Meet FCPS At-Large School Board Candidate: Ilryong Moon

Ten candidates are vying for an at-large seat on the Fairfax County School Board. Patch has asked each of them a series of questions on discipline policy reform - a topic fast becoming a key issue in this crowded race.

1. Do you think the recent reforms passed by the school board changing the discipline policy were appropriate?

In overall, it was a good first positive step. I wanted to go a little further on parental notification. However, my amendment did not pass. I will wait and see, as the school system collects data, to determine what other actions, if any, we need to take to further improve the discipline system.

2. How would you have voted on this issue?

How I voted is a matter of public record. (Editor's Note: Ilryong Moon is an incumbent candidate.)

3. What is your opinion on the involuntary transfer policy that allows schools to move students to other schools as punishment?

I must say that disciplinary actions we take should not just be a punishment. They should serve multi-purposes, including providing opportunities for the students being disciplined to continue with their learning, improve their behaviors, and redeem themselves.  Such actions also serve to maintain and protect the learning environment for other students, teachers, and other staff in schools and to deter other students from committing similar infractions.  Having said that, however, a school transfer should not be lightly handed out but be, instead, imposed in the most serious cases.

4. Do you think the discipline policy needs to be further reformed? If so, what recommendations would you make?

As I have already said in #1, what the school board did was a good first positive step. I wish that I had enough support from my colleagues on the board on my parental notification amendment.  I want to closely monitor how the policy changes the school board adopted are affecting the discipline process and educational opportunities of the students being disciplined.  After all, the discipline system exists to promote the best welfare of our students and school system. I will pay a close attention to the length of the process, the adequacy of learning opportunities for the students while going through process, appropriateness of dispositions as compared to the nature of infractions, and improvement of student behaviors among others.

Candidate-Submitted Biography

PERSONAL:

• Born in 1957 in Seoul, Korea.
• Immigrated to the U.S. in 1974.
• Married. Two children, products of Fairfax County public schools, graduated in 2006 and 2009. 

EDUCATION:

• T.C. Williams Senior High School, Alexandria, Virginia.
• B.A., cum laude, Harvard University. 
• J.D., Marshall Wythe School of Law, College of William and Mary.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Partner, Moon, Park & Associates in Annandale, Virginia.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

• Member, At-Large, Fairfax County School Board (2004-Present). Vice Chairman, 2005, and Chairman, 2006.
• Member, Braddock District, Fairfax County School Board (1996-1999).
• Member, At-Large, Fairfax County School Board (07/1995-12/1995).
• At-Large Commissioner, Fairfax County Planning Commission (2000-2003).
• Trustee, Montessori School of Northern Virginia (1994-1995).
• Member, Annandale Rotary Club, since 1998.
• Member, Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Fairfax County, Virginia
• Member & Treasurer, Board of Directors, American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras (2000-2010).
• Member, Governor Kaine’s Urban Policy Task Force (2007-2009).
• Former Member, Fairfax-Falls Church Regional Council, United Way.
• Former Member, Community Service Fund, Fairfax-Falls Church Region, United Way.
• Former Member, Congregational Health Partnership Advisory Committee, Inova Health System.
• Former Member, Virginia State Advisory Committee, U.S. Civil Rights Commission.

OTHER:

• Fluent in Korean.
• Enjoys singing.

Patch will be running a question-and-answer series each day with the remaining school board candidates who are seeking an at-large seat on the Fairfax County School Board.

Check back daily to read why each of these candidates thinks discipline policy reform has become a key issue in this race.

Past articles: