Candidate Profile: Stephen “Ty” Hodges (James City County School ...

Stephen “Ty” Hodges has a bachelor's degree in communication and journalism from Virginia Tech. He is married and has a daughter.

LinkedIn

Ty is a multimedia specialist at Ballistic Digital. He previously worked as an email and sms manager at Sheets & Giggles and as a multimedia specialist and digital content producer at various other companies.

Ty's campaign for James City County school board member, Jamestown District, is his first entry into politics.

Supports hiring more teachers and counselors, increasing funding for special education programs, and intensifying efforts to combat bullying and cyberbullying.

- Supports hiring more teachers and counselors, increasing funding for special education programs, and intensifying efforts to combat bullying and cyberbullying.

School Violence

Wants to expand access to Advanced Placement courses for students planning to attend college.

Supports expanding career training, apprenticeships, and trade programs by partnering with local and regional businesses to help students secure good-paying jobs in fields they are passionate about.

Supports expanding career training, apprenticeships, and trade programs by partnering with local and regional businesses.

Supports the creation of a WJCC National Defense Cadet Corps (NDCC) program and plans to establish a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program.

Believes teachers should be free to teach "curricula rooted in facts, science, and history – not politics."

- Opposes book bans.
- Wants to expand access to Advanced Placement courses for students planning to attend college.
- Supports expanding career training, apprenticeships, and trade programs by partnering with local and regional businesses.
- Supports the creation of a WJCC National Defense Cadet Corps (NDCC) program and plans to establish a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program.
- Believes teachers should be free to teach "curricula rooted in facts, science, and history – not politics."

School Curriculum

Supports fully funding public schools and teachers' collective bargaining for fair pay and benefits.

Supports providing free meals to all students in WJCC schools.

Believes in hiring more teacher assistants to reduce pressures on teachers.

Proposes the creation of a Teacher Resource Fund to provide annual funding for classroom supplies, ensuring teachers have necessary resources without financial strain.

Supports increasing funding for WJCC schools to replace outdated equipment and upgrade facilities.

- Supports fully funding public schools and teachers' collective bargaining for fair pay and benefits.
- Supports providing free meals to all students in WJCC schools.
- Believes in hiring more teacher assistants to reduce pressures on teachers.
- Proposes the creation of a Teacher Resource Fund to provide annual funding for classroom supplies, ensuring teachers have necessary resources without financial strain.
- Supports increasing funding for WJCC schools to replace outdated equipment and upgrade facilities.

School System Budget

S. T. "Ty" Hodges

Stephen “Ty” Hodges is a candidate for James City County School Board – Jamestown. He moved to James City County a decade ago with his wife, Jessica, fresh out of Virginia Tech, eager to make his mark in local journalism as the sports reporter for Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily. Working as a local journalist helped him learn the area, become familiar with local schools and athletes, and – most importantly – fall in love with this corner of the Commonwealth. Over the past two and a half years, he has embarked on the greatest challenge of his life: fatherhood. His daughter, Nelly, is the light of his life (and the “goofiest of goobers,” to those who know her), and he is committed to doing everything possible to make the world a better place for her.  

S. T. "Ty" Hodges's campaign for James City County School Board Member, Jamestown District is his first entry into politics.

Supports expanded vocational and trade programs, Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC), and advanced courses for college-bound students.

James Auchincloss

Buket Urgen

Sarah Ortega has a bachelor's degree in government from Smith College and a master's degree in national security and strategic studes from the Naval War College. She is on the board of Virginia Symphony Orchestra and also volunteers as a CASA (court appointed special advocate). She has three children.

Sarah is a current member of the Williamsburg-James City County School Board. She was elected in 2021 is and serving her second term, both as board chair. 

Sarah has worked as a strategic communications consultant and had various positions on Capitol Hill, at the White House, and a the Department of State.

Believes parents need to trust that their children will be safe and well-cared for while at school.

- Believes parents need to trust that their children will be safe and well-cared for while at school.

Supports offering more vocational training options for WJCC students.

- Supports offering more vocational training options for WJCC students.

Believes teachers are "highly educated, highly skilled professionals who should be compensated and respected accordingly."

Believes budget decisions should ensure a positive impact on student success.

- Believes teachers are "highly educated, highly skilled professionals who should be compensated and respected accordingly."
- Believes budget decisions should ensure a positive impact on student success.

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Sarah G. Ortego

- The school board runs the public school system, and it is entirely independent from the rest of the county government. 
- School board members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and appoint the superintendent to run the schools day to day. 
- Some school board members are elected by the entire city, while others represent specific districts. 
- School board members are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.