Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I was born in Ashe County, on a small hillside farm near Lansing, North Carolina. I attended Lansing elementary and high school. After high school I attended Lees McRae, a junior college at that time, upon completing my two years there I then attended North Carolina State University. I earned my Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education in 1958.

I worked my first year after college for the US Department of Agriculture. During this year I married Don Hardin, my wife of fifty-one years. I then was able to return to Ashe County to accept a Vocational Agricultural teaching position at Beaver Creek High School. During my tenure at Beaver Creek two children were added to our family, Linda Charlene King and James Dale King. They have completed their secondary school and college work. Linda attended Appalachian State University and James attended North Carolina State University. After thirty-three years in the classroom I retired from teaching. During my years in the classroom I received several awards from both the State FFA and the National Association for work in the FFA.

In 1994 I was elected to my first term on the Ashe County Board of Education. I have served on the board for four terms and was voted chairman each year. This year I am a candidate for a fifth term on the Ashe County School Board.

During my tenure on the Ashe County Board of Education many things have changed in our schools. We have seen technology become a common classroom tool used in teaching as well as expanding the experiences of our students. It has been able to help many of our students to experience their first success in the classroom. It opened new doors for our students and now many have chosen to build careers in the field of technology.

The course of study in our curriculum has become more rigorous and students have been able to achieve their goals and experience success in our schools. We have improved our schools with new buildings and facilities. Ashe County has three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school and we are the largest employer in our county. Following a plan of development and goals set for schools and students has helped our schools to succeed. Now we are faced with a great economic recession that has crippled our educational system statewide.

In Ashe County we are struggling like all the counties in North Carolina to keep our teacher in the classroom and providing opportunities for our students in the areas of math, science, and communication skills. We are encouraging our teachers to help our students to become problem solvers. In addition we are providing more activities such as internships, job shadowing and creative thinking to help our students to become more work ready. My efforts and support are for the students of Ashe County. I want them to achieve and experience success in all their goals, help them plan for their future and hopefully help them to have a successful careers.