MaryKate 'MK' Hughes Launches Campaign for F.C.C. School Board

On a muggy, sunny Saturday morning at Big Chimneys Park, Aug. 16, MaryKate “MK” Hughes – former National Award-winning 5th Grade Teacher at Oak Street Elementary and now American University Teaching Coach – kicked off her official campaign to run for the Falls Church City School Board, in the Nov. 4 election.

Focusing on “community, conversation, and coming together to support our schools,” the event at 210 Gibson St. featured an introduction from City Council member and former PTA Head, Laura Downs, Oak Street Elementary teaching colleague Chas Bowling, and an inaugural campaign speech by Hughes. 

With dozens of parents, neighbors, students and kids sporting MK campaign t-shirts emphasizing Hughes’s “knowledge, experience and heart,” and seemingly eager to pass out flyers and knock on doors, the kick-off appeared enthusiastic, well-organized, and full of appreciative supporters.

The Falls Church Independent attended the launch and spoke with MaryKate Hughes, Laura Downs, and various parents, neighbors and former students to find out more about what the candidate will be offering voters and her perspectives on what’s needed on the City's School Board.

We had a chance to ask Hughes a few questions prior to her speech, though many cheerful well-wishers came by for selfies and hellos as we chatted.  

Asked what direction she’d wish to take the School Board if/when the opportunity arises, she replied, “I think our school board is a highly competent, functional body. I have a lot of respect for the people on the Board and all the work they do. The real reason I’m motivated to run is that I think having an experienced educator’s perspective is really going to deepen their knowledge and understanding of how budget and policy decisions impact the students and the teachers. So I wouldn’t say there’s a direction I’m looking to tilt the board. I’m more looking to deepen their knowledge of how their decisions get considered.”

Are there many former students in this crowd?, I asked. “Yeah, most of the faces in the crowd are parents whose children I’ve taught. So, you can run into a lot of people here who can talk about what that was like.” 

A Unique Inspiration for Teaching

I was curious to know what inspired Hughes to enter the field of teaching in the first place.

“So, I was a History undergraduate major at Boston College and I did not know what I wanted to do,” she began. “My first job out of college was at a women’s shelter called Rosie’s Place in Boston. And I was in their live-in shelter for women who were sort of permanently unhoused. So, they provided permanent housing for them. And my job was essentially to just ‘Do life with them.’ – basically, what a family member would have done. – I went to the emergency room if there were medical issues, took them grocery shopping, whatever they needed.”

“So, I spent a lot of time with these 14 women who lived in a house and in talking to them I really realized that what helped them really recover from setbacks in their lives was an education,” Hughes continued. “And if they did not have that, it really led to long term difficulties. You know, all of us are brought down at times, but education is a huge part of our ability to bounce back from that. And they really got me thinking."

"So, I applied to DC Teaching Fellows which was for career-switchers. I think saying I was a ‘career-switcher’ was pretty generous because I was only one year out of college, but – [Laughs]. So, I moved to D.C. as part of the inaugural class of DC Teaching Fellows. I got my master’s degree of arts in teaching at American University in 2003, and in that same year, I was part of the founding at DC Prep which is a public charter school in Washington, D.C.”

Followed by Educational Achievements

“And we grew the school from 100 students in two grades to 2,100 students at 5 campuses. I was there for 14 years. It was the highest performing public middle school nearly every year I was there. So, it was hugely successful, it really caught on and the lessons I learned in that job – I was a Teacher there, a Teacher Leader, I was a Building Leader, I was a Central Office Administrator – I’ve seen education from a lot of different perspectives and I know what works because I’ve made it work.”

So, What’s Not on the Resume?

I asked Hughes to elaborate on anything important about her that might not be spelled out on her resume. “So, you can see on the back of our shirts, my slogan is, ‘Knowledge. Experience. Heart.’ And, I think with ‘knowledge’ and ‘experience,’ you can go to my website and you can see all of that. But, part of that is more difficult to quantify.”

“So, part of what I’d like people to know about me is that at my core, what I love is learning,” Hughes continued. “So, one of the things that inspired me to take this on is I’ll get to learn something new. I’ve seen education from a lot of different perspectives, but I haven’t seen it from this perspective. I really love to learn and that’s impacted everything I’ve done professionally. At Oak Street, we started a student-run podcast called Lines of Inquiry – You can find it on Spotify – So, learning how to do a podcast and working with students to bring it about.” 

And, yes, starting the student podcast was Hughes’s idea.

“And I got a grant from the Education Foundation, they were very supportive of that,” she continued. “So, I think what’s important to know about me is I really love this work, I bring a real heart for students and am very much pro-learning. So, I’m always really open to trying new things and seeing what works best.”

