CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Looking to fill an opening for the second time in two months, the Albemarle County School Board had the chance to hear from the three candidates vying for its Rio District seat during its special meeting on Thursday.

Jennifer Ortuño, Leslie Pryor, and Daisy Rojas all participated in the public candidate interviews, sharing what they would bring to the board, and division, as it continues to deal with turmoil.

The Rio seat opened up earlier this month after the resignation of Jim Dillenbeck following a controversial town hall he held Sept. 30. This is the second time in two months the board has appointed a new member, having previously appointed David Storm to its at-large seat in September following the resignation of Allison Spillman.

The interview format Thursday mirrored the interviews for the at-large seat last month, with a few slight differences. Each candidate was given 15 minutes instead of 12, and gave an opening statement before responding to four interview questions.

The first three questions were the same as last month’s interviews, with the addition of a fourth question, “What recommendations do you have for the school board to rebuild trust with families and (Albemarle County Public Schools), as well as all constituents?”

“We need to communicate,” Ortuño, the first candidate to be interviewed, said in her answer. “People are hurt, upset, and feel ignored. Can we give updates concerning serious issues more regularly?
The community wants more information, and if we can provide it, we should, in a way that is legal and protects staff and confidentiality.”

In her interview, Ortuño highlighted her professional background as Administrative Director at Camp Holiday Trail, as well as her volunteer experience from her church, Peace Lutheran Church, where she is the Leadership Council President, and within ACPS, including her current role as Family Council co-rep for Albemarle High School.

“I’m a staunch supporter of public education and my core belief is that all children have a right to a quality public school education,” she said. “The school board has a responsibility to the community to provide that access.”

Ortuño was the only candidate who did not apply for the at-large seat as well, as both Pryor and Rojas were being interviewed for the second time.

For Pryor, who was previously appointed to the Rio seat in January 2025 before losing to Dillenbeck in that November’s election, this was her third time going through the appointment process. In her opening statement, she said she wanted to build on her previous time on the board, but acknowledged that “much has changed” since she left at the end of last year.

“I feel that you are moving in the right direction,” Pryor said to the final question. “Be as transparent as you can and be able to provide clear and concise responses as to why you cannot provide more information. Be consistent in those responses. Utilize those who can support you as you seek to (rebuild) trust and be mindful that people are hurting and hurt people hurt others.”

Pryor also used her time to talk about how she hopes to ensure every student is supported, no matter their background.

“I seek to work to improve testing scores and academic performance of Black students, and all who may be struggling,” she said. “I want to improve the diversity within the staff, and to help attract and retain Black teachers and administrators. I seek to get more participation from Black parents and community members. 
We need them.”

Finally, Rojas rounded out the interview, and took no time in stating how she felt about the current situation in ACPS. She began by reading a statement, first in Spanish, then English, in which she said the situation in the division constituted “a serious cancer.”

“Cancer is not easy to treat,” she said. “It requires complete exposure to root out all of the poisoned elements. It requires coordinated assistance from multiple fronts. 
The patient alone cannot successfully conduct their own treatment, and it requires a complete change to the way of doing things prior to the discovery of the cancer.

“Change by definition is difficult, but that is what is required from this board. 
That is what I can offer to this board.”

Responding to the final question, Rojas said the board specifically needs to institute clearer guidelines for its town hall meetings moving forward, the first of which she attended on Tuesday, and immediately implement an anonymous whistleblower line, a suggestion also formally made by the Board of Supervisors in its Oct. 15 resolution.

“I am a whistleblower,” Rojas said. “I know what it’s like to be a whistleblower. 
It is extremely uncomfortable. I would not wish this on my worst enemy, the things that I’ve been through, and am going through today, because I’m talking to you all and telling you things that people don’t want to have heard. 
But you need to hear them, whether it’s from me or someone else.”

With interviews now complete, the School Board will hold a public hearing on the candidates next Thursday before making its selection during its Nov. 12 meeting.

Whoever is selected will serve in the seat before it is up for election in November 2027. Both Ortuño and Pryor intend to run if selected, while Rojas has not yet decided.