Endorsements
I’m so grateful to have the support of these civic leaders, educators, and activists. Go Team!
Winsome Earle-Sears
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia“Carrie Rist recognizes that Prince William County parents, families, and students deserve the highest quality of education. And as Chair of the school board, Carrie will prioritize addressing the teacher shortages, improving test scores, and keeping parents in control of their children’s education so students are positioned on a path to success both in and out of the classroom. Carrie Rist is the clear choice for Prince William County School Board Chair and I am proud to endorse her campaign.”
Jason Miyares
Attorney General of Virginia“Carrie Rist will fight to ensure that all students can learn and thrive in safe classroom environments. She will insist that county schools fully adhere to Virginia law, which unambiguously affirms parents’ rights to be involved in their children’s education. Families will have a loyal friend and tremendous advocate in Carrie Rist, and I am proud to endorse her candidacy for Prince William County School Board Chair.”
Jeanine Lawson
Brentsville District Supervisor“Carrie brings a rare combination of education experience, proven leadership, and problem-solving spirit that makes her an excellent choice to chair the Prince William County School Board. With five school-aged children of her own, you can count on Carrie to be a voice for parents and bring much-needed change to the way our school system operates. I proudly endorse Carrie for School Board Chair and invite you to join me in supporting her campaign to put our kids first.”
Yesli Vega
Coles District Supervisor“As a hard-working mom with five kids of her own, Carrie Rist gets it. She understands that schools exist for the sake of our children — not the other way around. Carrie will fight to ensure that every child in Prince William County receives a high-quality education in a safe, orderly school environment. She will demand real transparency and insist that our county schools partner with parents, not shut them out. That’s why I’ll be voting Carrie Rist for School Board Chair, and I encourage everyone to do the same.”
Bob Weir
Gainesville District Supervisor“Like Carrie, I ran for office because many of our elected officials have failed and ignored the citizens of Prince William County. I’m confident that just like they did in Gainesville, voters county-wide will deliver much needed change by electing Carrie Rist as our School Board Chair. Carrie is a true voice of parents and every resident who knows our students deserve better, and I give her my full endorsement. I look forward to working with her, I’ll be voting for her, and I hope you’ll join me.”
Don Richardson
Gainesville District School Board Member, 2001-2012“Having served on the School Board for 10 years myself, I have no doubt that Carrie Rist is the leader our schools need. Her experience as a businesswoman, educator, devoted mom, and advocate speaks for itself. Like me, she has lived and worked overseas. I am confident that Carrie has the experience and perspective necessary to listen with empathy, to understand and serve the needs of our wonderfully diverse school communities, and to lead. For our county’s students, I’ll be voting for Carrie Rist for school board chair without hesitation, and urge you to join me.”
Ruth Anderson
Occoquan District Supervisor, 2015-2019“I enthusiastically endorse Carrie Rist for School Board Chair. Carrie understands the importance of working together with families and communities to make a positive difference in students’ lives, empowering them to become leaders, thinkers, workers, and innovators. Our school system needs fresh leadership that champions the well-being and education of our children over politics. Carrie Rist embodies that change, and I encourage all residents of Prince William County to join me in supporting her campaign.”
Willie Deutsch
Coles District School Board Member, 2015-2019“Carrie has a long history of fighting for parents in this county. Over the last four years, the school board widened the achievement gap and oversaw the worst achievement loss in county history. When parents spoke up, Carrie was thrown out of the building by this school board. It is time for us to elect Carrie Rist, listen to parents, and focus on student achievement again in this county.”
Lyle Beefelt
Brentsville District School Board Member, 1995-2003“I am proud to endorse Carrie Rist for School Board Chair. As a former Brentsville School Board Member, I understand the importance of having strong, experienced leadership at the helm of our education system. Carrie’s extensive experience as a business executive and educator, coupled with her firsthand knowledge as a mother of 5 school-age children, make her the ideal candidate for this position. I have no doubt that Carrie will work tirelessly to ensure that every student in our district receives a top-quality education, and I urge my fellow community members to join me in supporting her candidacy for School Board Chair.”
Ian Prior
National Education Advocate & Author of Parents of the World, Unite!“Like me, Carrie Rist is a fighter when it comes to the rights and interests of parents and their children. You can rest assured that Carrie will always put the education, safety and welfare of county students first. That’s why I’m thrilled to endorse Carrie for School Board Chair, and I urge all families to join her fight to restore high standards and common sense in K-12 education.”
Nick Freitas
DelegateVirginia House of Delegates District 30
“Carrie Rist is a parent, educator, volunteer, tireless advocate, and perpetual optimist. In short, Carrie is exactly the kind of leader county schools need. She won’t tolerate the ideological nonsense that all too often distracts schools from their core mission of education. Carrie will fight to refocus county schools on the basics, creating a safe environment in which every student can learn and thrive. Carrie Rist is the right choice for Prince William County Schools, and she has my full support.”
Mark Cole
Delegate, 2002-2022Virginia House of Delegates District 88
“Throughout my tenure in the Virginia House of Delegates and while serving on the House Education Committee, I worked to keep radical politics and harmful social experiments out of Virginia schools. Carrie shares those same concerns and will work diligently to ensure that the Prince William County School Board focuses on education instead of pushing a political agenda. Carrie’s priorities outline a path forward for our schools that is centered on student achievement, and she is strongly committed to education and to our community. For those reasons, I give Carrie my full and complete endorsement with the confidence that she will be an outstanding Chair of the Prince William County School Board.”
Rich Anderson
Delegate, 2010-2018Virginia House of Delegates District 51
“As the mother of five school-aged kids, Carrie Rist understands the challenges of families in our county. As School Board Chair, Carrie will ensure that our hard-earned tax dollars are rightly focused on traditional academics, not divisive political indoctrination. That’s why I’ll be voting for Carrie in November — and I encourage all parents, taxpayers and civic-minded county residents to join me.”
Bishop J. Alan Neal
Senior Pastor, Agape Christian Faith CenterCEO, Elijah’s Bread Ministries, Inc.
“I wholeheartedly endorse Carrie Rist for School Board Chairman. The epitome of the outstanding mother, Carrie’s passion and commitment to education are unparalleled. Carrie’s leadership and management skills were highlighted when selected as the Executive Director of a nonprofit serving our German and Military communities. Her infectious enthusiasm, commitment to excellence, and creativity enabled her to recruit first rate volunteers which more than doubled the organization’s capacity for community service. As her Pastor and mentor for more than 12 years, I can attest to her honesty, integrity, dedication, and supernatural resilience.”
Shim Jai Ok
Former Executive Director, Korean-American Education Commission (Fulbright Korea)“You were an exceptional ETA among all ETAs of more than two thousand the Fulbright Commission has brought to Korea in many different ways. To me, you were the ideal ETA who taught English to Korean secondary students as a native English teacher. You were energetic and always tried to do your best to make the Korean students interested in learning English and understanding American culture and society. You have a very good heart as to take care of all the students who needed your guidance and support. Carrie, you are an exemplary person, and I think all the people who know you would agree.”