Creativity and Standards in the Curriculum

“So, do you think it’s important to be creative with your curriculum as a teacher or an administrator?,” I asked. “Yes, absolutely,” Hughes said. “But, I’m a big believer in standards and ensuring that students are learning what we expect them to learn and what they’re supposed to learn. And also empowering teachers to help deliver that content. They know their students best. They know what’s going to help make that content come alive for their kids.” 

Cell Phones in Schools

I was curious to hear Hughes’s take on the current uproar over student cellphone use in schools. “I think that the fragmentation of our children’s attention is a very serious problem, and also the fragmentation of our adult’s attention is a very serious problem,” she began. “I think the cell phone policy is part of working on that. It’s actually a bigger question about pedagogy and how kids learn and interact throughout the school day, which I’d like us to really think about as a school district and as a community. How much time are children spending on screens irrespective of cell phone use? And what are the pros and cons of that? What changes might we want to make in terms of our children’s attention and learning?”

“As far as the cell phone policy in use, where it is right now is fine with me, but I would also be willing to think about changes as we consider the issue more,” Hughes continued. “I’m really curious to see what data has been gathered this year concerning how it’s impacted students and kids. I think for me feedback is huge. So, the ability to give and receive feedback as a teacher, that’s how students improve. For me as a professional, that’s how I improve. And I think for school districts that’s how they improve as well. So, it’s a culture of open and honest feedback where I see feedback as a gift, a key for understanding any issue that you mention, right? That is going to be a driver for how you end up making changes.”

Issues of Censorship and Appropriate Materials

“How about issues of censorship on the one side versus on the other, parents saying there shouldn’t be certain books or materials made available to students at particular age or grade levels?,” I asked. 

“Yes, that’s a huge issue,” Hughes responded “So, my general take on that is – as a 5th grade teacher in Falls Church City Public Schools, I got to guide students through the process of exhibition where they pick an issue they’re passionate about, they do the research on it, and they come up with an action plan based on their learning. And book bans and censorship were huge issues for 5th graders that they wanted to learn more about. And it seemed very clear to them as 10 and 11 years olds that there are books that come out that are not appropriate for every student of every age, but the way to deal with that is not through banning them. So, having conversations where we treat children as humans, where we really think through, ‘What’s right for you right now?,’ and 'Here’s what this book’s about,' and 'It might not be right for you ever.' But, a book ban hurts us all much more than reading an inappropriate book hurts an individual child, in my opinion.”

Thoughts on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

I was also curious how Hughes might respond to questions about teaching and DEI, so much in the news these days. 

Her response was refreshingly forthright. “I have learned more and grown more as a professional in the classroom from the diversity that I’ve experienced in the classroom, probably more than any other experience in my entire life,” she said.

“I think there is so much beauty in diversity and approaching it with an open heart, an open mind, a willingness to learn, from each child who walks in the door – it was not just a learning experience for me, it was a learning experience for everybody in the classroom. I think we go to school and we learn to be human, really. And we practice being with one another. And so, I embrace diversity in all of its forms. And I think that public schools are beautiful examples of what that can look like.”

“So, for you, DEI is not necessarily a bad thing?,” I asked. “Absolutely not.”

Asked if she wished to say anything further, Hughes said, “I’m just really honored to be a candidate for the School Board. I love this community and I’m looking forward to serving it.”

Students’ Thankful Memories

We spoke with two rising sophomores at Meridian H.S. – Millie Owens and Margaret Ashbrook – who had fond memories of MK as their 5th grade teacher. 

“I thought she was really an amazing teacher, probably one of the best ones I ever had,” Millie Owens said. “And I think she really deserves this and she’d be really amazing on the School Board…. Her compassion for her students! Some teachers, they just teach to teach. But she teaches to help people throughout their whole life.”

Ashbrook agreed. “She also just met people at their level,” she said. “Like I never felt like I was catching up. She would just always meet you where you are.” For Ashbrook, Hughes was always attentive to students’ needs “wherever you were emotionally and academically.”

Owens and Ashbrook both agreed that Hughes had a “big impact on their lives.” 

Each laughed as she recounted the clever songs Hughes would teach the students in order to solidify their math knowledge in a fun way. Even as high school students today, they often find themselves going back to those lessons. “Sometimes, I have a hard time remembering academic stuff and she always taught us with songs. So, I’ll still – as I’m taking a test – kind of sing those songs to myself. And I think she really sees just how everyone learns differently and she figures out ways to make you successful,” Ashbrook said. 

“Yeah, I was taking a math test last year and there were these topics and I was like, ‘I don’t remember this!’ But, there was this song she taught us and I was like, ‘Oh, wait, this is helpful,” Owens recalled. The song covered key math and statistical elements of: “mean, median, mode, and range.”

