Harrisonburg elections · School board
Harrisonburg School Board (3 seats)
Election day:
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Who is running
3 candidates on the ballot, from Virginia Department of Elections. Photos come from each candidate's own campaign site.
Rachel G. Smallwood
Nonpartisan
Smallwood works as a senior project manager for Rock Solid Project Solutions and serves on Harrisonburg’s Park and Recreation Advisory Committee, with a term ending in 2027. The Harrisonburg Citizen reports that she has an education background, including adjunct teaching at universities, and did not complete an interview for its 2026 school-board coverage.
3 sourced statements
Debra Stevens Fitzgerald
Nonpartisan
Fitzgerald served eight years on the Harrisonburg City School Board after first being elected in 2016 and is seeking to return. She is semi-retired and works as an economics professor at Blue Ridge Community College; the article also notes her public service on the Harrisonburg Planning Commission.
No stated positions found yet
Emma Phillips
Nonpartisan · Incumbent
No stated positions found yet
Where the candidates stand
Every candidate for Harrisonburg School Board (3 seats) on each issue any of them has spoken on, in their own words or a close paraphrase, with the source linked. Checked . We do not score, rank or recommend anyone.
Where do the Harrisonburg School Board (3 seats) candidates in Harrisonburg stand on schools and education?
Rachel G. Smallwood (Nonpartisan)
She agreed that public schools should prioritize academic achievement and character-building to preserve American traditions and self-government. (iVoterGuide, 2026 Harrisonburg City Public Schools School Board candidate profile)
She agreed that school choice can create competition that encourages public schools to improve their educational systems. (iVoterGuide, 2026 Harrisonburg City Public Schools School Board candidate profile)
She agreed that licensed faculty with ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school to respond to an active-shooter situation. (iVoterGuide, 2026 Harrisonburg City Public Schools School Board candidate profile)
Debra Stevens Fitzgerald (Nonpartisan)
No public statement found in our sources.
Emma Phillips (Nonpartisan, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
“No public statement found” means we did not find one, not that the candidate has no view. If a position is missing or wrong, tell us.
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