Letter to the editor supporting Amber Reed
The single best reason to vote for Amber Reed for Roanoke County School Board is because she
loves kids. As an eight-year educator who has spent seven years in Roanoke City, five of those at
Westside Elementary School, Amber understands the issues students, parents, and educators
face. She understands the issues of poverty and lack of school funding. She understands the
constant changes in education that come from the state and federal government. She knows the
struggles parents and educators face that are not always in their control. She knows how to
motivate students, parents and educators from diverse backgrounds to seek the change needed for
student success. Most importantly, she realizes that student success equates to community
success. When students do well in school, they succeed in life. Successful schools are important
to Amber.
Roanoke County Schools placed number eight in the state last school year with SOL scores;
however, that is not the only measure of student success. Scores alone do not guarantee optimum
student/community outcomes. Working to help students find their designated path in life while
honoring their personal interests and talents is true success.
When you vote for Amber, you vote for continued success that does not fit a cookie cutter mold.
You vote for an educator who understands that everyone’s differences combined with the
common goal of student success build a strong community. Voting for Amber is a vote for
educational strength for Roanoke County Schools.
Sincerely,
Dorothy M. Carter Virginia UniServ Director, representing Roanoke County Schools, Virginia Education Association
Amber Reed for School Board
I am writing this letter, something that I rarely do, in support of Amber Reed for Roanoke
County School Board. As a resident of Roanoke County, the Town of Vinton actually, for the
past forty-plus years, I have witnessed many changes in our schools, and I see in Amber Reed a
person who can restore us to our former glory in our education system. She knows the education
system inside and out.
She graduated from William Byrd High School, so she understands what makes Roanoke County
Schools special. She has a degree in education from Liberty University, so she understands what
it takes to teach our children. She has a background in business so she can relate to what our
businesses are looking for in our graduates. And on top of all of that, she is a fourth-grade
teacher in the Roanoke City School system, so she understands how to work with administrators,
parents, and students.
Amber is an independent– not tied to any political party; therefore she is free to think and speak
for herself and the parents and others who look to her for leadership. But I truly believe that one
of her greatest qualities, and the one that truly separates her from the incumbent members of the
school board, is that she will listen to all voices and respond to them. Her willingness to be non-
partisan and open to all who approach her, combined with her experience and education, make
her by far the most qualified candidate for the Vinton District School Board seat. My strong
suggestion is that the citizens of the Vinton District vote to elect Amber Reed as their next
School Board Member.
Sincerely,
Ray Sandifer, Vinton
From a teacher’s desk: What our students really need–a letter from Amber Reed
Every school year begins the same way in my classroom: with excitement, nerves, and the scent
of fresh notebooks. The desks are straight, the bulletin boards are bright, and the air is full of
possibility. But by October, the shine starts to fade. Students get tired and teachers and
administrators get stretched thin. And that’s when you start to see what our schools really need.
It isn’t more testing or another program with a catchy acronym. It isn’t another initiative that
looks great in a slideshow but never reaches the kids who need it most. What our students need is
people. They need adults who have the time and energy to listen, to notice, and to care.
In my years teaching fourth grade, I’ve seen the difference that one caring adult can make.
Sometimes it’s helping a student who’s falling behind find confidence again. Sometimes it’s
noticing that a child’s acting out because they’re hungry or anxious. Those moments don’t make
headlines, but they’re what hold a school, and a community, together.
Lately, though, those moments are getting harder to make time for. Teachers are juggling larger
class sizes, new curriculum demands, and the emotional needs of kids who’ve lived through a lot
in a short time. It’s not that we don’t want to do it all — it’s that there aren’t enough hours in the
day or enough hours to help.
That’s why support for teachers matters so much. When teachers feel valued and heard, students
feel it too. A supported teacher can spend more time teaching and less time worrying about
what’s being taken away next. But when resources are cut or priorities shift toward things that
look impressive instead of things that make a difference, like a new sports field instead of new
counselors or classroom aides, it shows up in the classroom — and the students feel the loss most
of all.