Owens and Ashbrook broke into laughter as Owens spontaneously launched into a ditty about triangles being “acute, obtuse, and right.” 

But, for Ashbrook, Hughes’s impacts went far beyond her teaching jingles. “She was also huge on reading,” she emphasized. “Before fifth grade I didn’t really like to read. But, she really kind of found books that people would like and she got people into reading and she would talk about how important that is. I mean, there’s a book on her [campaign] sign right now [points]. But, she really likes to read and she made me really like to read – which is huge because I love to read all the time now.”

Yeah, I wasn’t a big reader when I was younger, but I think it did get better because most teachers just pick books and kids don’t actually like to read them and.... it’s mostly a chore,” Owens said. “But, I feel like with her class and the books she chose, we kind of chose the books ourselves, so we were more interested in them and it helped develop us as readers.”

Support from Parents

In a cluster of parents, I found Courtney Storm, who was happy to sing Hughes’s praises on many levels. “All of us here in this group have had at least one of our kids who had MK for a teacher and we were so lucky to have her,” Storm said. “To say the difference she’s made – I can see with my two kids – the difference she made in their lives is really immeasurable. And she was able to somehow address each one of them who were so different individually and really just get in there with them and to meet them where they were. And you know, they still love to see her to this day. They think of her as a mentor for them in their life.” 

“I have one going into ninth and one going into seventh, at Meridian and [Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School] MEH. But they really do still look to her and do seek her opinion on things they're doing and she's so happy and present to be there for them, and really for our families still. You know, we’re lucky to count her as a friend as well. She’s just somebody we can rely on, anything from parenting advice, to life, to fun, to all of the things.”

And on the School Board, “We could not trust her more,” Storm continued. “The School Board and the community would be so fortunate to have her. It’s really where her expertise belongs and can shine. And just her nature is that she can listen and internalize all of this information and think about it from the perspective of somebody else that’s going to be impacted by it. It’s such a skill to be able to have that knowledge and also that empathy and she brings it in spades.”  

The Endorsement of Council Member Laura Downs

After finding out School Board Chair, Dr. Tate Gould, was not going to be running for re-election this year, City Council member Laura Downs immediately thought of coaxing Hughes to run, she told the crowd. “The first call I made was to MaryKate Hughes,” Downs said.

“I also got to know MaryKate when I was president of the elementary PTA. She was one of the lead volunteers for one of our Hippo Tiger Giraffe (HTG) Games. For those of you who know, if you can run that insane event, you’re pretty much ready!” [Laughs]. 

“And then one of my sons had MaryKate as a teacher and it made such a difference,” Downs continued. “He had a very severe speech delay and he had an IEP and MaryKate really built such great confidence in him and he really blossomed during that year. He was a totally changed kid because of MaryKate as a teacher. And, of course, as a friend, my favorite part is to have a wine with MaryKate. But, we won’t get into that.” [Laughs]. 

“But, she’s always a friend that if I ever needed anything at any time of the day, I’d give her a call or I’d text her and she would be there, without a doubt. She is someone whom I trust immensely. And I was trying to think this morning over a cup of coffee, ‘What's the one word that really defines MaryKate to me?’ And I think these words on the back of [the t-shirts], yes, but the word I kept coming up with is ‘integrity’….’”

“So, MaryKate, I know you’re going to crush this and I have no doubt that we’re all here to support you no matter what happens!” [Applause]

A Fellow Teacher’s Praises

“I have one of the easiest jobs today,” said Chas Bowling, an Oak Street Elementary educator who taught in the classroom next door to Hughes's. “I get to stand up here and say some really nice things about one of the most exceptional people I’ve ever met.”

But, it’s as a “fellow voter,” and Falls Church City resident that Bowling wanted to endorse Hughes as well. “I grew up in Falls Church and went through the entire school system, as did my sister and both of our parents, and both of our aunts and uncles, and my cousins, and now, not only am I an educator here, but my wife and I live in the City and we hope to send our future children to Falls Church City Public Schools. So, when I tell you that I really care about the culture of education in this City, you can understand why I think this election is so important. That's why I am so delighted we have MK Hughes as a candidate. She’s an exceptional educator, well versed in the operations of the Falls Church City Public Schools. Her qualifications for this are outstanding and well documented. But, I want to talk to you about what I think sets her apart as a candidate – and that’s her character. MK has a way of moving through the world that's truly unique. I believe that her perspective is one that our School Board cannot afford to go without.”

When he was a “brand-new teacher” at Oak Street Elementary, Bowling came to appreciate Hughes’s empathic and wise leading style, as she took care to select curricular models that would allow the new teachers to learn and grow into their roles. 

Soon, Bowling happily introduced the morning’s featured speaker, MaryKate Hughes.

