Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Andrea Palo has been married to Robert Palo for 32 years. She has a son Robert,Jr. , daughter-in-law Catherine, a granddaughter Tara and a son Adam. Robert, Jr. and Adam are both graduates of Cabarrus County Schools.

Substitute taught in Cabarrus County Schools to pay for college.

Attended RCCC: Major - Business Computer Programming - graduated with honors

Work: UNC Charlotte - Student Life and Facilities Management
The Brain Injury Association - Executive Assistant/Office Manager
J.M. Huber Corporation - Legal Assistant - attended RCCC for Paralegal studies

Volunteered for Cabarrus County Schools: Parent Council, School Improvement Team, Parent Rep for technology, PTO Ways and Means chairperson, Band Booster President, and reading in the classrooms.

In 2006, Andrea was elected to serve on the Board of Education where she is serving her 4th year. She has won awards for continuous education from the NC School Board Association.

She has served as Vice Chair to the Board of Education as well as serving on the following boards/committees : the AIG planning team, Cabarrus Literacy Council, Communities in Schools, Cabarrus County Park and Recreation, Project Safe Cabarrus, Technology committee, Technology standards committee, Middle school construction committee, Policy committee, a liaison to the city of Concord, Kannapolis and currently Harrisburg.

When not doing school board business, she directs a contemporary choir in her church. She has directed this choir for 7 1/2 years.

I've enjoyed my last 4 years on the Board of Education. I pledged to the people of Cabarrus County that I would always make decisions that were in the best interest of the children and county. I have worked hard to be a strong board member, winning awards from the NC School Board Association.

With the difficult budget reductions ahead, I have proven to be a good steward of our tax dollars and understand that our focus needs to be in the classroom.

The growth of the county has somewhat slowed down which would give us the time to address the needs of our older schools, renovating and working on technology and ensuring equity in our schools. We want all our children to have 21st century classrooms and opportunities to grow to be competitive adults who will contribute to our community in their future.

One of my main goals is to decrease the dropout rate in Cabarrus County. To do this we need to meet the needs of all our students.

I support the STEM program, as it has been proven that the jobs of the future are in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. It is our obligation to ensure our students are prepared for these jobs. I've attended conferences on the STEM program and am thrilled with the opportunities that are out there for our students.

I also support the Fine Arts. We need to educate all children and the whole child. The talent I see in our students, but more importantly the self confidence gained, tells me that an investment in the fine arts is an investment in our children.

I hope I have gained the confidence of the people of Cabarrus County to re-elect me to the Cabarrus County Board of Education, where I will continue to work hard for them.