Hello, I am Nina O’Neill. My husband Frank and I moved to Brookland in Ward 5, eleven years ago. We have been married for 39 years and have two adult sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren.

I grew up in a military family, and my sons currently serve in the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Army.

I stayed home with my sons when they were young and volunteered in their schools for several years. My younger son, who is now an Army Ranger, is dyslexic, so I was often a volunteer in special education classrooms. I went back to college when my boys were in middle and high school to get an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from West Georgia State University. After that I taught 4th grade in Chattanooga TN. Our family was transferred to NJ and I went on to get a Master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility and Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind and Visually Impaired from Hunter College in NYC. While working on my Master’s degree, I taught at a school for students with learning disabilities in NJ.

Since completing my Master’s degree, I have taught blind and visually impaired students in several settings and in different parts of the country. While I have lived in DC, I have worked in several school districts in the DMV with students of all ages.

I am fortunate to have had two careers-“stay at home parent” and educator. Both have been challenging and rewarding.

I hope to bring my experience as the parent of a special needs student, a classroom teacher, and a special education service provider to the State Board of Education to advocate for students, parents and teachers, and strengthen the many schools in Ward 5 and across DC.