MaryKate Hughes from the Pulpit

“This is such a fun place to speak because I get to look out and see the faces of so many people I know and love…. So, thank you all for coming. I know you all have a million places to be on a Saturday morning. And I appreciate that you’re here. Thank you to Laura [Downs]. And thank you to Chas [Bowling], for speaking on my behalf. I thought it would be helpful to hear from people who know me from other perspectives in life, before I spoke. And, of course, thank you to Adam [Hughes, her husband], so supportive and cheering me on in person. My children are not here because they’re actually learning cheers at cheer practice. But they’re definitely super supportive and are here in spirit and their best friends are here – Hi guys!” [Waves].

“Okay, so you’re going to see on the backs of these t-shirts – I’m not going to turn around because I’m sweating so much. [Laughs]. – ‘Knowledge. Experience. And Heart.’ And I’m going to organize my comments to you today around those three words and what they mean to me.”

“So, there are three things a School Board member is responsible for: budget, policy, oversight of our Superintendent who’s really charged with operations and the achievement of our students. And I have the knowledge to make strong, informed decisions in all three of those areas as your School Board member. And I have that knowledge because I wore many hats in education and I’ve also been a parent of two students in this community. I know as a parent, the trust that we place in our teachers and our schools every single day and I’m committed to matching that trust with what we know works for children.”

“Add to that knowledge, my experience. I have 25 years of experience in public education and that is not counting my years as a student. [Laughs]. I have been a Teacher, a Teacher Leader, a School Administrator, a Central Office Leader, I currently work in higher education in teacher preparation, I’ve testified before Congress in educational policy and have been hired by schools around the country to offer advice and guidance. This experience has been acknowledged. I’m the winner of the National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation and I’m a National Board Certified Teacher. I just achieved that last year.” [Applause]. 

“And all of that is what sounds good. But, what actually matters is what I’ve actually done with students. So, raise your hand if I taught you and you’re here. [Many hands raised.] So, you guys are what matters. I worked for six years at Oak Street as a 5th grade teacher. My goal as an educator is for every student to be learning with joy and confidence. That is every student in my class. That is every teacher on my team. And that is me too, right? Am I learning with joy and confidence and am I modeling the way?”

“Prior to working in Falls Church City Public Schools, I was on the founding team of a public charter school called DC Prep. We grew DC prep from 8 staff and 100 students to 2100 students in 5 campuses in some of the most educationally underserved neighborhoods in our nation’s capital. That school was the highest performing public middle school nearly every year I was there.”

“So, when I say that I’ve seen education from just about every perspective, I haven’t just seen it, I’ve made it work, and I’ve made it work in places where it’s hard to make it work. So, I know what is right for kids and I will fight for what is right for kids. I bring to you my experience from within Falls Church and I bring to you my experience from beyond Falls Church.”

“And I also bring to you my personal experience. I’m a parent of two amazing Meridian Mustangs. One of them has very complex medical needs. So, I’ve worked with the system as a parent navigating 504s. I’m also the legal guardian to my brother Johnny who has intellectual and psychiatric disabilities so I’ve navigated the system as a guardian working on IHPs for adults in the system. And all of this is why I want to represent you on the School Board.”

“I think at this time in our country, there’s a lot of uncertainty. Uncertainty can manifest as anxiety and action is an antidote to anxiety. So, we’re all asking ourselves, ‘Well, what is it that I can do?’ And this is what I can do. And I can’t just do it with me. I need all of you and that’s why you’re here today. And I’m so grateful. We need you to take a yard sign, we need you to make a donation, we need you to knock on doors, we need you to tell your friends and your neighbors" – [5th grade boys run in front of MK] [Laughs]. 

“Tell your friends and neighbors what you’re learning about this race and why you believe I would be a good representative for you. The last thing I want to say is that whatever the outcome of this election, all of us engaging in the democratic process in modeling the types of conversations we need to have and the kinds of problems we want to solve, that strengthens our community. So, we’re already winning. We’re here together, we’re having conversations, we’re doing it with our children. And I’m so grateful and ready to be a part of it. And, I hope you’ll vote for me on November 4!” [Applause].

Hearing One Voice from the Audience

Just before launching into her speech, a teenage student with Downs Syndrome, Abby Ashbrook, called out “Hi, MK!” And Hughes put everything on hold to respond warmly and wave, “Hello Abby!” 

We asked Abby after the speech what she thought about Hughes as a candidate. “She’s a famous celebrity,” Ashbrook said. Asked what made Hughes special in her eyes, Abby said, “Because I’m her friend.” 

And, what would she like to wish Hughes on the campaign trail? “Goooood luuuuck!,” she sang.

By Christopher Jones