Gregory Dono is a candidate for Chesapeake School Board. His name will appear on the ballot on November 5, 2024.
Dono is running against nine challengers for Chesapeake School Board.
The first day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office for this election is Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Click here to see who is on your ballot.
10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race, with a request for a bio and a list of questions to answer. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.
Biography: I grew up on Long Island, NY, where my childhood was profoundly shaped by the guidance of my parents who worked in public schools for over thirty years. My mother was a reading specialist and my father was a school psychologist. They instilled a deep respect for the transformative potential of receiving a quality education and getting support in a safe environment.
After earning a Bachelor of Environmental Science from Virginia Tech in 2001, I followed my passion for public service and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Following ten years of active duty as a Cobra helicopter pilot, three combat deployments, and a tour as an instructor pilot, I transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserves. While in the Reserves, I earned a law degree from Pepperdine University and remain an active member of the California State Bar.
Shortly after law school, I became the COO of a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise group in San Diego, CA. In four years, we turned our initial small food cart into a thriving multi-million dollar business employing over 200 people from the surrounding area.
In 2018, my family and I relocated to Chesapeake, VA, where I now work for a large government consultancy utilizing my collective armed forces, legal, and business acumen.
Why are you running for this office?
When my family and I moved to Chesapeake, my commitment to educational advocacy was ignited, fueled by firsthand observations of my young children who currently attend Chesapeake Public Schools. I strongly believe that school board members should reflect the population that they represent, either having children who attend/attended public schools or as recent students or educators. Unfortunately, our current board doesn’t accurately reflect this.
I am running for school board because of my unwavering belief in every child’s intrinsic worth and their right to a nurturing, equitable, and enriching educational environment. I am steadfast in my dedication to educational excellence, inclusivity, and safety. I picture a future where these principles are a North Star, guiding every decision that school board members make about children’s education.
My decisions as a Chesapeake School Board member will draw from my military tenure, legal background, and business experience, along with an abiding sense of compassion for the innocence of children, as seen in my own. My goal will be to ensure that every child within Chesapeake is allowed to thrive and flourish within our regional education framework.
What is the top challenge facing Chesapeake Public Schools, and how would you address it?
The greatest challenge facing Chesapeake Public Schools is the availability of funding and when received, the lack of transparency into how funds are spent. Funding is critical to the way our children and our school staff thrive. As a member of the Chesapeake School Board, I will push for new and creative funding streams to support all schools in our district. I will contact Virginia business operators to find grants and programs to help our public schools achieve their goals and push to reevaluate our budgets regularly, ensuring our money is spent in ways that best support our students and school staff.
How do you feel about the politicization of public education?
I do not believe that our schools or our children should be politicized. I am confident that all the people of Chesapeake want the same things for their children, their schools, and their school’s staff, regardless of their political affiliation. If people are committed to having open, honest, and respectful conversations about key issues, I believe that we will find we are more alike in mind.
How will you still value constituents with whom you disagree with?
As a United States Marine, an attorney, a program manager, and most importantly, a husband and father of two young children, I am no stranger to disagreement, and that’s okay. This is ideal, particularly when problem-solving. Disagreements lead to discussion, which leads to new ideas, which leads to better solutions. I never want to be the smartest person in the room, and I am certainly not always correct. No problem is ever solved appropriately using group thinking, and I value and respect people who disagree, are willing to voice their differences of opinion, and are open to having honest debate. That is how it is supposed to work in any public setting.