Judy Lee says closing opportunity gaps in Albemarle schools is a top priority

Judy Lee, Rivanna District representative on the Albemarle County School Board, said public schools provided her family the chance to succeed and said the board must prioritize closing persistent opportunity gaps in Albemarle County.

“I have 2 brothers who are doctors. I have a brother who's a lawyer. Many, many MBAs in the family, and we all got there because of public schooling,” Lee said, recounting that her family came to the United States from Vietnam with little and benefited from public education.

Lee said the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville prompted her to re-examine institutions she values, including the school system, and to focus on bias, discrimination and systemic racism where they affect students. “We still have in Albemarle County, an opportunities gap for our students, students of color, our students who are have socioeconomic challenges, [and] are students who are special needs,” she said.

She described the issue as both a policy priority and a personal one: her son attends AHS, and she said that experience informs her perspective on the struggles families face. Lee said she has worked with multiple iterations of the board and believes the current board is positioned to make more progress on closing those gaps.

Lee urged continued focus on reducing disparities and said she looks forward to working with fellow board members to address the needs of disadvantaged students.

No formal motions, votes, statutes or funding amounts were referenced during this statement.