Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Dr. Stine is the president and founder of Stine & Associates, Inc., an international organization, management and planning consultancy based in Wilmington, N.C. with a focus on marketing, publishing and program development. 

He leverages his 40+ years experience with organizations worldwide to develop strategic plans, scripture engagement programs for children and youth, and to write books related to the field of Bible translation for both general and specialist audiences. 

Previously, Dr. Stine held multiple director and management positions with the United Bible Societies, the global organization that works in 235 countries on Bible translations (850 languages), and which publishes and produces 500+ million books a year in over 1200 languages.  He has managed projects and people on six continents, managed directly a program budget of $50 million and overseen a $200 million budget. 

Part diplomat and part consultant, he also served as representative to various international organizations including UNESCO, the World Council of Churches and the Vatican.  A world-renowned scholar, linguist and author, Dr. Stine has lived around the world including several European and African countries.  He is fluent in French and he has studied a number of other languages. 

His books have helped fellow linguists as well as Bible enthusiasts better understand how to translate the Bible, and major advancements that have been made in the field over the past century. 

Dr. Stine holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Michigan (1968). He belongs to the Linguistic Society of America and the Society of Biblical Literature.

Since moving to Wilmington eleven years ago, Dr. Stine has been active in the community, serving on the NHC Commission for Women, the Wilmington Sister Cities Commission, the board of the Child Advocacy Commission, and was a founding board member of the African American Heritage Foundation of Wilmington.

Today's economic troubles have brought home the reality that our children no longer need just an education, they need a world-class education. If we want our children and grandchildren to have sophisticated high-paying jobs and to help build the new global economy, they must have a high quality learning experience. If we want to draw new business and industry to the area, we must have a workforce that can compete with China, Japan and South Korea -- and Raleigh and Charlotte.

Recent policy decisions have undermined good education and left New Hanover County students behind the level needed to meet twenty-first century challenges. As a board member, I will bring my years of management experience, program development, communications and problem-solving skills to find creative ways to raise the quality of teaching in all of the schools. My focus will be to reward and encourage quality teaching and to develop policies that ensure educational opportunities for all the children in our county.