Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Personal Information:

Married to Ruth Biddell Thompson thirty-three years. 

Teacher with Brunswick County Schools

Teacher with Charter Day School for eight years

Three children: Erin, graduate of North Brunswick High School, N.C. State University and Campbell University School of Law. Betsy, graduate of North Brunswick High School and the N.C. School of the Arts. John F., graduate of Cape Fear Academy and Brunswick County Schools, N. C. State University.  Currently a third year chemical engineering graduate student at University of California Los Angeles.

Education:  Graduate of N.C. State University School of Design, 1977 with Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture.

Profession:  Architect in private practice in Southport since 1985.

Community Involvement/Service:

Actively support Brunswick County Schools:

• Served on the Brunswick County Schools Bond Referendum Executive Committee.   
• Volunteer and mentor through CIS.

Brunswick County Board of Education member 2003.

• Served on Board of Education for one year to fill an unexpired term.
• Award of Merit from N.C. School Board Association.

Communities In Schools of Brunswick County, Inc.  Board of Directors.

• Served on Board of Directors for seven years.  Served as Chairman to the Board two years.

Brunswick County Planning Board from 1991 to 1998.  Served as Chairman for four years.   

• Assisted with writing implementing Brunswick County's first countywide zoning ordinance.
• Recommended establishment of a long-range planning committee for Brunswick County.  Served on Long-Range Planning Committee.
• Contributed to Cape Fear River Corridor Study.

Brunswick County Equalization and Review Board from 1991 to 1999.  Served as Chairman two terms.

• Served during two major property revaluation periods for the County.

Southport Development Committee.

• Committee recommended master planning for the City, which has led to a revitalization of the City.   
• Committee recommended re-planting of Southport's live oaks-a successful ongoing project.

I am personally and professionally committed to our community and believe in community service as an important part of my role as a citizen and as a business owner.  I believe my experience in the community will enable me to work effectively with current Board members to lead the school system. 

I served as a member of the school board for a one-year term in 2003 and found that my professional training and experience with local government and community service organizations allowed me to immediately become a contributing member of the Board in several ways including resolution of facilities issues, addressing budget matters and evaluation of performance of the school system.  We worked as a team in the best interest of students and families.  That teamwork and cooperation created optimism and momentum for the school system and enabled the Board to keep our focus on the success of students, student safety and adequate facilities.

Our schools have shown steady improvement in achievement over the past ten years but continue to have a persistently lower success rate than other area school systems.  Our professional teachers and administrators have worked hard to achieve greater success every year but too many students are still not graduating or are graduating without being adequately prepared for work or college. We have made progress but more effort will be necessary and will have to include a comprehensive effort by our County Commissioners, the Board of Education, educators, our businesses and other community volunteers to address all of the challenges faced by our schools.