she acknowledged that implementation is not perfect. The policy requires annual review, allowing the board to consider a stricter approach after evaluating local results, new legislation and the experiences of neighboring districts with full-day bans.

Tysse said the decision is complicated by the broad range of students at Meridian High School, from 14-year-old freshmen to legal adults preparing for college or employment.

She also found reasonable Principal Peter Laub’s argument that older International Baccalaureate students should learn to manage their devices during noninstructional periods. Phones can distract students, Tysse said, but they can also help them track calendars, assignments, grades and reminders. On Meridian’s seven-story campus, students may also use their devices to locate club meetings or find friends during lunch.

Student sustainability project offers optimism

Tysse pledged through Citizens for a Better City not to accept campaign contributions from people or groups outside Falls Church’s boundaries.

She said visiting schools also gives her optimism during a stressful and uncertain period. She encouraged other residents to become involved, describing time around students and teachers as a source of perspective and motivation.

One recent example was a student sustainability initiative called Better at the Bin. Students built cafeteria stations for separating recycling, trash, organic material and other waste, with plans to maintain the effort throughout the school year using volunteers.

The project goes beyond sorting and composting. Students also use an injection-molding machine to cut and melt certain plastics into new objects, including planters.

Tysse said she hopes to feature the project at a future School Board meeting so the broader community can see the work students are producing.