Bethany Zecher Sutton
VA · Member, Arlington School Board
Bethany Zecher Sutton has served on the Arlington School Board since 2023, including a term as chair, and is a leadership coach with 28 years in higher education. Her priorities are a school culture where students and staff feel they belong and keeping students at the center of decisions.
Where Bethany Zecher Sutton stands, based on their records
Supports
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (1 record), Public Education Quality (2 records), Civil Rights (2 records),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (3 records)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 oppose
As board chair, moved the school system's $860 million budget for fiscal year 2027. It passed 5-0.
June 18, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: go.boarddocs.com
As board chair, moved the school system's 2027-2036 construction plan, which funds roof, heating and cooling, and kitchen projects at several schools. It passed 5-0.
June 18, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Moved a School Board resolution to pay prevailing wages, the local standard wage rates, on school system contracts. It passed 5-0.
July 18, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 1 support
Moved changes to the school-police relations policy that keep state and federal law enforcement, even with a warrant, out of schools beyond the main office. They passed 5-0.
February 27, 2025Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 2 support
As board chair, moved the school system's $860 million budget for fiscal year 2027. It passed 5-0.
June 18, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Moved a new policy that bans student cell phone use during the school day, from first bell to last. It passed 5-0.
December 12, 2024Supports Public Education Quality
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 2 support
As board chair, co-signed a letter to parents with the superintendent saying a federal freeze of $23 million over the schools' transgender student policy broke federal law, and backing the policy.
August 29, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: arlnow.com
Seconded and cast the only yes vote on a motion to close schools on June 6, 2025 for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. The motion failed with two no votes and two abstentions.
May 15, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 2 support
As board chair, moved the school system's 2027-2036 construction plan, which funds roof, heating and cooling, and kitchen projects at several schools. It passed 5-0.
June 18, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Voted for the school system's 2025-2034 construction plan, which moves the Montessori Public School of Arlington into the old Career Center building. It passed 3-2.
June 20, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Track record — General
General · 5 records
Endorsed U.S. Rep. Don Beyer for re-election in the 2026 Democratic primary.
May 27, 2026
Source: arlnow.com
Voted to close schools to students on April 21, 2026, the day of a statewide special election. The calendar change passed 3-2.
March 26, 2026
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Received the unanimous endorsement of the Arlington County Democratic Committee for re-election to the School Board in 2026.
March 4, 2026
Source: arlingtondemocrats.org
Was elected chair of the Arlington School Board for the 2025-26 school year.
July 8, 2025
Source: apsva.us
Was elected vice chair of the Arlington School Board for the 2024-25 school year.
July 8, 2024
Source: apsva.us
Past race Bethany Zecher Sutton ran in:
- Arlington School Board · November 3, 2026 · Arlington County Public Schools, Virginia · incumbent