Hi Hartwood Neighbors,
Born to Army parents, I call Virginia home, having lived most of my life in the Tidewater and Fredericksburg areas. Growing up, school was complicated for me. I was bullied for years and struggled with focus. However, I was a quiet rule follower and earned decent grades. Like many kids who travel down the middle of the academic road, few adults acknowledged the challenges I faced as a student. At home my family struggled economically, emotionally and socially. While they did the best they could to establish a solid foundation for my sister and I by teaching us conventional values, expecting good grades and raising us in the church, they just didn’t have the tools to recognize what I was dealing with nor did they have the skills to help me. I am thankful for the handful of teachers and a few school friends along the way that made me feel seen, even if it was just for a moment.
Growing up in a low-income family and losing my spouse from an illness in my 20s, I learned the hard way to respect the value of a dollar and how difficult it can be to earn each one.
In my professional career, every company I have worked for recruited me for leadership, quality control and training roles because of my reputation for working with others, dedication to the work and determination to do the job well. I was chosen as one of only two agents in my department to hold an insurance license in all 50 states. I spearheaded committees to improve morale and job satisfaction, received the highest grades in training classes and earned countless customer-initiated recognition awards for quality service.
My life looks drastically different than when I was younger. The stability of my husband’s federal government job and the skills of keeping a tight budget, have made it possible for me to be a stay-at-home mom for the last eleven years. This has afforded me the opportunity to volunteer for community groups, my neighborhood, at school events, PTO, School Board advisory committee, and to help friends and neighbors. While holding roles as president, chair and vice chair, membership numbers and percentages of active involvement grew exponentially within those groups resulting in both the organizations and I being recognized with statewide awards.
All of my successes are a direct result of learning to not give up, taking ownership, respecting different perspectives, working as a team, having empathy for others’ struggles and putting in long hours. I have a great appreciation for the challenges I experienced while a student and young adult. They have provided me with the life skills vital to finding solutions and having a willingness to adjust when needed. As an involved parent, I have seen how much of a difference it makes for students when their adults are engaged and partnering towards their educational achievement. Having both the perspective from struggling and one from providing, affords me with a unique view of the whole picture of what Stafford County Public Schools can be.
Schools can offer kids opportunity at a life beyond their parents’ limitations. My parents did better for me, than their parents did for them. I have a drive to do better for my daughter than what I was provided. Being the Hartwood School Board representative will allow me to be a stronger partner for not only my daughter’s future, but for all the kids within our community.
I have watched politics and infighting restrict the possibility of what Stafford County could offer to students and school employees. This constant friction has resulted in wasted time, energy, and money. It is beyond time for our representatives to stop prioritizing re-election bids and put the focus back on working as a team to strengthen the quality of our school system.
I am dedicated to doing an excellent job for our Hartwood community.
It is important to me that I make my daughter proud of her mom.
With a grateful and determined heart,
Shannon Fingerholz