Letter to the Editor
Thank you to my dear friend and Executive Director of Reclaimed Hope Initiative Bettina Stevens for submitting a letter to the editor of the Daily Progress. I am so honored to work along side you.
It is my pleasure to write in support of Allison Spillman as a prospective board member for Albemarle County Public Schools. I am the founder and executive director of Reclaimed Hope Initiative and work closely with Allison through her position on our board of directors, as well as during the care of her son at our summer camp, Camp Hope. As is evident from her resume, Allison has excelled throughout her educational and work experiences, with many notable accomplishments, which I will not repeat here. I will focus on my experiences with Allison directly, primarily those correlating to her related experience with our organization, which demonstrate the qualities necessary for a position on the school board: empathy and compassion, problem-solving skills, and peer collaboration.
Allison is energetic, smart and deeply committed to the children, parents and schools in Albemarle County. She will bring her vision, expertise and dedication to our public schools, and she will be able to work well with a wide variety of people. I know Allison wants every child in our town to have the same support and success that she desires for her five children, all of whom attend Albemarle County Public Schools. She is level-headed on more divisive issues and takes the time to do her homework to fully understand the issues she is working on.
I have observed Allison in multiple scenarios to which she exemplifies professionalism, flexibility, intellect, rapport with the community, and dependability. In addition to these attributes, Allison is a warm, engaging individual who leads by example, values inclusion and consistently exhibits a motivation to learn. Additionally, Allison considers the needs of others and demonstrates a willingness to work together with other community members to create an efficient, safe and synergistic environment.
Please join me in supporting Allison, because our community deserves a school board that will be a champion for our public schools, our collective vision and, most importantly, our students.
Bettina Stevens
Founder and executive director
Reclaimed Hope Initiative
