January 31–The Democratic Caucus has been set for Saturday May 5 from 11am-7pm at Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road.

Please mark your calendars and come out with your friends and neighbors to vote for Abby. These Caucuses typically have relatively light turnout and the difference between the candidates can be small. Last year it was approximately 60 votes. So help us GET OUT THE VOTE FOR ABBY!!

December 6–Abby Raphael, a vice chair of the Arlington Public Schools Advisory Council on Instruction (ACI) and a long-time PTA leader, announced this week her candidacy for the Arlington School Board for 2007. She is running for the seat occupied by David M. Foster, whose term expires in December 2007, and she will seek the endorsement of the Arlington County Democratic Committee.

Raphael brings a wealth of experience and leadership in a wide variety of Arlington school issues. In addition to being a vice chair of ACI, she is a member of both the Budget Advisory Council and Food Services Advisory Committee, and a former president of the Arlington Science Focus School PTA. She also has served on the County Council of PTAs.

Raphael will focus her campaign on the ABCs of school success: Achievement, Budget and Community. “I look forward to working with the entire Arlington community to reduce the achievement gap, better focus our resources on teaching, and ensure that our schools are an integral part of their communities,” said Raphael.

"Abby's leadership experience at both the school level and Arlington-wide is unmatched,” said Key Elementary School parent Kristine Wood. “She understands and brings valuable insight to all levels of the school community. She will do great things for Arlington Public Schools."

In her role on the Budget Advisory Council, Raphael is acutely aware of the financial challenges ahead as the County faces flattening real estate assessments. “We need to take a hard look at reducing administrative costs,” she said. “APS spends a higher percentage of its budget on non-school-based funding than any other school system in the Washington metropolitan area. My experience as a member of the APS Budget Advisory Council will make me an effective leader on budget issues.”

James Lander, a Wakefield High School parent and member of the Budget Advisory Council, said Raphael is meticulous in her research and skilled at balancing the needs of school programs. “Abby has proved to be a valuable member of the Council through her ability to provide well-researched viewpoints and to negotiate her way through budget questions,” Lander said.

Raphael is particularly interested in the link between school nutrition and academic achievement. “From the first time I met her, I was impressed with Abby's understanding of the importance of good nutrition and physical activity as a foundation for learning,” said Anne Bridgman, an Arlington parent involved in promoting health and wellness in Arlington schools. “Abby has vision, organizational abilities, and a can-do spirit that will serve our community well.”

Raphael hopes to encourage all students to do more community service to teach children the value of helping others, and to strengthen the relationships between individual schools and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Endorsing Raphael, Arlington School Board Member Ed Fendley said, “Abby Raphael will be an outstanding addition to the Board. Her energy and new ideas will help kids across Arlington, and strengthen our partnership with neighborhood residents.”

Raphael has served in a number of community leadership positions, including officer of the Bellevue Forest Citizens’ Association, president of the board of directors of Offender Aid and Restoration of Arlington County, Inc., and an officer of the Arlington County Bar Association.

She is a former Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington County and former associate at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She has been active in several Democratic campaigns.

Raphael and her husband, Stuart, have lived in Arlington for 17 years. Their daughters attend Arlington Science Focus School and Williamsburg Middle School.