Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I am a wife and part-time working mom (like many of you!) who is running for the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Board of Education to give a fresh perspective to the discussion of education issues and to offer a relative perspective in that I am a product of the system, and now have a child in the system.

I am a graduate of West Forsyth High School and UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A. in Music).  While in Chapel Hill, I also studied Spanish and spent a semester in Mexico City.  Professionally, I spent years in telecommunications and technology solutions sales and worked with many North Carolina school systems (IT Directors and Finance Officers) - assisting them as they acquired different technologies and working with them through the details of their budget processes.  I believe that my experiences in school technology solutions and my background in music and foreign language will prove valuable as the Board discusses budget issues that may impact technology and arts/language in our classrooms.  As well, I was a high school athlete, so I have experienced the value of individual and team school sports.

Volunteer and Civic Experience: over 25 years, including tutoring with a juvenile offender, mentor, camp counselor, Reading Is Fundamental volunteer, assistant in at-risk student classroom, Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, adult sponsor to high school church choir, member of various church ministries, past Precinct Delegate, Pregnancy Care Center volunteer, former Miss Forsyth County and runner-up to Miss North Carolina, involved classroom parent and elementary school volunteer, PTA Vice-President (upcoming year)

On teachers: I believe that those who answer the call to teach choose one of life's most difficult but rewarding paths. I will make it a priority to preserve the jobs of strong teachers. Research shows teachers and parents are they keys to successful children. I believe teachers should be evaluated based upon several factors, including test scores, grades, individual student performance and creativity.

On curriculum: I would support an increased history emphasis to ensure that our children understand our country's exceptional foundation and its founding fathers and documents. I would support arts / languages in elementary school curriculum and that they remain an elective option in middle and high school curriculum. I would support basic, factual abstinence-focused sex education beginning in fifth grade (at the earliest). I would support early emphasis on personal and family responsibility (building upon existing character education curriculum, beginning in Kindergarten).

On School Choice: I will support the current school assignment plan here in Forsyth County because I believe parents should have choices, and I believe in competition. I am not in favor of re-assigning students based on demographics or socio-economic levels.

On community connections and parental involvement (which I define as linking at-risk students and failing schools with churches /mentors / businesses to give direction and encourage responsibility and vocational development): I would support innovative ideas to raise parental involvement in schools where it lacks that involve bringing business people, businesses and churches into "failing" schools. I'd like to explore creative ways to reduce the drop-out rate and the achievement gap that do not involve more money per pupil!

If I am elected by this community, I'll promise to be a common-sense, conservative voice on the School Board who votes with facts and as a passionate, principled parent!