Background & Qualifications:
Murina V. Dove is a longtime Manassas City resident, proud graduate of Manassas City Public Schools, and dedicated public servant who has spent her career advocating for students, educators, and working families.
After attending Jennie Dean Middle School and graduating from Osbourn High School, Murina devoted 33 years to Manassas City Public Schools as a Safety Security Officer. Her service went far beyond maintaining safe schools—she supervised various student organizations such as school patrols, Metz Cheer, and conflict mediators; mentored young people facing academic and personal challenges; and helped students get back on track so they could successfully advance to the next grade. Her decades of firsthand experience have given her a deep understanding of the importance of safe, inclusive schools where every student—regardless of background or circumstance—has the support and opportunity to succeed.
Murina has also been a strong advocate for the educators and essential employees who make public education possible. Through the Manassas Education Association, she served as a Building Representative, ESP-at-Large, Treasurer, Vice President, and President, using her leadership positions to ensure employees had a voice and were treated with dignity and fairness. One of the accomplishments she is most proud of was advocating for medical benefits for school bus drivers—employees whose work is essential to students and families but whose contributions can too often be overlooked.
Murina carries that same commitment to service into her community, where she serves on various church boards and remains actively engaged as a youth advocate, teacher, and mentor. Her candidacy for Manassas City School Board is a continuation of a lifetime of service: standing up for students, supporting educators and school employees, strengthening public education, and ensuring that every child in Manassas has access to the opportunities and resources they need to thrive.
Outside of her decades of service to Manassas City Public Schools, Murina V. Dove resides in Cedar Ridge with her 84-year-old mother and treasures time spent with her children, grandchildren, and extended family. A creative spirit who loves crafting and decorating for special occasions—especially -Christmas, when every room of her home comes alive with her famously extensive snowman collection—-Murina finds her greatest joy in family gatherings, staying connected to the people whose lives she has touched, and spreading love throughout the Manassas community.
Priorities & Values:
Student Achievement & Educational Opportunity: Murina Dove is committed to ensuring every student in Manassas City Public Schools has access to a high-quality education and the resources necessary to succeed. She will advocate for strong academic programs, early intervention and student support, and multiple pathways to success—including college preparation, career and technical education, and workforce readiness. Drawing on 33 years of experience working directly with students, Murina believes success requires recognizing that students have different needs and ensuring those needs do not become barriers to achievement.
Supporting Educators & School Employees: Murina believes strong schools depend on recruiting, supporting, and retaining exceptional educators and school employees. Having served Manassas City Public Schools for 33 years and held leadership positions within the Manassas Education Association, including President, she understands firsthand the challenges facing teachers, education support professionals, and other school employees. She will advocate for competitive compensation and benefits, appropriate staffing and resources, meaningful professional development, and a workplace culture where employees are respected, supported, and have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their work and students.
Safe, Supportive & Inclusive Schools: With more than three decades of experience as a Safety Security Officer in Manassas City Public Schools, Murina understands that school safety is about more than responding to emergencies—it is also about relationships, prevention, trust, and ensuring students feel connected to their school community. She will support comprehensive approaches to school safety that strengthen physical security while also prioritizing student wellbeing, positive school climates, early intervention, and strong relationships among students, staff, families, and community partners. Murina believes every student deserves to enter a school where they feel safe, respected, supported, and ready to learn.
Family & Community Engagement: Murina believes public education is strongest when schools, families, and the broader community work together. Through the #Keeping It REAL principles of Relationships, Engagement, Advocacy, and Leadership, she will advocate for stronger communication and meaningful opportunities for parents, caregivers, students, educators, and community members to participate in the educational process. She is committed to listening to diverse perspectives, increasing transparency, strengthening community partnerships, and ensuring families have accessible ways to engage with their schools and School Board. Murina will bring a collaborative leadership approach focused on building trust, finding solutions, and keeping the needs of Manassas students at the center of every decision.
Why Vote for Murina V. Dove?
Proven Track Record of Service and Results: Murina V. Dove brings 33 years of firsthand experience serving the students, families, and employees of Manassas City Public Schools. As a Safety Security Officer, peer mentor, and longtime advocate for students, she built relationships that extended far beyond the hallways of the schools in which she served. Murina was known for holding students accountable while also taking the time to understand their circumstances, encourage them, and help them get back on track. Her leadership also extended to the Manassas Education Association, where she served in multiple roles, including President, and advocated for the needs and fair treatment of school employees—including fighting for medical benefits for school bus drivers. She understands public education from the perspective of a graduate, employee, parent and community member, giving her a depth of experience that will be invaluable on the Manassas City School Board.
Deep Commitment to Students, Families, and Community: Murina’s impact is reflected in the relationships she has maintained throughout Manassas. Her commitment to young people extended beyond the school year, as she also worked during the summers as a Supervisor with Manassas City Parks & Recreation, providing her another opportunity to support, engage, and build relationships with youth and families throughout the community. Former students continue to approach her years later to thank her for pushing them to make better decisions, holding them accountable, and believing in their potential. Many have remained close to her and her family long after leaving school—a testament to the lasting influence she has had on their lives. Parents, students, and MCPS employees know Murina as someone who is consistent, approachable, fair, and willing to stand up for what she believes is right. Her commitment to fairness, inclusion, educational opportunity, and ensuring every student has the support needed to succeed reflects the values she has demonstrated throughout her lifetime of service.
Authentic, Collaborative Leadership: Murina is not entering public service to learn about Manassas City Public Schools—she has spent more than three decades helping make the school community stronger. She understands the people who do the work, the students at the center of that work, and the families who entrust their children to MCPS every day. Her experience as an association leader demonstrates her ability to listen, advocate, collaborate, and represent the voices of others while remaining firm in her principles. Those who know her often say, “Mrs. Dove is REAL,” because authenticity is not simply part of her campaign message; it is how she has lived and led. Murina will bring that same commitment to Relationships, Engagement, Advocacy, and Leadership to the School Board—making decisions with students at the center, supporting educators and school employees, engaging families, and working collaboratively to strengthen Manassas City Public Schools for every child.