We also can’t talk about education today without talking about mental health. More students are
struggling with anxiety, depression, or family stress than ever before. We see it every day. The
truth is teachers are often the first to notice when something’s wrong, but we don’t always have
the training or the time to provide the help needed. When the district invests more in facilities
than in their people, those gaps grow wider. We need more counselors, social workers, and space
for students to just be kids in a world that demands so much of them.
Of course, teachers need that same kind of support, too. The emotional weight of this job is real.
It’s hard to pour into others when your own cup is empty. That’s why investing in staff wellness
and retention isn’t a luxury–it’s a necessity. Schools should be places that feel steady for
students, families, and those who work there. When we make decisions with that goal in mind,
everything else falls into place: students learn more, teachers stay longer, and communities grow
stronger.
As someone who’s spent years in the classroom, I don’t believe our challenges are unsolvable. I
just think we’ve lost sight of what really matters. The heart of education has always been
connection — the bond between a student and a teacher who believes in them. If we can protect
and strengthen that, we’ll be moving in the right direction.
That’s why I want to bring this perspective to the School Board — not as a politician, but as a
teacher who’s seen the classroom from the inside and knows where our focus needs to be.
Amber Reed, 4th grade teacher in Roanoke City, candidate for the Roanoke County School
Board, Vinton District
Supporting Amber Reed
I am writing in support of Amber Reed for Roanoke County School Board. Ms. Reed is a young
mother and school teacher, both the definition of someone who cares about children’s education
and understands the needs of Roanoke County Public Schools, regarding teachers and support
staff, programs, special accommodations, parental involvement, supplies, and safety.
When Ms. Reed first expressed interest in this important position of representing the Vinton
District, there was no opposing candidate. Tim Greenway had boldly stated he would not run for
public office again if he lost the election for Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. After
changing his mind sometime later, he failed to comply with paperwork requirements multiple
times, for which he has now been charged with election fraud and ordered to perform 100 hours
of community service to resolve the charge (The Roanoke Times, 10/17/25). This should not
have happened, especially since Mr. Greenway has completed required paperwork, including
notarized documents for numerous elections. Mr. Greenway is also currently involved in school-
related lawsuits, that may be taking up some of his time.
It’s time for grandparents to step aside and allow parents who are dealing with school issues that
are prevalent NOW. Being a grandparent is a big job, so we should be going to school events,
ball games, dance recitals, etc., instead of spending time serving on the School Noard. It is time
to pass that position on to the younger generation!
Vote Amber Reed for Roanoke County School Board on Nov. 4.
Marvin J. Rose,, Vinton
Letter of support for Amber Reed
In my 24 years of professional life, I have spent every one of them in a “Service Profession.” The
last three years I have returned to teach where my heart is: Roanoke City. I am at Westside
Elementary School. This is a school that you choose because you have a love for children above
all else.
When I met my teaching partners, one stood out to me. Amber Reed was the teacher that kids
found solace with. Her room appeared to be a safe place for students, particularly the
misunderstood children. I soon learned that she focuses on relationships with students and
parents above anything else. She has learned that this is the key to success. She is not bothered
by other’s opinions of her when it comes to teachers that believe she spends “too much time with
her students.” She always has her students’ best interest at heart.
Our school is 98-99% free lunch. We rank 17 out of 18 of the Roanoke City elementary schools
in achievement but this does not cause her to give up. Instead, she just raises her expectations for
her students because she knows each one of them by name and need and she knows that they can
get there. She works harder to ensure that this year will be better than the last. More importantly,
each student will feel heard and supported in every situation. I believe Amber is on to something.
More teachers need to spend less time “reading from the manual” and more time asking the students to share what they are feeling. Their classroom will go from stiff and uncomfortable, to full of joy and students wanting to learn.
I would vote for Amber Reed for Roanoke County School Board because she shows every single
day what our classrooms are missing!
Rachel Simmons; QMHP- A, 4th Grade Teacher, Westside Elementary School, Roanoke
