Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I was originally appointed to the Cumberland County Board of Education in 2005. In 2006, I was elected to a 4 year term. Prior to that, I was a bank manager for 7 years and a community volunteer with a focus on child advocacy. I volunteered at my kids' schools serving as treasurer and then president of their school's PTA. I served on the Cumberland County Education Foundation, a Teacher Recruitment and Retention Task Force, and the Junior League of Fayetteville.

I am a life long resident of Cumberland County. I am a member of Salem United Methodist Church and the Eastover Civic Club. I also help with fund raising efforts for the Child Advocacy Center. I have served on the Cumberland County Growth and Vision Task Force, was a charter member of the Hope Mills Kiwanis Club and worked on the Progress Eastover Committee which spearheaded the incorporation of the Town of Eastover.

I am a 1984 graduate of Cape Fear High School and have a BS degree in Mathematics from North Carolina State University.

I have been married to my husband, Mark, for 21 years and we have 2 daughters, Addison and Cayley who attend Cape Fear High School.

I am in my 6th year serving as an at-large member of the Cumberland County Board of Education. I am the only mother of school-aged children currently serving on our nine-member Board. Because I have children in our system, I see first hand how our school board policies affect children and I regularly speak with teachers about ways we can improve.

Since I joined the Board in 2005, test scores have risen. We opened the Fuller Performance Learning School to address the drop-out rate. We also opened Cross Creek Early College and the Howard Health and Life Science School and, through the Learn and Earn program, students can earn up to 2 years of college credit while enrolled in these high schools. The Board's vision is to prepare students to be globally competitive. I am proud of our efforts to expose children to a second language as early as elementary school with the language immersion programs we are offering in several of our schools. I want to see more programs like these offered to more students across the county.

While it is necessary that all students succeed academically in school, I strongly support athletics, arts education, and co-curricular activities so our students can become well-rounded citizens. I have always supported these activities and want to continue to see them thrive in all our schools. With tightening budgets, many school systems are cutting these programs. I would never vote to do that.

I see my primary role on the Board of Education as a liaison between parents and school administration. It pleases me to be able to connect a parent with a school representative to solve a school related issue. I want to continue to serve the people of Cumberland County and make a difference in the lives of children.