Emma Phillips

Background

Phillips is an incumbent Harrisonburg City School Board member seeking another term and a parent of children in Harrisonburg public schools. She joined the board in 2023 and served as its chair during 2025.

Sources: The Harrisonburg Citizen, “3 seats, 3 candidates: This fall’s city school board election is less competitive than recent elections”

What the candidate has said

Statements are attributed to the linked sources.

• Teacher retention

  She said teacher retention is an important issue for a second term. She has supported salary increases beyond those provided in the state budget and helped advance paid parental leave for school staff who are new parents.

  The Harrisonburg Citizen, “3 seats, 3 candidates: This fall’s city school board election is less competitive than recent elections”

• Student inclusion

  She said she wants the district to continue celebrating its diversity and working to close achievement gaps, especially for English-language learners.

  The Harrisonburg Citizen, “3 seats, 3 candidates: This fall’s city school board election is less competitive than recent elections”

• Career education

  She described the district’s developing technical and career center as a community partnership to provide career and technical education, rather than leasing or buying a building.

  The Harrisonburg Citizen, “3 seats, 3 candidates: This fall’s city school board election is less competitive than recent elections”