Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I am a North Carolina native, having grown up in Gaston County. I have lived in Chatham County for a total of 27 years.  I received my B.A. in psychology from UNCC and completed an internship with special needs children.  I have been married to Keith McManus for 31 years and we have two daughters, Ashley and Chelsea, both educated in Chatham County Schools.  My younger daughter is a 4th grade teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.  I am the office manager and bookkeeper for Carolina Family Practice.  Having served two terms on the Board of Education, I bring experience to the board.  I currently serve as board chair.  I thoroughly enjoy the work I do for our schools.

I have volunteered in the schools and community for many years.  In the fall I do programs on Native Americans for our schools.  I am a registered member of the Eastern Band of Cherokees and I enjoy sharing our history with students.  I have helped my husband with his girls' AAU basketball teams for many years.

In my free time, I am an avid reader and rarely without a book.  I also do a little gardening and I have two dogs and two cats.

I have strong leadership skills and I a strong work ethic.  I take the time to do the research and know the facts.  I am receptive to different opinions and I listen to my constituents on issues. I have great respect for the work of our educators and I understand the concerns of students, parents, and the community. I have volunteered many hours in the Chatham County Schools proctoring, assisting teachers, serving on committees, and doing special projects.

I support innovative academic and extracurricular programs in our school system.  I am proud to be a supporter of our computer initiative; our dual language kindergarten class; our hands-on science kits and our collaboration between scientists and students; and the many other creative programs in our system.

I have served during one of the worst recessions in recent history.  We have tightened our budget and we have done so without negatively impacting students.  We owe much of this to our strong positive relationship with our County Commissioners, a relationship we have worked to develop.  We are still facing budget cuts from the state and federal government but I am determined to protect the classroom.  I am not afraid to face the tough issues.

I believe in Chatham County Schools.  I have an in-depth understanding of our school system.  I know where we are, where we need to go and I believe I am the best candidate to help get us there.