School Board Member
How long have you been serving on the Board?
As of this December, it will be three years.
What motivated you to run for the Board of Education? What motivates you to serve today?
I have benefited from our school system as a parent (our daughter completed her entire K-12 education here), as an employee for 13 plus years, and as a member of this community that is so fortunate to be served by this school system. I had (and have) the desire and the experience to serve on the board and I want to give back to this system that has been so valuable to our family and community. Nothing is more fundamental to the future of our young people and the functioning of our democracy than a strong system of public education. I believe that public education does not receive the level of respect and support it deserves in our state and nation and want to be an advocate for it.
What is the most enjoyable part of working with your fellow Board members?
I have a great deal of respect and appreciation for each of my fellow members. I am completely confident that each has only the best interests of students and school personnel in mind in making decisions about our schools. We may not agree on everything all the time, but my confidence in their character and commitment to students, and their lack of concern for personal egos, personal agendas, or political considerations makes serving on the board a very satisfying experience. Everyone listens, everyone contributes, and we share a mutual respect. We function very well as a team. There are a lot of boards in other places that cannot say that, and I am very grateful for the team we have here.
Tell me about your career prior to your time on the Board and, if applicable, now.
I worked for 2 years with local non-profits in Charlotte, for 16 years in local government (budget office in the City of Durham, City Manager’s Office in Raleigh), served as executive director of the Children’s Council of Watauga County for about 4 years, and was part of the central office team with Watauga County Schools for about 13 years before my retirement. I’ve been fortunate to have great colleagues in each of these roles. Along the way, I took time off to complete two graduate degrees, one at UNC-Chapel Hill and one at UNC-Greensboro. I served one 2 year term on the Boone Town Council before running for School Board.