Blanche D. Maness

Candidate for School Board District C

Age: 62

Residence: Cameron Station.

Education: BS, elementary education, Virginia State College (now Virginia State University); MA, curriculum and instruction, University of Northern Colorado; graduate studies, Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, Harvard University.

Occupation: Retired school principal, Alexandria City Public Schools.

Elected offices/civic activities: Member and former president, Zeta Chi Omega chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; former board member, Hopkins House, Campagna Center and Friends of the Torpedo Factory; member, George Mason Elementary School PTA, NAACP, Cameron Station Civic Association, Alfred Street Baptist Church, Agenda: Alexandria; former member, Jack and Jill of America, National Council of Negro Women, National Congress of Black Women and Alexandria Arts Forum.

What do you think is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction? "The most urgent problem facing Alexandria schools is ensuring that all students are able to read and perform math at or above grade level. School accreditation will have a greater possibility to be met and maintained if all students are reading at or above grade level. Student diversity, poverty, language barriers, disabilities, mobility and low test scores suggest that much work is needed in order to close the achievement gap among students. An aggressive and comprehensive plan must be developed and implemented in order to reduce and eliminate the achievement gap."

Why should voters elect you? "An education career of teaching, school administration and parenting experiences have prepared me to represent children, parents, school employees and citizens of Alexandria City."

Web site: None given.

E-mail address: bdmaness@comcast.net