In Virginia, county school boards are composed of one member from each district in that county, and sometimes include an at-large member. They are elected for four-year terms and oversee the school district by setting the policies and choosing the leadership of public schools, among other duties. The Orange County School Board has five members, one for each district. 

Two candidates are running for the seat in District Four. The seat has been vacant since March, when Chelsea Quintern resigned citing family health issues. Elected in 2022, Quintern had been a controversial candidate, campaigning as a Republican even though state law requires school board candidates to appear as independents on the ballot. 

After her resignation, the School Board was unable to decide on an interim member, despite three residents applying for the position. 

Two of those applicants are running for the seat this November. An OCPS graduate, O’Brian A. Martin, is running against A. Tina Whittington, executive vice president of the anti-abortion nonprofit Students for Life of America. 

Charlottesville Tomorrow designed a questionnaire for the candidates based on more than 160 responses we received to a voter survey. Whittington provided answers, Martin did not. You can use the information Martin’s campaign provided to the Virginia State Department of Elections, searchable by last name, if you would like to reach out to the candidate yourself.

Orange County Public Schools already has a strict cell phone policy in its district, and is now exploring policies regarding the use of AI. What is your opinion on using AI for instruction?

A. Tina Whittington: I believe that AI can be a useful tool in creating great instructional materials to supplement or enhance the curriculum provided and help teachers engage students. However, good policies need to be in place and enforced to make sure it is being used appropriately. I am not in favor of students utilizing AI until high school and only for limited and clear purposes. AI is the future and not learning about it and utilizing it as a tool would put our students behind other students competing for college opportunities and some future career paths.

O’Brian A. Martin: Did not respond.

OCPS made headlines in 2024 when a six-year-old brought a loaded gun to class, sparking debates about school safety. What strategies would you prioritize as a school board member to protect students?

Whittington: We need to educate all students about gun safety. From primary school on students need to know how to recognize the danger a gun poses as they may live in a home with a gun or they may visit a home with a gun. Having a clear awareness about guns and how to be safe around guns or report a firearm in reach to an adult is very important and we can do this without scaring students. Starting in middle school, students need to be aware of what to watch for in their peers, and how to report anything that they see that may be leading to violence of some kind. I think we should have armed police officers at our schools and in light of recent school shootings I am open to other policies from metal detectors at the high school to have improved mental health opportunities made clearly available.

Martin: Did not respond.

On May 20, 2024, the Orange County School Board voted 3-2 to disaffiliate from the Virginia School Boards Association, a decision that cuts expenses and allows the board to chart its own course on policy and training, but also means giving up legal support, policy guidance, and statewide advocacy. What is your perspective on this decision, and how do you see its impact on the district?

Whittington: I have not seen a negative impact from this decision. Fortunately there are other organizations that the board members are engaged with to help with policies and training and OCPS has an attorney for legal support that I see the board working with closely.

Martin: Did not respond.

Like many rural districts in Virginia, Orange County struggles with teacher retention. What ideas do you have to address this issue?

Whittington: I think what impacts teacher retention the most is the culture that leadership (the principle and leadership staff) set at each school. When teachers are supported well and feel connected with the leadership in a positive way they are less likely to leave. While we can work to increase pay and should be competitive, I believe it is the culture of the school that can make or break a teacher’s experience in the classroom. This is why I want to hear more from our teachers and what they are experiencing in the classroom and in the school. They are most affected by the policies and implementing them, as well as the support they are or are not getting from their direct leadership. Studies have shown that toxic work environments and unsupportive bosses are primary drivers for leaving, often outweighing factors like low pay.

Martin: Did not respond.

Funding for school districts in Virginia is changing rapidly, with less money coming from the state government, and federal support also possibly disappearing. What are some of the ways you are thinking about maintaining funds and services for your school division in this shifting landscape?

Whittington: The teachers and administration at OCPS are great at finding and applying for grants and I would encourage that kind of research into alternative funding. With the new CTE program there will also be opportunities for private and corporate investment into programs that can and should be pursued as well. As of today OCPS are following the mandates that some of our Northern Virginia school districts are ignoring, to the detriment of their federal funding. I do not see our schools going that direction, especially if I am on the board. Not only would I not want to jeopardize our federal funds, I want to see women’s sports protected, for instance, and would put the full force of my weight as a board member to make sure that mandate is followed.

Martin: Did not respond.

Are there any other pressing issues facing Prince Edward County Public Schools you would like voters to know about?

Whittington: I have been made aware that many families are having issues with Head Start and special education services.* I take this seriously and want to get a broader scope of what is going on to create meaningful solutions. Prioritizing intervention with these students early on can reduce the need for more intensive and costly education services later while creating better outcomes for the child’s future – they have a higher chance of catching up developmentally and creating a better path for their future as adults. This is one of the strategies I would like to see implemented, better opportunities for these families to communicate with OCPS to find the right solutions for them – as well as reaching out to families in Orange County and educating them about the opportunities for early interventions then helping them get their children engaged in these programs as early as possible.

*Editor’s note: In answer to a follow up question from Charlottesville Tomorrow Whittington said she has heard this directly from voters during door-to-door campaigning and at events.

Martin: Did not respond.

More about the candidate and issues

• Whittington’s campaign finance information, from the Virginia Public Access Project
• Martin’s campaign finance information, from the Virginia Public Access Project
• Q&A with Whittington and Martin from Vote 411, election information hub by The League of Women Voters Education Fund

• Martin and Whittington speak about their background and goals in Byrd Street, a news outlet in Orange County
• Article in which Martin and Whittington discuss their backgrounds, for subscribers of the Orange County Review
• Martin and Whittington’s campaign promises when they fought for the interim position on the Board, as reported by Byrd Street

Here are key dates and deadlines in the 2025 elections

Friday, May 2, 2025	Early voting for primaries begins weekdays at local registrar’s offices.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025	Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration for the primary election. You can still vote in the primary if you miss this deadline by registering at the polling place and casting a provisional ballot. You do not have to be a member of a political party to vote in that party’s primary election. However, you can only vote in one party’s primary election each year.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 5:00 p.m.	Deadline to apply for your ballot to be mailed to you. Requests must be received by your local registrar’s offices by 5 p.m.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 5:00 p.m.	Deadline to apply online for an absentee ballot using the Citizen Portal.
Saturday, June 7, 2025	Local voter registration offices open on Saturdays for early voting for primaries.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 5:00 p.m.	Early voting for primaries ends at local registrar’s offices.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025	Primary Election Day!
Friday, Sept. 19 to Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 5:00 p.m.	Check with your local registrar’s office for early in-person voting.
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, 5:00 p.m.	Deadline to apply with your local registrar’s office for a ballot to be mailed to you.
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025	Election Day!

We will update this list periodically as deadlines approach or we receive new information.

Register to vote, check your registration, find your polling places and apply to vote absentee at the Virginia Department of Elections here. Remember, even if you miss registration deadlines, you can register through Election Day and vote using a provisional ballot.

Need to know if you’re eligible to vote? Here are resources from the Virginia Department of Elections.