Arlington Schools Candidacy Captures Latino Imagination

She said she envisions schools that foster global awareness and view bilingualism as an economic and social asset. Parents are increasingly pushing for their children to learn a second language, she said, and many of Arlington's students grow up speaking a language other than English at home. Arlington's students come from 127 countries and speak 105 languages.

"Instead of looking at these students, like in Prince William, as problems, let's see them as students of the world," Violand-Sanchez said.

She said her caucus win has excited the immigrant community. "They know that I care about them. They know that I understand the difficulties that they face."

In 30 years as a teacher and administrator in the county, Violand-Sanchez established the first bilingual General Educational Development program in the state and helped open Escuela Bolivia, a weekend school that offers language and culture classes. Now retired from the school system, she is an adjunct professor for Georgetown University's Department of Linguistics. She received bachelor's and master's degrees from Radford University and a doctorate from George Washington University.

Felix A. Herrera was 16 and far from his parents in El Salvador when he met Violand-Sanchez in Arlington. She was the supervisor of the English for Speakers of Other Languages program at the time and took on the roles of mother and mentor, he said. He credits her with inspiring him to obtain bachelor's and master's degrees from George Mason University and then to teach at Wakefield High School.

"Everybody is busy trying to portray illegal immigration as the evil that is destroying our society," said Herrera, 36, who is also an Army reservist and an Arlington Democratic activist. "Some of us fortunately find people like Ms. Emma who take us under their wing and see our potential and help us."

Violand-Sanchez drew Latino support at the caucus, but that was not the decisive factor, said Peter Rousselot, Arlington Democratic Committee chairman. "She won because she got support from non-Latinos," he said.

Of 4,225 voters who caucused to endorse two candidates, Violand-Sanchez drew support from 2,548. That exceeded the total number of voters, 1,837, who appeared at a caucus the year before. Garvey received 2,464 votes. No other candidate broke 1,000.

Andres Tobar, Violand-Sanchez's campaign manager, said her supporters included teachers, retired principals and parents of all backgrounds.

"We knew all of Arlington had to embrace her in order for her to win, and they did," he said.

Bill Delaney, whose children are in first and third grades at Arlington Traditional School, said he and other parents invited the six candidates to speak to them. In the end, he backed Violand-Sanchez.

"I really got the sense from Emma that she is somebody who has good judgment," he said. "I haven't seen her in action yet, but I think she is always going to do what is best for the kids, and that's all you can ask from a School Board member."

"The fact that Emma was Latina," he added, "was just kind of a bonus for us."