Name: Elisabeth G. Riordan

Age: 69

Office: Beaufort County Board of Education, District 8

Number of years living in the area you seek to represent: 4

Family: Husband Barrett J. Riordan; two adult children and three grandchildren in northern Virginia

Education: Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Old Dominion University; Master of Arts in education and counseling from George Washington University; doctorate in counseling from George Washington University; trained mediator under auspices of Virginia Supreme Court

Current occupation/employer: Retired school counselor, Fairfax County Public Schools, 2008

Employment, military and volunteer history: Elementary school counselor, Fairfax County Public Schools, 1998-2008; adjunct faculty, George Washington University, 1980-81; junior high counselor, Prince George County, Md., public schools, 1970-1976; classroom teacher, Fairfax County public schools, 1968-1970; classroom teacher, Chesapeake public school system, Chesapeake, Va., 1964-1968; Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry; the Pregnancy Center of Hilton Head; Odyssey of the Mind Coach, Fairfax County, Va.; chairwoman of Environmental Quality Advisory Council Fairfax County, Va.; confirmation class teacher, St. Louis Catholic Church, Alexandria, Va.; Cub Scout parent volunteer; PTA volunteer; athletic booster club parent volunteer, Bishop Ireton High School, Alexandria, Va.; Friends of 1300 Delaware, citizens' advocacy group for residents of public housing project in southwest Washington, D.C.

Please list all public offices to which you've been elected, when and where:

Appointed to Environmental Quality Advisory Council, Fairfax County, Va., 1981-89

Please list any unsuccessful runs for public office and when: None

Other prior political and government experience: Volunteering for various political campaigns in Virginia; poll watcher -- certified mail-in ballot tallies; finance committee member for winning Fairfax County Board of Supervisors candidate

Key endorsements you've received: No response given

Contributions: No campaign contributions or expenditures reported as of Oct. 12.

Expenditures: No campaign contributions or expenditures reported as of Oct. 12.

Highest contributor: No campaign contributions or expenditures reported as of Oct. 12.

Why should people vote for you? What separates you from your opponents? Be specific.

During my 32 years in public education, I have had the opportunity to witness significant developments in public education. Having been involved in the implementation of many initiatives, such as "No Child Left Behind," I have developed an understanding of what will and will not get results.

All of my experience has been at the school level, developing programs and delivering direct services. I know what happens and should happen in a school on a daily basis and how important it is to both engage students and to forge positive relationships with parents and the community at large.

At the same time, my formal education and training make me uniquely qualified to serve on the Beaufort County school board. I have current knowledge of trends and best-management practices in the field of education and am willing to work collaboratively to meet all challenges that come before the board. I have been a student, parent, and educator and understand why all their individual perspectives are important to the educational process.

What are the three most important issues you would address if elected?

The following three issues must be addressed and will affect the future of public education but cannot be resolved completely by local action:

It is vitally important that learning takes place in a nurturing, challenging and safe environment. Parents, students and teachers must be assured that our schools are safe and that their concerns will be heard and addressed.

What specific steps will you take to make government more open and accessible to the public?

No

Have you ever filed for bankruptcy, been delinquent on your federal, state or local taxes? If so, please give the details.

No

Are there any personal details about yourself that voters would be interested in knowing?

My fifth-grade teacher, in a North Carolina public school, assigned seats to my classmates and me based on our scores on a non-standardized reading test. The boy who had the lowest score later went to prison. I resolved that when I became a teacher, all of my students would be treated with respect.