Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Cathy Truitt is a national consultant with the International Center for Leadership in Education and works with schools and school systems across America with 21st Century Education.  She has more than 36 years of experience as a classroom teacher and principal.  She has a Ph.D. in Education from UNC-Chapel Hill and is an advocate for community schools, expanded magnet programs, diversity, personal skills development, and 21st Century Education. 

Cathy is committed to reducing dropout rates and improving discipline, community involvement, and student learning.  Cathy understands the importance of making classroom learning relevant to student interests and our world today.

Cathy's leadership in education has been recognized and honored at local and state levels in North Carolina. In 2005, she was recognized as North Carolina's North Central Region Principal of the Year as well as Johnston County's Principal of the Year.

Cathy grew up on a tenant farm in rural North Carolina where her early experiences created a special interest in improving life and learning for children.  By the age of 6, she knew she loved learning more than "barning tobacco", picking cotton, digging sweet potatoes, and chopping weeds.

Cathy and her husband Walter have five sons who have served in the Navy, Air Force, and Army.  As a mother and grandmother, she understands the demands facing our children in the world today.  She values personal responsibility and opportunities to work hard, learn, and live in freedom.  The things she loves best are "playing cars, trains, and building cities and countries" with her 6 year old grandson Jonathan, "all kinds of games with her granddaughters Susie and Chorley," and "playing with Marley Jake of Raleigh," her beautiful, playful yellow Lab puppy.

Growing up poor, on a tenant farm in rural North Carolina, taught me the value of education. Education has helped me create a life worth living. That’s what I want that for every child.

For more than 36 years, I have dedicated my life's work as an educator -- working as a classroom teacher and principal to prepare our children for the future, and I want to continue that work building stronger schools in Garner, Willow Springs and Fuquay-Varina.

First, we must listen to the parents, teachers, principals and community. If I'm elected I will have working hours to meet with parents, educators, and community leaders because our schools must have leaders who are willing to listen to what people have to say and understand the goals, desires and expectations of our communities.

We cannot treat parents with deaf ears and expect to build community support for our schools.

We must embrace a vision and plan for 21st century schools. Our children must have a 21st century education and 21st century skills to compete in a global economy.

We need to improve discipline, reduce dropouts, increase student motivation and raise student achievement. It's time we work to bring socio-economic balance to district 2 schools. It's time we aggressively pursue a balanced approach to community schools and expanded magnet program options.

I will vigorously oppose forced reassignment policies.  We can have better schools and diversity without that disruption in our communities.

If you want a political pawn for Western Wake County, then I'm not your candidate. If you want to maintain the status quo, then I'm not your candidate.

But if you want an independent voice, who has the background, experience and leadership to build better, stronger schools for Garner, Willow Springs and Fuquay-Varina, then I ask for your vote and support.