Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Lisa C. Baldwin was educated in N.C. public schools and was her high school's valedictorian. She graduated summa cum laude from UNCG with a B.S. in the field of Family and Consumer Economics. While in college she was a columnist for The Carolinian newspaper, active in student government and featured in "Good Housekeeping" magazine's 100 Outstanding Women Graduates of 1987.

Baldwin has experience conducting efficiency studies while working as a production management intern at Burlington Industries. As an intern with the N.C. Attorney General's Office she became familiar with the legislative process and the importance of local school boards' response to the issues affecting them.

In 1990 Baldwin received an M.S. in Economic Policy and Law from the University of Maryland where she was a graduate teaching assistant. For the next four years she worked for the USDA where her research was instrumental in the development of the Food Pyramid, a nationally recognized educational tool used to promote a healthy diet. In 1998 she received the "Volunteer of the Year" Award from the mayor of Cheverly, Maryland (pop. 6,000).

For the past twelve years she has resided in Fairview, NC with her husband of twenty-two years, Richard, a computer programmer. Their four children are enrolled in Buncombe County public schools and the oldest graduated as the 2010 valedictorian at A.C. Reynolds High School. Lisa is the vice-president of the A.C. Reynolds H.S. PTSO and has also served in leadership positions on elementary and middle school PTA boards for the past eight years. She is the Family Ministry Coordinator at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Asheville, a 4-H leader, and substitute teacher. She was the co-founder of the Asheville Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), LEGO Team Coach, Odyssey of the Mind coach, VBS Director and Youth Ministry Coordinator at Emmanuel Lutheran.

I have a passion for education, and my goal is to ensure that the Buncombe County school system operates at its full potential. In these tough economic times I stand committed to fiscal responsibility by focusing taxpayer dollars on classroom instruction and eliminating wasteful central office expenditures. Our system needs to drive organizational efficiency and performance at all levels.

Teachers must receive the financial, technological and professional support they need to excel at creating lifelong learners, not just good test-takers. Maintaining small kindergarten - third grade class sizes and elementary teacher assistants give students a significant achievement advantage, particularly in math and reading. Drop-out prevention begins at the elementary level.

I back a school calendar that minimizes disruptions to families and maximizes learning opportunities. The creation of an effective weather cancellation policy is essential.

I also see the need for establishing a partnership with parents. As a parent with children in the public school system, I support parental input into major school board decisions, recognizing the need for dialogue with teachers and administrators. Most recently, as an advocate of this process, I mobilized a grassroots parent effort to reduce the excessive volume of A.C. Reynolds High School Honors and AP summer homework. Due to my endeavors, summer homework guidelines were approved by the school board.

Preparing graduates to compete on a global level is a priority and I will advocate for community involvement/mentoring in local schools as well as tapping resources from industry.

I support the education of all Buncombe County students and will collaborate with private, charter, homeschools, both special needs and accelerated learners, to achieve their goals. Every child counts. Please join me in raising the bar for Buncombe County Schools both in the administration and the education of our students. Visit www.ElectLisaBaldwin.com.