Howell's candidacy grew out of concerns about the process Norfolk Public Schools used in considering school closures. As a Norfolk parent, he brings a firsthand perspective on the impact those decisions have on students, families, and communities.

Howell serves as Program Accreditation and Compliance Coordinator at Tidewater Community College and brings a doctoral-level academic and higher-education perspective to the School Board.

During his EAN-PACE interview, Howell emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between NPS and the region's higher-education institutions, businesses, and community organizations. He spoke about creating more opportunities for NPS students and educators to benefit from the resources, expertise, research, and opportunities available throughout the region.

“Public education has shaped my life and career, and I am committed to strengthening NPS for every student, teacher, and family.”

Dr. Gatling brings extensive experience inside public education to the School Board. She is a former Norfolk Public Schools administrator and has also served as a school and special education administrator in Williamsburg-James City County, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.

She currently serves as Associate Vice President of Workforce and Community Relations at Old Dominion University, bringing experience in K-12 administration, special education, workforce development, and community partnerships.

 During her EAN-PACE interview, Gatling emphasized the importance of strengthening the relationship between NPS and the broader community and developing partnerships that can support students, families, and the school division.

“Strong public schools remain the foundation of our community.”

Slaughter is the only incumbent endorsed by EAN-PACE this election. First elected in a special election in 2025, she is a relatively new member of the School Board who has brought a clear focus on the well-being of students and school employees.

Slaughter's background in mental health and counseling informs her belief that the health and wellness of NPS employees are directly connected to student success. During her EAN-PACE interview, she made a clear connection between employees feeling seen, supported, and well cared for and the experience of students in their schools. Her position on collective bargaining was unequivocal:

“Yes, I will support and vote in favor of collective bargaining for NPS employees.”

Candiase Driver is the current principal of P.B. Young Sr. Elementary School, one of the Norfolk schools scheduled to close at the end of this school year.

Her experience leading a school through Norfolk's ongoing school-closure process gives her a firsthand perspective on the impact these decisions have on students, families, educators, and school employees.

As an educator and elementary school principal, Driver brings direct experience leading a school, supporting staff, addressing student needs, and navigating the challenges facing Norfolk Public Schools. Driver connected investment in school employees directly to student success:

“Investing in our employees is an investment in student success.”

As a public health professional and founder and president of GEAR Recovery, Inc., Garcia has worked extensively on mental health, substance-use recovery, violence prevention, and community wellness. She also serves on the Norfolk Public Schools Student Health Advisory Committee, where she has worked alongside school leaders, healthcare professionals, parents, and community members on student wellness and school health issues.

Garcia's combination of public-health experience, community work, and existing civic leadership gives her a unique perspective on challenges that connect Norfolk's neighborhoods with its public schools.

That experience was particularly important to EAN-PACE because of the impact that housing instability and homelessness can have on students, school employees, and NPS operations. These challenges can show up in very practical ways for school employees, from transportation facilities to school entrances and other school spaces.

Garcia's public health and community work gives her a unique perspective on addressing these challenges before they become school problems. Her questionnaire recognizes the connections between housing instability, trauma, mental health needs, and other barriers that can affect students' ability to succeed.

“I believe strong public schools are the foundation of strong communities.”