Bethany Zecher Sutton joined the School Board on January 1, 2023, and serves as the Chair.
She is a proud Arlington resident of more than 24 years. Her older child attended Randolph Elementary School and HB Woodlawn and is now a second-year student at Dickinson College. Bethany’s younger child attended Randolph and Thomas Jefferson Middle School and is now a junior at Wakefield High School.
Bethany’s journey with APS began in 2011 at Randolph Elementary School, where she served as a PTA board member for 7 years, including 3 years as PTA President. In 2018, Bethany joined the Advisory Council on Teaching & Learning (ACTL), which she chaired in 2021-22 and fall 2022. Within ACTL, she participated on several subcommittees, including the Advisory Committee on English Learners, the Math Advisory Committee, and the Career, Technical & Adult Education Advisory Committee. She also served on the APS South Arlington Working Group in 2015. In 2021-22, Bethany served on the Arlington County Food Security Task Force and has been a member of the Columbia Pike Partnership’s Community Advisory Council.
Bethany’s professional background includes more than 28 years’ experience in higher education. She worked at the University of Pennsylvania before moving to Arlington, where she spent 17 years at a national higher education non-profit organization with a focus on improving the quality of undergraduate education. She also served as a consultant for a higher education executive search firm. Currently, Bethany works as a leadership coach and consultant, specializing in leadership development for women in higher education and nonprofit organizations.
For service to the Randolph PTA and leadership for the Randolph Food Pantry during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bethany received the APS Honored Citizen Award in 2021 and the Distinguished County Service Award in 2020 from Volunteer Arlington & the Leadership Center for Excellence.
Bethany’s educational background includes a graduate certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University; a master’s degree in history from UMass-Amherst, and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Mary Washington.
Office Phone: 703-228-6015
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Term expires December 31, 2026
Public Engagements:
Wed, May 6 at 7 – 8:30 p.m.: Arlington Democrats Meeting, Charles R. Drew Elementary School, 3500 South 23rd St., Arlington, VA 22206
Thu, May 7 at 5:30 p.m.: Celebration of Excellence – Washington-Liberty High School, 1301 N. Stafford St., Arlington, VA 22201
Fri, May 8 at 8 – 10 a.m.: APS Future Teacher – Signing Day, Arlington Career Center, 816 S. Walter Reed Dr., Arlington, VA 22204
Sat, May 9 at 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Arlington History Fest 250 – Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carling Springs Rd., Arlington, VA 22204
Mon, May 11 at 4 – 5 p.m.: Career Center NOVA Grad Reception, 816 S. Walter Reed Dr., Arlington, VA 22204
Wed, May 13 at 9 – 10:30 a.m.: Readers Rise Appreciation Breakfast, Syphax Education Center, room 254-258, 2110 Washington Blvd., Arlington, Va 22204
Tue, June 9 at 6 – 10 p.m.: ECDC Gala Invitation, George Mason University (Arlington Campus), Mason Square, 3351 Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22201