Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I have dedicated most of my personal and professional life to the welfare of children.

I worked for the Cumberland County Mental Health Center in the Early Childhood Intervention Program as a Parent/Child Home Specialist; continuing at the Cumberland County Department of Social Services with Aid to Families with Dependent Children, and then Adult Services.

Most recently, I worked for Communities In Schools, the nation's largest nonprofit dropout prevention program, brought to Cumberland County by the Junior League of Fayetteville, under the umbrella of the Cumberland County Education Foundation and partnered with the Cumberland County School System. I was the Site Coordinator for the Program at Max Abbott Middle School. I am still mentoring my original CIS students, who are currently seniors at our various high schools. These students, their parents, and I have known each other for seven years. They are on the cusp of success as they head towards graduation and their futures.  I am so proud of them all. They have enriched my life and the lives of my family in ways they will never know.

Cumberland County is my home.  I graduated from Fayetteville Terry Sanford High School.  I received my AA degree from St. Mary's College and my BA in Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill.  My parents are Dr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Kosterman.  My dad, grandfather and brothers served this community as Chiropractors.  I have five siblings, four of which call Fayetteville Home.  I have a sister who is a former CC teacher, and two sisters-in-law in education: one a CC School Social Worker and the other a Professor at Fayetteville State University. My husband, Tiff and I have two boys, both graduates of this school system, currently attending college at NCSU and UNC Chapel Hill.  We are members at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

I believe that the quality of a child's education has a direct link to that child's relationship with the school.  It is the responsibility of principals, teachers, guidance counselors, and the community to nurture that relationship. Encouragement from someone who cares is a powerful motivator. Strengthening the relationships between school and home, businesses, churches, community organizations and volunteers creates a solid school community resulting in a successful educational environment.

I believe every child can learn; maybe not the same things or at the same rate, but their level of success will increase tremendously by the creation of an environment that motivates their desire to achieve.  By moving from a traditional to a more personal education, we can help students develop their talents and find their passion so that they can envision their future and recognize the importance of their present education.  Creating the desire to learn is the key to success and that can only be done through exposure and experiences.  Students must understand how education will directly affect their lives, their futures.

I believe that we need to be more competitive in regard to our curriculum.  Students shouldn't have to go elsewhere for AP courses, higher level Math and Science courses, SAT prep.

I also believe that there are school employees, community members, businessmen and women, parents and even students who have their own ideas on how to transform our schools and that we need to find a better way for them to be heard and those ideas to be born.

I believe that we need to be more flexible in our educational planning for children.  They are not one size fits all.

I ask that you help me continue my journey of advocating for the children of Cumberland County by voting for me for the Board of Education.